CIVB Under Fire in Bordeaux

Producers express frustration and demand accountability from the Interprofessional Council of Bordeaux Wine

2024-12-18

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The Bordeaux wine region is facing a critical moment, marked by tensions among the various stakeholders in the industry. The Interprofessional Council of Bordeaux Wine (CIVB), the organization that represents and regulates wine trade in the region, is under severe criticism and facing calls for its dissolution, as economic and structural issues within the industry continue to worsen.

Last Tuesday, the CIVB convened a meeting with representatives from major French supermarkets, wine producers, and growers' unions. The goal was to address the ongoing crisis in the sector and discuss potential solutions, including fair pricing. While supermarkets reported strong sales of wines priced between €4 and €10, especially during the traditional "Foire aux Vins," the discussions failed to make meaningful progress. According to the newspaper Sud-Ouest, the meeting was marked by tension and a lack of promising outcomes.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Didier Cousiney, spokesperson for the Viti33 union, summed up the producers' frustration, stating, "We left as confused as we arrived." Dominique Techer, a representative of the Confédération Paysanne, took a stronger stance, describing the CIVB as an organization that is "politically and professionally bankrupt." Techer urged members to attend the CIVB's General Assembly on Monday, December 16, to hold the institution accountable through peaceful yet firm action.

Techer argued that the CIVB has failed in its mission to support and structure the wine sector, asserting that the system is on the brink of collapse. He highlighted the increasing number of bankruptcies among winemakers, many of whom risk losing not only their vineyards but also their homes. Additionally, Techer criticized the funding mechanism of the CIVB, which relies on so-called "mandatory voluntary contributions." This system, which compels producers to finance the institution, has sparked widespread dissatisfaction due to the perceived lack of tangible results.

The upcoming General Assembly is expected to be a flashpoint for these tensions, with Techer likely to confront CIVB President Allan Sichel and Vice President Bernard Farges. Observers anticipate a heated debate, reminiscent of a confrontation six years ago when Farges accused critics of being mere "commentators" rather than agents of change.

Simultaneously, the region is grappling with another challenge: abandoned vineyards. The French government has initiated legal proceedings against four vineyard owners who left their plots untended, turning them into breeding grounds for diseases that threaten neighboring vines. Two of these owners have already uprooted their vines after receiving €5,000 fines, while a third has committed to taking action. This case, seen as a legal precedent, could lead to further lawsuits starting in 2025.

In the Blaye and Côtes de Bourg areas, local authorities have issued notices to 96 owners and operators responsible for 270 hectares of abandoned vineyards, reminding them of their legal obligations. These measures are part of a national vine removal initiative known as "Arrachage Ukraine," which will enable the reconversion of more hectares in Bordeaux next year. So far, 6,200 hectares have already been removed or repurposed in the region.

The crisis in Bordeaux underscores broader structural challenges within the wine industry, which is struggling to adapt to changes in consumer habits, international markets, and regulatory demands. As tensions mount, the future of the CIVB and the traditional model of wine commerce in Bordeaux remains uncertain.

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