Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi made the comments on a trip to Italy's Verona earlier this week. In terms of global popularity, Renzi may be right - after all, Italy did overtake France to become the biggest export of wine in the world, late last year. Hollande and Renzi, sharing a laugh (perhaps about wine...) But whose wine is actually best? If you ask leading US wine critic Robert Parker - who is famed for his $1 million nose - he'd probably side with France. After all, out of 300 wines in the world that the American has ranked as perfect in his famed 100-point rating system, 204 have been French. And if quality is indeed reflected in price, the Italian premier seems wrong again. According to Wine Searcher's ranking of the 50 most expensive wines in the world, 38 of the top 50 are from France. Italy can boast none. A glass of red wine at the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard in Leognan, southwestern France. Bert Celce, a Frenchman running the Wine Terroirs blog about wine tasting in French vineyards, says wine simply can't be measured by country.

Rosemary George, a Master of Wine who regularly writes about French wine, says France's strong reputation speaks volumes. Chrissie McClatchi, who runs the Riviera Grapevine blog, agrees that it's close to impossible to stack the two nations' wines against each other. Here are a few some of the international gold trophy winners from Decanter World Wine Awards from 2015 - from both countries. READ ALSO: Eight tips on buying wine in a French supermarketSome arguments simply can’t be resolved. I remember, for example, once seeing two waiters get into fisticuffs in a celebrated West End restaurant. It was late and they were tired, not to mention a bit the worse for wear. Their dispute was over which of their respective native cities – Sheffield and Manchester, I seem to recall – had more civic pride. How on earth do you decide such a thing; and who the heck cares anyway? Last night at dinner, similarly tired (and, no doubt, emotional), we all squabbled over whether France or Italy made the better wines.

Which was the tastiest and more reliable: Cotes du Rhône or Chianti? best wine to use for cookingWe might have been a wee bit tetchy at the end, but we were also pretty evenly divided. best wines to give as gifts 2015We certainly agreed that both countries had recently raised their game. food and wine magazine best nyc restaurantsThanks, in part, to New World competition, their everyday wines are better than ever; wine club usa todaythanks, in part, to a couple of recent fine vintages, the top end is as sublime as any can remember. buy tiffany wine glasses

Best of all, at the £10 level, both France and Italy are currently hard to beat. best wine bars villageHere, centuries of winemaking expertise results in accessible wines of real terroir-driven character. top 10 wine brands worldwideIn the end we couldn’t agree on which nation was to wear the wine laurels. best wine gift ukBut here, in no particular order, are 10 of my current French and Italian favourites: five from each, and all for less than a tenner. what kind of wine goes best with pizza1. 2008 Marquis de Pennautier Chardonnay 'Terroirs d’Altitude’, 13.5%vol, France (£6.99 if you buy two as part of a mixed half dozen, otherwise £8.99; The neighbours and I have been tucking into plenty of this in the park of late and it punches well above its weight.

From the Languedoc, it’s a complex mix of tropical fruit, vanilla and spice. It lingers in the mouth thanks to a long, elegant, creamy-rich finish. Try with crab cakes and aioli. 2. 2008 Barbera d’Alba, Poderi Colla, 13.5%vol, Italy (£8.50; Wine Society 01438 741177). This wonderful stuff is from a small family estate in Piedmont. With full-throttled, rich, dark fruit, hints of liquorice and chocolate and a perfectly judged bitter cherry finish, you’re getting a lot of wine for your money. It’s a big-boned beauty all right, that would match a rich oxtail stew or mushroom and truffle linguini. 3. 2009 Taste the Difference Gavi, 12.5%vol, Italy (£7.99; This is surprisingly grown-up stuff for a supermarket own-label. Made at Gavi’s La Battista Estate from low-yielding, 35-year-old cortese vines, it’s smooth, supple and not unlike a restrained viognier with its elusive peach and apricot flavours and touch of aromatic spice. A worthy winner of the International Wine Challenge gold medal, it’s a fine evening-in-the-garden wine or partner to sushi, sashimi and tempura.

4. 2007 Chateau Unang, Cotes du Ventoux, 14%vol, France (£9.35; Hicks & Don 01747 824292). I’ve long been a fan of the curiously named Unang, in the southern Rhône, owned by English couple, James and Joanna King. They make great whites and a fine rosé, but are best known for their reds. This lovely example, made from low-yielding grenache, carignon and syrah, is vibrant and full of spicy, dark, cherry fruit. It’s soft, and great with creamy cheese and French bread. 5. 2009 Domaine de Léry, Cheverny, 12.5%vol, France (£7.99 as part of a mixed case, otherwise £9.99; An oddity, being a blend of 80 per cent sauvignon blanc and 20 per cent chardonnay from the rocky, chalk hillsides of the Loire, but perfect summer fare. Cool, lengthy fermentation in steel tanks ensures a crisp, fresh and aromatic wine underpinned by a soft creaminess. Enjoy on its own or with seafood. 6. 2008 Waitrose Chianti Classico, Barone Ricasoli, 13.5%vol, Italy (£9.99; Chianti can be very hit and miss and this is definitely a hit, made expressly for Waitrose at Castello di Brolio by the pioneering Ricasoli estate.

One hundred per cent sangiovese, warm and inviting, and full of sour as well as fresh ripe cherries, robust tannins and a touch of peppery spice, it makes for a sophisticated glassful. It’s the ideal accompaniment to the rarest of rare bistecca alla fiorentina. 7. 2009 Domaine de l’Idylle Cuvée l’Orangerie, 12.5%vol, France (£8.95; Yapp Bros 01747 860423). Yapp Bros are experts at ferreting out vinous curiosities from hidden corners of France and this, from the alpine vineyards of Savoie, near Grenoble, is a delight. A hundred per cent cold-fermented jacquère, it is delicately scented, zesty and apple-crisp with a refreshing dry to off-dry finish. Try with simple grilled fish, with potatoes and buttered peas. 8. 2009 Allegrini Valpolicella, 13%vol, Italy (£9.95; Corks Out 01925 267700, Bennett’s Fine Wines 01608 661409). Valpol often gets a bad press and can indeed be bland, dreary and forgettable. This, though, from the innovative family firm of Allegrini (you should try their Argentine Amarone), is anything but.

Blended from corvina, rondinella and molinara, it’s soft, ripe and juicy and utterly charming. Try it slightly chilled with a surf 'n’ turf platter of king prawns and a rare sirloin. 9. 2007 Trimbach Pinot Blanc, 12.5%vol, France (£9.99 as part of a mixed half dozen; It baffles me that the wines of Alsace should remain so grossly underrated. There are few wines better with food. Maison Trimbach has been making them since 1626 and is one of my favourite producers. Their pinot blanc also delights, being gently honeyed, rounded and fruity with a dry mineral finish. Great with onion tarts. 10. Tesco Finest Prosecco, 11.5%vol, Italy (£7.99 reduced from £9.99 until Sept 7; The great thing about prosecco is that it doesn’t try to ape champagne; it’s made in a different way using different grapes, and it’s all about lightness of touch and frivolity. Bisol have been making it for five generations and know what they’re about. Deliciously light and crisp on its own, it’s great with fresh white peach juice as a classic Bellini;