The endemic violence which has afflicted the south of France has now spread to the Aude region as winemakers stormed a major Bordeaux négociant based in the area.
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Just after 6pm on Tuesday night a small team of CRAV (Regional Committee for Viticultural Action) activists burst into the offices of Oeno-Alliance, a Bordeaux-based wine négociant, prevented employees from leaving and opened the valves of vats stored on the premises.
CRAV, which later claimed responsibility, said it had destroyed 40,000hl of wine. Other reports put the figure at around 15,000hl.
Oeno-Alliance is a subsidiary of André Quancard, one of the top 10 Bordeaux négociants. Although it deals mainly in French wine, it also sell Spanish wine in Russia from its offices and winery in Vinassan, near Narbonne in the Aude
‘Foreign wines, like those the Spanish trucks are bringing in every day, are taking our livelihoods,’ said one CRAV activist.
This is the latest in a series of what the French press call ‘commando actions’ which have been escalating in the region.
Written by Oliver Styles
