The French minister of health supports changing the Evin Law to allow wine advertising on the internet.
Despite continued fierce opposition from anti-alcohol groups, Roselyne Bachelot told Le Figaro, ‘When we initially drew up the Evin Law we did not take into account the internet, because at the time it was not as developed as it is today.’
Despite this, national demonstrations against the law will still go ahead on Thursday.
A CIVB spokesperson told decanter.com, ‘While we welcome the news that the internet may now be a legal method of promotion for winemakers, this has not yet been made official – and is not the only threat to French wine.’
Demonstrators will cover up any signs for villages that also carry the name of an appellation – such as Saint Emilion, Pauillac or Margaux – to highlight the absurdity of the censorship.
Laurent Gapenne, president the Fédération des Grands Vins de Bordeaux, said, ‘It’s a way of showing that defending wine is also defending something at the very heart of our heritage and our land.’
Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux
