Montresor does not have much respect for Italians. He feels the French are superior, especially with respect to wine. The following lines reveal this (p135, paragraph 3):

"Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity to practice imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack..."