ABSTRACT
Wine has always played a major role in the history of the Palatinate. When the French annexed the territory in 1797 and amongst other things abolished the tithe so hateful to the wine-growers, the following autumn saw great celebration:
On 2 October [1798] the wine harvest began. There was much wine and good wine. As a good republican, the landlord of the Anchor wrote on the door of the wine press room, ‘for the first time freedom from the tithe’. Never was there such a joyous vintage; everywhere one could see tricolour flags and ribbons-on the barrels, on the horses, on the whips, etc. In the evening, celebrations with fireworks.1
