Grapes of Wrath 2005

Recent press reports (El Pais on Sept. 9 and La Vanguardia on Sept. 11) have commented on protests by Barcelona area farmers against the area wineries that they believe are pushing down the price of grapes.

According to one farmer, the price paid by the wineries has dropped by 30% over the past few years. This coupled with the smaller harvest forseen for 2005 due to drought-like conditions mean severe pressure on farmers to make a living.

For these reasons, the farmers have taken to blocking traffic with their tractors to draw attention to their situation.

In the recent news reports was also news of destruction of vines. One of Spain's largest Cava (sparkling wine) producers, Freixenet reported that someone entered one of their vineyards and cut down some 370 vines. See from the air, the cut vines formed the word caciques (a word that means "boss", with overtones of medieval landowners). Later a representative of the farmers union, Josep Marrugat, reported that someone had cut down some 30 vines on his vineyard.