Militant French winemakers to face charges
Several alleged members of the militant French winemaker group CRAV (Comité Régional d’Action Viticole), are set to face trial in March, as authorities initiate a crackdown on protests. Xavier Fabre, president of the Garde winemaker union, has been remanded in custody, along with five growers from the neighbouring Hérault department. They will be tried on charges including sabotage and criminal damage costing up to ¤ 3 million. The case is the result of an investigation into 32 acts of violence between April 2016 and August 2017. Responsibility for attacks on wine facilities in the Languedoc has been claimed by members of CRAV, which is also known as CAV (Comité d’Action Viticole).
While local wine unions have condemned the violence, there has been widespread protest at the import of cheap Spanish wines. In connection with the case, authorities have agreed to open a judicial investigation into illegal imports of wines from Spain.