FRENCH WINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1943, Page 4

FRENCH WINES

INDUSTRY RUINED BY NAZI LOOTING. FIVE YEARS WILL BE NEEDED FOR RECOVERY. There will be no good French wine before another five years, according to a French wine merchant recently arrived in England, says “France,” the French daily published in London. “The total production of wine for the whole country is generally around 18 to 22 million hectolitres a year, and for North Africa (Algeria and Tunisia) about 25 million hectolitres. “Up to the present the war has-not caused an appreciable diminution in the harvest. But the economic pillage methodically carried out by the Kommandantures and their Vichy satellites has reduced production, depriving the French of their wine in unbelievable proportions. “ ‘Scientific ravaging’ has been employed in other domains, but their plan of administrative theft and robbery in regard to wine is perhaps all that which most faithfully exemplifies the technique of the enemy.” * After describing the,, gradual but steady robbery, the writer’ says:— “Twenty-five per cent of the harvest in 1941 and hardly less in 1942-have produced 3 to 4 million hectolitres of alcohol per annum. This represents the equivalent of almost a square mile a week of product going off to Germany in each cistern wagon bearing the swastika. “Of the remaining 75-per cent, com* pulsorily handed over to the Vichy purchasing co-operatives, the Germans receive directly and without compen.sation delivery of two-thirds. But 25 per cent of the harvest should remain at the disposal of the French. As a matter of fact, nothing remains. Theoretically, every Frenchman has the right to buy a litre of wine a week, but the wine coupons of the Germans enjoy priority.” The writer concludes that the wine industry is practically ruined, and that it will be five years before we shall taste good French wine again.