Representatives of the French wine industry are scheduled to meet with Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard in Paris on Thursday, November 6. The meeting comes at a critical time for the sector, which is facing a series of economic and regulatory challenges. The session follows a week of intense political activity, including discussions in Rome between France, Italy, and Spain about the future of European wine policy, and a key vote in the European Parliament’s agriculture committee on proposed changes to wine regulations.
The French wine sector has been under pressure from historically low harvests, weak markets, and rising production costs. This year’s grape harvest is estimated at just 36 million hectoliters, one of the lowest in recent history. Producers say that current market prices do not cover their increased costs, which have been driven up by global economic and geopolitical tensions.
Financial support measures promised by the government have also been slow to materialize. A €10 million aid package for cooperative wineries remains on hold pending a report due at the end of October. There are also calls for improved access to debt restructuring loans and for government help with social security contributions and property taxes following recent climate-related losses.
One of the most pressing issues for producers is the need for new funding to support a program of permanent vineyard removal, known as “arrachage.” Industry leaders are asking for at least €200 million from a combination of European and national sources. However, there is no consensus among EU member states on how to finance such a program. While France and Germany support using EU crisis funds, Italy opposes it and Spain has requested further justification.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen has expressed reluctance to fund vineyard removal, saying he prefers to focus on increasing exports rather than reducing production capacity. During recent talks in Paris with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Minister Genevard, Hansen discussed broader agricultural policy issues but did not address the specific request for urgent support for the wine sector.
The French wine industry is also seeking protection from new taxes on alcohol consumption and advertising that have been proposed in parliament. Producers argue that such measures would further weaken their position at a time when they are already struggling with falling incomes.
Jérôme Despey, president of the wine council at FranceAgriMer, said that Thursday’s meeting with Minister Genevard is highly anticipated by the industry. He emphasized that the time for analysis has passed and that concrete action is now needed to address the crisis. Despey pointed out that the sector is working on several fronts, including crisis distillation programs linked to vineyard removal and exploring new uses for surplus wine such as biofuels.
A recent survey on vineyard removal will be presented at Thursday’s meeting as part of efforts to secure additional funding. The industry is also preparing for a major demonstration in Béziers on November 15, organized by the Syndicat des Vignerons de l’Aude.
Some senators have proposed holding a national conference on viticulture in early 2026 to address long-term challenges related to economics, marketing, climate change, and investment. While Despey supports any initiative that brings stakeholders together, he insists that immediate action is needed to stabilize the sector.
The outcome of this week’s meetings could shape the future of French wine production for years to come. Industry leaders hope that Thursday’s talks will result in concrete commitments from the government and pave the way for new support measures at both national and European levels.
Dining and Cooking