No wonder economics is called "the dismal science"

The Observer | International | French bitter over wine study:
"In a move that is likely to send tremors from Burgundy to Bordeaux, two economists conclude that environmental conditions - or what France's oenophiles lovingly refer to as 'terroir' - is not important when it comes to producing memorable wine."

So now two practitioners of the dark arts of ecomomics claim to have proved that the real science of modern winemaking has surpassed the influence of regional variations in weather and soils. They are making a direct assault on the AOC (the French initials for the Name of Origin Control) system. That system plays a key role in propping up the prices of some wines and consigning others which may taste just as good to the status of "country wine" not suitable for educated palates.