Vineyard owners in one of France’s most famous winemaking regions have launched night time patrols after a series of high profile grape thefts.
Burgundy winemakers are accusing their competitors of stealing grapes after adverse winters battered vine supplies in the region.
Competition has become so fierce that winemakers in Givry have set up patrols from midnight to 6am to deter thieves,
Owner of the Domaine Latour Giraud vineyard Jean-Pierre Latour lost the equivalent of 1,200 bottles of wine due to grape thieves striking on Saturday night.
The Meursault winemaker told The Times: “For a wine-maker, it’s worse than having your home burgled. A whole year’s work is wiped out. There are no words to describe.”
Mr Latour added that police had told him they believe winemakers had stolen his grapes
Mr Pierre Latour added: “For some people maybe it is tempting to get grapes from someone else. It doesn’t tempt me though, I think it is disgusting.”
Anyone caught stealing grapes in France could face a three year prison sentence and a £39,000 fine, French police have warned.
