Rating: 
Summary: Delightfully palatable
Review: What a fascinating book. The story of the vignerons and their participation in the French Resistance during WWII is immensely palatable and its anecdotal style makes it a pleasure to read. The authors have stumbled across a rich wine and have let the reader inhale its bouquet to the full.
We hear many stories of bravery. For example, Gaston Huet, who spent most of the war in a POW camp, and his organisation of a wine celebration that covered an escape but also gave great heart to those whose horticultural life had been ripped apart by an an occupying army whose senior intent was to milk France of its greatest produce. The race to hide some of the wine regions greatest vintages from the Germans provides some of occupied Frnace's most amusing and fearful stories. We gain an insight to life under the occupation, the food shortages experienced, and the daily dangers, but, above all, we understand the sense of unity that developed amongst those seeking to preserve France's greatest treasure.
Through the stories we learn of the weinfuhrers - men like Klaebisch and Gomer - who were tasked by Berlin to keep a crippling supply of wine and champagne sent to Germany, but who recognised that Goring's wish to strip France of all its wealth would leave a devastated land. These men sought to work with those remaining to produce the wine whilst suffering from the increasing actions of the Resistance who destroyed and stole many shipments of wine and food - the constant letters of Henri Galliard testify to this. Amidst the stories of a people struggling to survive and preserve the great wines of France we see how it played a greater part in the war - for example, large orders to ship to certain fronts indicated where German offensives would commence - right up to the preservation of Paris when the German's left. The only item they destroyed was a wine storage facility.
The authors have combined to produce a lively popular history of France's wine regions during WWII and it anecdotal style makes this a pleasure to read. Immensely fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Trampling out the Vineyards
Review: What a wonderful book. Laughter, tears, courage, history and all centered around wine. This is a story of how an industry that is integral to the soul of a people survived a traumatic time. It is the little stories of defiance and small triumphs that sometimes make a terrible event more understandable. You do not have to care about wine to enjoy this book, but the profiles in this book taught me more about the heart and soul of wine than all my reading of Parker and Tanzer (Clive Coates too for the Brits!).
Rating:
Summary: Explore a lesser-known facet of World War II
Review: Wine & War is a socially-focused historical account of predominantly five families of prominent wine-producing regions in France (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley) during the German occupation of France in World War II. This book profiles the courage of the French to not only survive during this time but to protect their national treasure from the glutony of the Third Reich. Through their cleverness and ability to outwit the Germans, the French are ultimately able to preserve much of their prized wine. This book takes you on an inspiring journey through that time via accounts of those who lived through it as well as their relatives. Fascinating and insightful, I highly recommend this book for wine aficionados, francophiles, and those planning to visit the remnants of Berchtesgaden or Kehlsteinhaus.
Rating:
Summary: Lively, riveting history
Review: Wine & War will make the perfect gift for that wine buff who has everything: it provides an unusual story of France's clever vintners who protected and rescued France's wine industry from German plunder during World War 2. The extraordinary measures taken to protect bottles and crops alike makes for lively, riveting history.
Rating:
Summary: if you like wine
Review: you will find this book cutting thru the fog of incomprehensible wine labels. Wines are made for people, consumed by people and ultimately resided in the soul of the people. Ever wonder why reference has always been made to wine in literature since time immemorial; from Plato to Omar Khayyam to Shakespeare. Read this book and you will understand the passion shared - even amongst enemies in the middle of a world war.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Read
Review: You will learn as much about the French wine industry from this book as you will learn about the French Resistance. But that is a good thing. The book brings the German occupation of France down to a very personal level. The reader will learn the interesting personal stories of the people associated with the great names in French wine. The book is very fair in its coverage, in that not all Germans are vile pigs (only some are), and not all Frenchmen are heroic resistance fighters (though some are). Overall, this is a well written book that reads quickly and will not disappoint.
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