According to Jérôme Despey, president of the agency’s wine committee, the majority of requests originate in south-western regions including Gironde, Aude, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Gers. These applications largely concern red grape varieties, reflecting the category’s weakening market position.
Of the total area earmarked for removal, around 37% will be cleared entirely, with growers exiting wine production. The remaining 63% involves partial removal of vines more than 10 years old, allowing estates to adjust plantings and refine output.
Funding and framework
The programme is backed by €130 million in government funding, offering €4,000 per hectare removed, with all work to be completed by 31 December 2026, according to The Connexion.
This initiative follows a broader package approved by the European Parliament, which includes more flexible vineyard management rules and support for alcohol free wine production. A previous French scheme in 2024 allocated €110 million to similar efforts.
Market pressures reshape production
The French wine sector continues to face a convergence of challenges, including climate volatility, evolving consumer behaviour and declining demand for red wine.
EU tariff removal ‘levels the competitive landscape’ for Australian wine
For some growers, uprooting represents a final step away from viticulture. Others may turn to alternative crops such as olives, pistachios or aloe vera, while older farmers may opt for retirement.
A longer-term contraction
As previously reported by the drinks business, France has been considering large-scale vineyard reductions for several years. Plans submitted to the European Commission in 2024 sought €120 million to remove 30,000 hectares, part of a wider ambition by the Ministry of Agriculture to eliminate up to 100,000 hectares over time.
According to figures from Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, earlier schemes in Bordeaux have progressed more slowly than intended, with only around 3,000 hectares removed from a targeted 9,500.
FranceAgriMer data shows long-term consumption has fallen sharply, from 120 litres per person per year to around 40 litres over the past six decades, with red wine sales declining by 15% in the past three years alone.
These trends continue to shape policy as France adjusts its vineyard landscape to a markedly different market reality
SOUTH AFRICA -
- South Africa currently holds less than 1% market share in China.
- China imports approximately €1.5 billion worth of wine per year.
- This creates a valuable opportunity to reset, re-enter, and grow in one of the world’s largest and most strategic wine markets.
