Latest news with #Avignon
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
France shooting: Urgent manhunt for three gunmen after explosions and shots heard in Nimes - at least six injured with one person fighting for their life
At least one person has been left fighting for their life and five others have been injured after a shooting in France. The horror attack unfolded at around 7pm on Friday evening in Nimes, near Avignon. Six people were rushed to hospital with bullet wounds and one remains in a serious condition. An investigation for attempted murder has been launched by the French authorities, according to The Mirror. As of the early hours of Saturday morning, no arrests had been made - and it is believed that the suspects are still on the run. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and explosions in the Pissevin district - an area in south-west Nimes which is known for drug crime. One woman told French media: 'My sister called me as I was coming home from work. 'She told me not to go home, there were shots right in front of my building. At first, we thought they were firecrackers...' French authorities said in a statement: 'A shooting took place this evening resulting in several injuries. Investigations are underway.' The country's riot police were called in to help deal with the shooting, it has been reported. The Pissevin district of Nimes has been marked by a series of tragic shootings. In August 2023, a 10-year-old child was killed by a stray bullet, and in February last year another person was killed near a drug dealing point.
CNN
5 days ago
- CNN
Bride shot dead at wedding party in French village
A 27-year-old bride was shot to death as she left her wedding celebrations in a small French village in the early hours of Sunday. Authorities have not released the woman's name. Her husband, 25, and a 13-year-old child were also seriously wounded in the attack, which took place at 4.30 a.m. local time (10.30 p.m. ET Saturday), according to a statement from local prosecutor Florence Galtier, published Sunday. The couple were married on Saturday and celebrated with around 100 guests, before getting into a car to leave the venue in Goult, a village to the east of the city of Avignon in southeastern France. 'A vehicle pulled in behind them, blocking their way, with a number of hooded individuals on board,' the statement from the prosecutor said. 'These people then got out of the vehicle and started shooting in the direction of the victims, with what appear to be have been various different kinds of weapons,' it continues. One of the assailants died in the attack, while the rest fled the scene on foot, according to the statement, which adds that another wedding guest was also slightly injured. Prosecutors said autopsies are scheduled to be performed at the beginning of the week, and that they have launched an investigation on charges of murder committed by an organized criminal group and attempted murder as part of an organized criminal group. Local mayor Didier Perello told CNN affiliate BFMTV that the shooting is unprecedented. 'Goult is a quiet village, which has never experienced events of this type. Twenty-four hours later, we are still in shock (…), it is above all anger that drives us today,' he said. BFMTV also reported that a third person died overnight into Sunday in a separate shooting in Avignon, but it is not clear whether the two incidents are connected.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Great Vines Can Help Make Great Wines
Lilian Bérillon, sitting in his office just north of Avignon in the Rhone Valley of France, spoke about a strange truth: many winemakers appear to be oblivious to which vines they buy. The grapevines from Pépinière Bérillon differ from most others produced in nurseries within France. Bérillon believes that the difference is reflected in the quality of wines produced, the sustainability of vines and—ultimately—in the country's long term agricultural health. Lilian Bérillon at his vine nursery near Avignon, Rhone Valley, France Tom Mullen 'I'm 53 years old and I've set up my own business,' he said. 'Both my grandfathers were nurserymen. Twenty-five years ago I understood the need to make a decision. Either we make vines for mass viticulture—for those who want to make a lot of grapes and volume of wine—or we make vines for quality agriculture. I wanted to create a different model for the nursery, geared exclusively towards winegrowers who want to make good wine. 'I made the choice to create a nursery for quality viticulture. The special feature in our nursery is that we only make 100% massal selection.' When vinegrowers replace vines—due to age, health or a decision to change the planted grape variety—they can visit a nursery and purchase vines that are clones, or else they can purchase vines that were grown from their parent vines—known as 'massal selection.' Clones have the advantage of having been bred to resist certain diseases; they have the potential disadvantage of being genetically identical. Vines produced via massal selection may be more susceptible to disease, but they are genetically diverse. Beginning in the 1950's in France (and much of the world) clones have grown to dominate the market. Bérillon estimates that some 8% of vine nurseries in France account for about 50% of total grapevine production, and that those using massal selection account for approximately 10% or less of all nurseries. He believes that genetic variability inherent in massal selected vines is advantageous because it provides plants with versatility, and that those vines at a young age can produce rich tasting wines. 'The vine became an industry, and a lot of cheap plants had to be produced, ignoring the desire to make great wines. But genetic diversity is indispensable. A property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape grew my plants and other plants next to them for comparison. In 2021 during the freeze, my plants lived, whereas the others had a 30% mortality rate. The vines are more resilient, and the wines are better because the terroir expresses itself. 'Today we see the limit of resistant vine varieties that were supposed to resist the diseases of downy mildew and oidium. Strains of mildew have evolved, and resistant vines catch mildew or other diseases. Any recognized scientist will explain that biodiversity is necessary for resistance. Our objective is not only the quality of juice, but the sustainability of the vine.' Wax dipped grape vines ready to be boxed and shipped Tom Mullen Bérillon is also concerned that some cloned vines appear to have relatively brief life spans of only 25 years, after which many need replacing. 'We need to be able to deliver a vine that can live for 50, 80 or 100 years. And it's possible.' He spoke of a professional he works with who assesses Syrah wines produced by two types of vines—cloned and those via massal selection. 