"Our wine sector is essentially the best in the world - no one doubts that." With these unwittingly contentious words, writes Anthony Rose of the Belfast Telegraph, the EU Agricultural Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel sat down. You could be forgiven for thinking that this might have been an exam question set by the board of the Institute of Masters of Wine to MW hopefuls from around the world.

It would certainly have been interesting to see their response. Would European students get a pass mark for agreeing, and those from the New World be penalised for taking Ms Fischer Boel to task?

Maybe, as she addressed the Agriculture Committee of the EU, she had meant to say "the priciest" rather than "the best," considering the £4,500 a case currently being asked for the 2005 Château Margaux. Or "the biggest," accounting, as Europe does, for roughly two-thirds of the world's wine production. If it's so marvellous, MW candidates from California might ask, how come the consumption of New World wine is growing in the UK at the expense of German white, Italian red and French wine of both hues? Why do Australia, California, South Africa, Chile and Argentina account for five bottles of wine sold in the UK, compared with four from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Hungary and Bulgaria combined?

For the complete article, go to http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk