Wine and War

By Donald Kladstrup & Petie Kladstrup

Wine and War - Donald Kladstrup & Petie Kladstrup
  • Release Date: 2001-05-15
  • Genre: European History
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 81 Ratings

Description

The remarkable untold story of France’s courageous, clever vinters who protected and rescued the country’s most treasured commodity from German plunder during World War II.

"To be a Frenchman means to fight for your country and its wine."
–Claude Terrail, owner, Restaurant La Tour d’Argent

In 1940, France fell to the Nazis and almost immediately the German army began a campaign of pillaging one of the assets the French hold most dear: their wine. Like others in the French Resistance, winemakers mobilized to oppose their occupiers, but the tale of their extraordinary efforts has remained largely unknown–until now. This is the thrilling and harrowing story of the French wine producers who undertook ingenious, daring measures to save their cherished crops and bottles as the Germans closed in on them. Wine and War illuminates a compelling, little-known chapter of history, and stands as a tribute to extraordinary individuals who waged a battle that, in a very real way, saved the spirit of France.

Reviews

  • Wine and war

    5
    By Rad tad lad pad
    Excellent read. Riveting and educational.
  • Love history an aannddd wine?

    4
    By Ry_Rap
    A quick read, but utterly enjoyable! I'm a wine lover and moderate history buff, and I really enjoyed seeing the connections to a part of history I thought I was already informed on. When you think of the looting the Third Reich committed during WWII, wine is probably the last thing you would think about. But, wine was such an essential part of the French life and economy, during the time of occupation France was drained dry of it's second most important resource (the first being human life). I invite history and wine lovers to read this for an alternative view of a violent and oppressive time in history. Buy... And enjoy!