'He always says that the tragedy of the clone is that it takes over the terroir.' The implication is that local soil and climate conditions will have less impact on the eventual taste of wine. (This and other related issues are highlighted in a 2024 French documentary [with English subtitles] that provides inputs from various winemakers regarding genetic diversity.) Bérillon's customers include prestigious estates such as Château Cheval Blanc, Château Pontet-Canet, Château Rauzan Segla, Chateau Canon and Château Ausone in Bordeaux as well as Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape as well as other producers from throughout France. 'We have roughly 200 to 250 customers. But our nursery is quite an atypical model. Here there are 170 hectares [420 acres] and we have about 60 different grape varieties and 23 rootstock varieties—which means we can always meet European demand without too much difficulty.' The reason there is a difference between their number of vine and rootstock varieties is due to the subterranean phylloxera louse that wiped out huge swaths of the world's grape vines during the mid 19th century. That problem was solved by grafting disease resistance rootstock onto separate vines that produce grapes. The result is that the underground roots differ from fruit vines above. This also means that nurseries graft, or attach, rootstocks to vines. Staff at this nursery use the same foot operated grafting equipment designed by Bérillon's grandfather—each with the number 1950 embossed in metal, the year when the machinery was made. They method used is known as 'whip and tongue,' which is renowned to provide secure interlockings. A staff of eight can graft 2,000 vines per day. Bérillon's foot operated machines from the 1950's use the 'whip and tongue' grafting method Tom Mullen Bérillon's operation includes all facets of vine production—growing vines and rootstocks as well as grafting and handling sales, marketing and distribution. They pay no traders or subcontractors and train all staff extensively. 'We take a quality approach where everything is done by hand. It's a bit more expensive.' These massal selected vines cost about six Euros ($6.90) each to purchase, whereas most commercial cloned vines cost 1.5 Euros ($1.75). 'Investors understand that you have to start with a quality plant,' Bérillon said. 'When you sell a bottle for 30, 40 or 200 Euros, that cost is not so big. And the impact of the greater price is, over 50 years, about 12 cents per bottle.' Bérillon's business associate, Alain Guiraudon, spoke of surprise that wine producers are not more scrupulous in sourcing their vines and rootstocks. 'When you eat in a gourmet restaurant they bring you the plate and explain what's on it—and the life of each ingredient on your plate. They explain why a particular market gardener grew that tomato in a certain way. It's the same with the medical industry—sourcing and traceability is what people talk about. In our society there is a fear of not knowing where products come from.' Also visiting the nursery that day were winemaker Cécile Dusserre and her daughter Amélie. These fifth and sixth generation female winemakers from Domaine Montvac grows vines in Gigondas and Vacqueyras in the Rhone Valley. Cécile explained how they have worked with Bérillon for years. Amélie spoke of the results. 'We make 11 different wines from 14 different grape varieties. To have the best wines we need to have the best vines, and therefore the best grafts. Even with very young vines just starting to produce, what you have in the glass is already a great wine. It's rare to have such high quality complexity and diversity so young.' Later, I walked outdoors with Bérillon and gazed at fields of vines. 'We are creative,' he said. 'We have a vision that is modern, but with a mixture of tradition, of safeguarding methods, providing genetic diversity. In other words—common sense in agriculture. This plant nursery is unique because we produce material with genetic richness. 'I'm not a magician. If I deliver plants to a winegrower who doesn't work his soil, it won't work. It's really a job that involves both the nurseryman and the winegrower. We can't function without each other. 'I have a very personal, special perspective—which is that I love wine. When you love wine, you ask yourself questions for the winegrower, not just for the balance sheet. To make a great wine, you have to start with a good plant. For a great recipe, you need good ingredients.'
Sky News
5 days ago
- Sky News
Bride shot dead on wedding day in south of France, reports say
A bride was shot dead on her wedding day in the south of France after she and her groom were targeted by hooded and armed attackers, according to local media. The pair were leaving the party in a car along with a 13-year-old child when they were shot at, reports said. Prosecutors have opened an investigation for "murder and attempted murder by an organised gang". The 27-year-old bride was fatally shot. One of the attackers was also killed after being struck by the bride and groom's car as they tried to escape the ambush, French newspaper Le Figaro reports. The incident reportedly happened in the village of Goult near the southeast French city of Avignon. Three people were injured: the groom, his sister and the 13-year-old child, Le Figaro reported. Goult's mayor Didier Perello said he believed the attack was "targeted", adding that he was "angry, revolted, in shock", in comments reported by the newspaper.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Bride shot dead in attack on wedding party in south-east France
A bride was shot dead on her wedding night in a village near the south-east French city of Avignon after masked gunmen opened fire, local officials suspected attacker was also killed in an apparent exchange of fire, and the groom and a child of 13 were seriously wounded during the incident in the village of Goult.A manhunt involving dozens of police officers and a helicopter is under way for an unknown number of suspects who managed to flee. French media report that the violence may be linked to drug-related authorities have opened an investigation into murder and attempted murder. At about 04:30 (02:30 GMT) on Sunday the bride, 27, and groom, 25, were leaving the wedding party in the village hall when unidentified assailants opened fire, AFP news agency reports suggested one of the attackers had been run over by the couple's car but Avignon prosecutor Florence Galtier referred to the supect as having been hit "in the exchange". The surviving attackers, who had arrived by car, fled on foot after the shooting, the prosecutor said.A total of 28 people were present in the hall at the time of the attack, police say. One woman was also lightly injured in the hall was booked in March "for a wedding by people who don't live in the commune", local mayor Didier Perello said."I'm outraged," he added. "We're close to towns, I won't name them, where unfortunately, we've seen this kind of thing before."Guillaume Molinas, a 50-year-old restaurant owner, said he feared the deadly attack would give the village of some 1,000 residents a "bad name"."The last major incident in the village was 125 years ago," he was quoted as saying by AFP without giving details.
