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Showing posts from June, 2016

Of reds, whites, and bluebloods: revolution and wine in America and France

Liberty and wine (apologies to Delacroix and Bartholdi for taking a few liberties  . . .) How diminished access to affordable wine factored in to both the American and French revolutions There are more than a few parallels between the French and American revolutions: Both are commemorated by holidays in July, (Independence Day on the 4th and Bastille Day the 14th), the same national colors, and similarly spurred by corrupt royal rule and unfair taxation. In both countries, access to affordable everyday wine played a significant role. Though not widely recognized, the liberation of the Bastille was not the first major act of the insurrection in France, but rather the storming of the customs offices at the gates of Paris where increased taxes on wine had been imposed. And while the Boston Tea party marked a significant escalation of protests against taxation without representation on British subjects in the colonies, it was wine they really relied upon for their day-to day exis