Angry winegrowers demonstrated Monday morning in front of Lidl stores in Orange (Vaucluse) and Bagnols-sur-Cèze (Gard) to protest against the sale at a loss, according to them, of Côtes-du-Rhône appellation wines. In Orange, winegrowers bought bottles of Côtes-du-Rhône sold for 1.69 euros each, which they then broke in front of the store, the president of the Young Farmers (JA) of Vaucluse explained to AFP , Jordan Charransol.
“They are destroying viticulture”
“They buy it for 80 cents per liter for a production cost of 1.40 euros,” said Mr. Charransol, himself a wine grower and who participated in this symbolic action in Orange, at the call of the FDSEA and the JA. “We want to be paid the price it is worth so that we can live off it. By cutting prices, they are destroying viticulture,” he added, denouncing “a downgrading of Côtes-du-Rhône, which as that controlled designation of origin meets strict regulations.
“We also appeal to consumers, who have a role to play. They know well that 1.69 euros does not pay the winegrower, so we should not buy these wines,” he insisted. A protest action was also carried out by wine growers from Gard in front of the Lidl store in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, said the trade unionist.
