Wine recognised as part of French cultural heritage

A government commission in France recently ranked wine as an essential part of France’s cultural heritage and the amendment is now awaiting approval from the senate.

The campaign to have wine officially recognised as part of France’s “cultural and gastronomic” heritage has been long running and the cause taken up by senators from various departments.

A previous effort to gain recognition was rejected in 2012, according to France 3.

This time however a campaign led by senator Roland Corteau from the Aude department was accepted at a meeting of the National Assembly in January and then adopted by a commission for economic affairs last Wednesday.

Corteau said in his address: “Wine is a part of the 2,000 year old cultural and economic landscape of France. Passed down from generation to generation.

“It has greatly contributed to the renown of our country and particularly to its gastronomy around the world, shaping our countryside and creating the immovable and monumental heritage we know so well.

“Thanks to this amendment, we are now engaged in a real process for protecting  wine and rehabilitating it in the face of the attacks of which it is the object.”

Similar proposals from senator Gérard César from the Gironde and senator Raymond Couderc from Hérault were also accepted but have been integrated into the amendment put forward by Corteau.

The senate will discuss putting the motion into law when it reconvenes in April after the municipal elections.