French winegrowers set to protest as industry faces crisis

Damien Onorre (center), president of the Aude (southern France) winegrowers’ union, and Jérôme Barthès (left), president of the FDSEA, the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions, during a demonstration by winegrowers and farmers against property tax, in front of the Carcassonne tax center, southern France, October 16, 2025. IDRISS BIGOU-GILLES/AFP

Winegrowers in southern France are preparing to turn out in force in Béziers, southern France, on Saturday, November 15. Their anger and anxiety reflects the depth of the crisis shaking the sector. The recently completed grape harvest did little to restore morale in the vineyards. On November 7, France’s Ministry of Agriculture once again revised its forecasts downward, acknowledging the damage caused by the August heatwave. Production is now estimated at 36.2 million hectoliters, comparable to the disastrous year of 2024.

“For three years, we have suffered droughts and heat waves above 40°C. I have lost 50% of my production over this period,” said Damien Onorre, president of the Aude winegrowers’ union. This department in southern France saw its wine production drop from 3.9 million to 2 million hectoliters over the same period.

This union, affiliated with the Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d’Exploitants Agricoles (FNSEA, National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions), initiated the protest in Béziers. The movement quickly gained traction. Independent winegrowers, cooperative members from different unions and farmers from the Aude, as well as from seven other surrounding departments, all wanted to take part in the day of action. All were ready to march to make their voices heard in Paris and Brussels.

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