Wine and War

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

By: Donald Kladstrup, Petie Kladstrup

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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.

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.

Remembering the best wine is worth it...

As a wine maker and a lover of wine myself, this books takes wine OVER THE TOP! There are so many reasons to admire and experience this work. I sent a copy just now, a used hardback, to my father who is a Patton's Third Army infantryman. Another copy goes to my brother who writes ditties about wine and what should be eaten with that wine; he got me planting vines... Experience this book! You will not regret it!

A better reader is needed

the story was fine, although it came across a little disjointed at times. However the reading of it left a lot to be desired. I don't want to hear the reader reading lines in the supposed accents to the people in the book. This is non-fiction and not a play. Particularly horrible was the male reader imitating a French woman's voice. The "character roles" made it difficult to focus and listen.

Excellent reading, poor recording

I liked this book. Listening to it was fun, a nice foray into WWII as I work through some wine books. The stories of people who lived (or didn't) through the experience were funny, touching, and frequently sad.

My only real complaint is the quality of the recording. At times it was as though the reader was speaking through a thin wall. It was worse with low quality head phones but ultimately I had to combat it by downloading an equalizer onto my phone and lowering the 60hz range to 0.

A very interesting read

If you enjoy wine and like history, then pour a glass and read a chapter here and there to learn the stories of famous wine regions in France and people involved in wine commerce during the World War II.

Great story about wine impact during WWII

Loved it and will listen to it again. I even recommend it to my wine club friends. Amazing perspective on WWII, and a good French wine history lesson as well.

Need to be very passionate about wine to enjoy.

Any additional comments?

This is an amazing book if you have a true passion for wine. If you do not I could see it being very boring. I have traveled to over a dozen of the world's greatest wine regions and work in the industry so I had a lot of interest and appreciation for where the characters were coming from and their points of view. Have also been to a a fair amount of the locations in the book which makes it more interesting.