(Decanter) - The French wine industry wants wine to be given heritage status and protected under law. Backed by prominent journalists, the industry says wine should be officially recognised as part of the cultural and gastronomic heritage of France. Wine was recognised as an essential part of the ‘French gastronomic meal’ and declared an ‘intangible world heritage’ by UNESCO in November 2010, but it so far has no specific protection rights under French national law.