Militant winemakers have bricked up the entrances of the Bordeaux headquarters of the CIVB.
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In the early hours of Wednesday morning (8 December) members of the FNSEA union (Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d’Exploitants Agricoles) and its regional arm the FDSEA arrived at the Bordeaux trade body’s HQ near the Place de Quinconces and – using breezeblocks and mortar – built a wall across the main doors, blocking them entirely.
The action is a continuation of the long-running protest against falling prices of barrels. Last month the unions put forward a plan to withhold AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlé) certificates from producers who do not sell their barrels for the minimum price of €1,000.
They threatened action against the unions if their demands were not met. The current action is the result.
A fault in the telephone lines means it has not been possible to speak to the CIVB.
A spokeswoman for CIVB president Christian Delpeuch – who is general director of negociant Ginestet – said he is in crisis meetings with union heads, vignerons and negociants.
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Written by Adam Lechmere
