France to remove 28,000 hectares of vineyards in state-backed plan

French winemakers are set to uproot around 28,000 hectares of vines under a government-backed programme designed to help the sector adapt to changing markets and climate pressures.

The scheme, run by FranceAgriMer, has received around 5,800 applications from vineyard owners seeking financial support to remove vines.

Most requests come from south-western wine regions, particularly Gironde, Aude, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Gers, and mainly concern red grape varieties, according to Jérôme Despey, president of the agency’s wine committee.

Of the vineyards scheduled for removal, around 37% will be uprooted completely, meaning growers will leave winegrowing altogether. The remaining 63% involve partial removals of vines at least 10 years old, allowing producers to restructure vineyards and better align production with demand.

€130million in funding

The plan is supported by a €130million government fund offering growers €4,000 per hectare removed, with work to be completed by December 31, 2026.

The French wine sector faces pressures including climate change, shifting consumer behaviour and falling demand for red wine. 

Mr Despey said that while it was “heartbreaking” for some growers to leave the profession, partial removals could help others adapt.

The move follows approval by the European Parliament of a wider package supporting the wine sector, including more flexible rules for vineyard removals and measures encouraging alcohol-free wines. A previous vine-removal programme in France in 2024 allocated €110million.

Jonathan Hesford, a winemaker at Domaine Treloar, said: “The main reason is the big downturn in wine sales across pretty much the whole range of French and worldwide wines. Only Champagne and very expensive Burgundy are doing well.” He added that most other categories have seen sales fall 20–40%.

Mr Hesford said declining consumption, particularly among younger drinkers, health advice encouraging reduced alcohol intake, several difficult harvests and an ageing grower population are all contributing to the downturn.

He described the uprooting programme as “a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to reduce supply”.

He also noted that producers from many regions are applying, including some high-quality estates, although high-volume regions such as Bordeaux, Languedoc and the Rhône Valley appear most affected.

Mr Hesford warned that the programme does not clearly address how land will be used once vineyards are removed. 

Some younger growers may experiment with alternative crops such as olives, pistachios or aloe vera, he said, while some older farmers may simply retire.

Supply and demand

Mr Hesford added that independent winegrowers often have a clearer view of market conditions than those selling through cooperatives. 

In his region, he said, two cooperative cellars are already close to bankruptcy, illustrating the pressure facing the sector.

Jean-Marie Fabre, president of the Vignerons Indépendants de France, said the plan reflects a broader transition in the wine sector as consumption evolves and some regions produce volumes that no longer match demand.

“Vine removal is not an end in itself. For many winegrowers, it is simply a way of adapting their vineyards so they can continue producing wines that find their place in the market.”

“The question today is not only about producing less, but above all about producing wines that meet consumer expectations and allow wine estates to make a proper living,” he said.

France remains one of the world’s leading wine-producing countries. Many growers are seeking to increase value through direct sales, wine tourism and closer relationships with consumers, while others are reducing vineyard areas or adapting their wines to changing tastes.

“Independent winegrowers have a direct link with consumers: we produce our wines, we sell them ourselves and we present them at our estates,” Mr Fabre said. “It is a model that responds to the growing demand for authenticity and traceability.”