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Solidarity and symbolism – the chant of the 100 or so wine producers who set off from the Hotel du Region in Montpellier to drive their tractors the 800 Kms to Paris. Regional President George Freche, in his send off speech, said the timing of the drive would focus the Presidential hopefuls on the plight of the regions producers in the worlds largest vineyard.
"They don’t want the dole or special favours but they do want the support of their government," said Freche as the drivers readied themselves for the 3 day drive to meet elected officials in the Capital.
"It is fine for politicians in Brussels and Paris to talk about other crops but our region is dry, sunny and only ideal for vines - even Olives are no alternative when frosts can kill all the trees."
The drivers in matching Red jackets with the slogan “you are killing my wine and my land” told the press that they felt other countries celebrated their wine whereas the French seemed now to treat wine as a dangerous drug.
The 5 tractors with trailers of local products, will stop and share with people on the way to Paris, the honey, wine, olive oil and truffles of the region in an attempt to engage the whole country with the plight of the wine growers.
“We need to show we are not violent, we need to show all the country that we are an integral part of the French ideal” said Freche as he launched a petition which he hopes will be signed by a million people in the region – not just the workers on the land but the urban population too who benefit from the wine growing heritage of the area.
This year, Freche pointed out, is the centenary of the great demonstration of 1907, when 700.000 occupied Montpellier. “You have our support – all the political parties in the regional assembly - But we need the support of the government who’s only recommendation at the moment is to grub out the vines”
This was not a demonstration to “keep out Foreign wine” – which was just as well as none of the tractors driving to Paris were French.
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