Wine and War

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

By: Donald Kladstrup, Petie Kladstrup

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

In 1940, France fell to the Nazis and almost immediately the German army began a campaign of pillaging one of the assets the French hold most dear: their wine. Like others in the French Resistance, winemakers mobilized to oppose their occupiers, but the tale of their extraordinary efforts has remained largely unknown - until now.

This is the thrilling and harrowing story of the French wine producers who undertook ingenious, daring measures to save their cherished crops and bottles as the Germans closed in on them. Wine and War illuminates a compelling, little-known chapter of history, and stands as a tribute to those extraordinary individuals who waged a battle that, in a very real way, saved the spirit of France.

©2001 Don and Petie Kladstrup (P)2012 Tantor

Elegant and stunning

This tells the story of how wide played a crucial part in World War II as a very enjoyable, and factual, narrative. This is a book I will listen to again soon.

fantastic for a road trip...makes you crave wine

This book had great writing and anecdotal structure. I will be buying it again as a gift.

Wine and War makes the families of French wine history come alive

The Kladstrup’s answer the questions about how the families that have produced many of the worlds top wines, including champagne, burgundy, Bordeaux’s, and those in the repeatedly contested Alsace regions have coped and even thrived through wars in that region over the last two centuries.

With a focus on WW2 that looks back knowingly at the previous conflicts you will get to know families, their hardships, their cunning, and ultimately their love of tradition. A good book to read and a nice read.

Every wine lover should listen!

The research that went into this book is astounding. We will never drink another bottle of French wine without considering the sacrifice and perseverance that is part of its history.

Great Story-telling

I was surprised how interesting the book was. I'm not French so wine is cool and I like it, but it's not a main part of our history here in the US. But, after the detailed explaining of how important wine is to the French; it made it easier to understand its importance during WWII.

The story was amazing, sad, tense and scary and ultimately joyful at the end of the war. I will say that I wept tears of joy during the last chapter. I am so glad that I bought it and listened to it. It made France's side of WWII more clear to me.

The narrator slipped from a French accent to a German accent to an American accent with ease. He told the story well.