by Hervé Lalau
During a short visit to Saint Geniès near Montpellier, in the heart of the Midi, the French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced last Friday several "support measures" for wine growers. Firms with cash difficulties will be granted a postponement of their land as well as their social taxes in 2006. Mr de Villepin also said that he would support their demands for a special distillation programme. The French wine sector has already received around 100 million Euros from the state this year. Wine growers and their representatives did not show much enthusiasm upon hearing the speech: "These are mere crumbs. Villepin does not understand our problems at all; nor does the French state support the Mediterranean wine producers. I think growers will be angry", said Michel Allemand, who spoke for the Vignerons Indépendants du Gard.
