|  Vignes et Vins: Un Monde a Decouvrir is written by Sandrine Duclos and Cécile Gallineau for the age group of 7 to12 year olds to discover the world of vines and wines, emphasizing the importance of vine played in French culture. It tells the story of wine from the Roman times and illustrates the cycle of vine growing to wine making.
The book was launched last week at Chateau Fonroque in Saint Emilion, a biodynamic Grand Cru Classé family estate owned by Alain Moueix who reportedly got interested in the project because of its emphasis on the natural side of wine-making, and its ‘green’ values; the book has been printed and bound without using any glue or printing varnishes.
France's draconian anti-alcohol laws which apply to wines as well, mean that children aren't learning about their wine heritage as they should, according to Emmanuelle Garcia, editor of the wine book. ‘We felt there were increasing gaps in the knowledge being transmitted to our children about the cultural role of wine,’ she told Decanter.
Although there has been no negative reaction so far, the editor is cautious. She says, ‘I explain each time that we are not promoting wine itself, but explaining a culture. This book is about the heritage of France.’
An initial run of 200,000 copies has been printed. There are plans to export the book to Quebec in Canada and other French-speaking countries, with the possibility of a book with English translation.
France may not be isolated in the efforts to educate young children about wine culture. Argentina has a wine programme in Mendoza where 1300 teachers will reportedly attend this year’s seminar "Learning and Teaching the Culture of Vine and Wine", organized by Mendoza Wine Fund and Mendoza School Board. The curriculum of the seminar includes history, geography, biology of the vine, and historical data from Mendoza Grape Harvest Festival, among others. It aims to improve understanding about the industry and encourage younger generations to join the wine workforce.
A recent issue of delWine had highlighted a German winery in Franconia- the Staatlicher Hoftkeller historical winery charges € 6 per adults for the tour of the winery but the children under 16 years are allowed free admission but without the glass of wine- something that would be frowned upon in India and patently illegal.
The government in India still does not appear to be focused on the issue of delineating wine from liquor in order to reduce alcoholism and the draconian laws continue to be applied with equally heavy hands. Perhaps, the publisher of the French wine book for pre-teens may consider donating a few copies to the Indian embassy in Paris for translation or the embassy may arrange a visit of the decision making bureaucrats and politicians to the schools where the book will be taught to help them have a better perspective. |