Up in Breckinridge to work thru the BarneyBox and just started reading this book by Don&Petie Kladstrup. Since it was published in 2001, I’m a bit late to the game.
The book tells the story of France from the late '30s thru WWII (as I listen to the cannons outside doing Avalanche control…lends a certain poignancy) mostly thru the eyes of five French wine families (Drouhin, Trimbach, Huet, others) and the importance that wine played in the war. It’s the historical background that I’m finding particularly interesting.
Just finished the chapter up to the invasion of France by the Nazis. The French, including the French Jews, are bemoaning the large influx of Jews from Germany and Italy and how it’s degrading the French culture. One is struck by the courage of many of the French vignerons in taking in the Jewish refugees. Hmmmm…seems to me a similar story to one I’ve heard more recently!!!
Anyway, if you’ve not yet read this book, get thee to thy nearest library.
Tom
Good book. I read it about a decade back.
Great book! I bought several for all my wine friends and had one sent to M. Vrinat at Taillevent, who had mentioned that his father was in the Resistance.
I followed that book from the start…or read decade or so ago. Great book. The pictures are pretty cool as well.
Tom
Yeah, they made a movie about it 
I was just given this book, as well as another by the same authors called Champagne.
I am looking forward to reading them both.
Strangely I too was given both books too (a while back), although I have yet to read them.
I’ve read it twice. Great book
Short Barreled Rifle?
Semi Book Review…Sorta Book Review…Stupid Book Review…
Tom
My wife and I both loved Wine and War. After reading it, my wife found an original 1945 copy of Roger Ribaud’s Le Maitre de Maison de sa Cave a sa Table. She bought it in France and gave it to me for my birthday. The story of how that book was created is amazing. The book talks about the various regions of France and the food pairing. It is one of my prize wine possessions.
Kladstrup was a correspondent long ago in the Twin Cities before he moved on to I think CBS. The man did have a way of telling a story.
Reading it, I felt as though the characterization of the French vignerons was heavily whitewashed, but that was just my perception, and I am not claiming I know anything specific should have been otherwise. I would be happy to have my impression proved wrong.