Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure

Wine and War tells the story of French winemakers who worked to protect their country's wine from German seizure during World War II. After France fell to Nazi occupation in 1940, the German army systematically plundered French wine, one of the nation's most valued resources. Like members of the French Resistance, winemakers took action against their occupiers, employing ingenious and daring methods to preserve their crops and bottles as German forces advanced. Don Kladstrup documents the largely untold efforts of these wine producers, presenting a chapter of World War II history that has remained largely unknown. The book portrays the determination of individuals who undertook extraordinary measures during this period, framing their actions as a battle to preserve an essential part of French identity and culture.