A trial began on June 19, 2025, in Châlons-en-Champagne, France, involving three individuals and two companies accused of human trafficking and exploitation of approximately 57 undocumented migrant workers during the 2023 grape harvest in the Champagne region. The defendants, including two men and a manager of an agricultural service company, are alleged to have subjected workers, primarily from Mali, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, to harsh conditions such as 13-hour workdays, physical abuse, and squalid living environments. The case, referred to as the "vendanges de la honte" or "harvest of shame," highlights issues within the subcontracting system in the Champagne industry. Prosecutors have requested prison sentences ranging from one to four years for the accused. Victims described their experience as akin to slavery, emphasizing the exploitative nature of the labor conditions. The trial has drawn attention to the broader problem of human trafficking and labor abuse in the prestigious French wine sector.