Hermitage may lose famous signs as part of environmental bill
June 5, 2009 By Panos Kakaviatos
The advertising signs that adorn the famous Hermitage slope may be removed as part of a new environmental heritage bill proposed by French authorities.
The signs, the most prominent of which advertise the Jaboulet and Chapoutier vineyards, have become an iconic part of the steep hillside.
However, as part of the move to classify the Hermitage hill, which overlooks the town of Tain l'Hermitage, as an environmental heritage site, the signs are set to be taken down.
The mayor of Tain l'Hermitage, Gilbert Bouchet, would like to see the signs removed. According to Veronique Chalencon, who has worked on the project, they 'disturb the natural landscape'.
However, Michel Chapoutier, current president of the Hermitage wine growers union, opposes any plans to remove the signs.
'Why take down the signs on the walls? They have been there for a long time on private property,' Ingrid Delubac, an assistant for Chapoutier, told decanter.com
Winemakers are also concerned that classification could complicate vineyard work – including building or repair of terrace supporting walls.
'It may bring more bureaucracy,' Delubac added.
A revised environmental project is currently being drafted to take into account the views from the wine growers union.
'We have had several meetings to reassure [winemakers],' said Chalencon.
The bill will be examined later this year by a commission in Paris.
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The concept of preserving a 'natural landscape' in any wine region sounds moronic. Probably, there is no other crop as labour intensive as wine growing. Will Monsieur Bouchet suggest to uproot all the vines and replant the slopes with all the native flora? Please, leave the signs alone and protect them as cultural heritage. It is not the latest trend in the editorial of 'Mayor Digest: for the demagogue in you', but it is the right thing to do.
Paulo Prado
Typically stupid action by under employed bureaucrats. The EU writ locally. Jobsworths with no useful employment find something to generate reaction lots of meetings and appeals. Reminds me of the UK under Labour.
Alan Butler, UK
Is this another April Fool's joke. The signs are on private property
and on huge walls which are required to prevent erosion and falling
rocks onto the roadway below. I loved driving up to Hermitage and
seeing these wonderful names from far away. Chapoutier, Jaboulet etc.
names, whose wines I had consumed were now real. This was the famous
hill of Hermitage which I had finally visited. Leave the signs, and
walls alone, please. Let common sense prevail.
Ivan Filanti, Canada
Being an American this really scares me. With Obama wanting to rule the USA like the French rule their country, 1st the Rose blending and now taking down these signs, my first trip to the Rhone 25 years ago I stopped and took photos of these signs, it was so cool to look up and see one of these famous signs that I had seen in photos in my various wine books. Seeing them for a visitor is the same as seeing the famous HOLLYWOOD sign in person.
Neil Barham, USA
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