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A group of about 30 producers in the Bordeaux region, teamed up in an association called Comité d'action des Vignerons de Bordeaux (CAVB), has openly declared war to the region's official wine industry body, the CIVB. In a press conference, the 30 declared they intended to sue the latter because of its compulsory dues - ironically called "voluntary compulsory dues" (CVO). Their argument: The CIVB has failed in its mission and duty to regulate the markets and thus the wine prices, and in organizing an efficient wine marketing.

The protest is nothing really new but goes back to the years 2000/2002. As a matter of fact, many producers from less known and less prestigious appellations have long been operating at deficit and are more or less threatened by bankruptcy. In 2009, according to official sources, this concerned between 20 and 25 % of the wineries, wineries who cannot, in turn, count on any reduction of their dues, a fact which even more increases their difficulties.

With their move the CAVB-members try to achieve that the compulsory membership in the CIVB be declared illegal.