34,428 Hectares of French Vineyards Face Uprooting as Industry Awaits EU Funding Decision

French wine producers are facing a period of uncertainty as they await key decisions from both national and European authorities. On November 6, Annie Genevard, France’s Minister of Agriculture, met with representatives from across the wine sector, including producers, trade organizations, and merchants. The meeting took place just over a week before a major inter-regional demonstration planned for November 15 in Béziers, which is expected to draw large crowds from the industry.

During the meeting, Genevard emphasized that viticulture remains one of her top priorities. She acknowledged the economic and cultural importance of French vineyards, which support many rural communities and contribute to national pride. The minister outlined several commitments aimed at supporting the struggling sector. These include a €5 million package to help cover winegrowers’ social security contributions in 2025, an extension of drought aid through the end of 2026, and the allocation of €10 million from the Mediterranean Climate Agriculture Plan.

A central issue discussed was the possibility of launching a new vine-pulling program to reduce production capacity. The ministry is waiting for a response from the European Commission on whether it can use funds from the EU’s crisis reserve to finance this initiative. According to a recent survey by FranceAgriMer, up to 34,428 hectares could be affected by such a program, with 80 percent involving partial rather than total uprooting. Industry leaders say this would help adjust production levels without forcing growers out of business entirely.

The last reduction plan in 2024 led to the removal of 27,461 hectares of vines across several regions, including Aude, Gironde, Gard, Hérault, and Pyrénées-Orientales. After their three-hour meeting with Genevard, industry representatives welcomed her concrete commitments but stressed that these promises must be followed by real action to prevent economic and social hardship in wine-producing areas.

Participants also raised concerns about regulatory uncertainty surrounding copper use in vineyards. Recent changes have restricted or withdrawn many authorizations for copper-based products, leaving growers unsure about future plant protection options.

Two important events are expected to shape the next steps for the sector. The Sitevi agricultural trade show will take place from November 25 to 27 and may bring further announcements. On December 8, France will hold its Food Sovereignty Conferences, where operational decisions on the national wine sector plan could be finalized.

A Senate report published in late October criticized the slow progress on this plan and called for stronger links between production and trade through contracts and broader participation in regulatory bodies. The report also recommended a nationwide communication campaign to promote French wine as a whole rather than focusing on local distinctions.

The French wine industry has been hit hard by a series of challenges over recent years. These include extreme weather events, unpredictable geopolitical developments affecting exports, declining domestic consumption, and changing attitudes toward wine among French consumers. In response, public authorities have introduced various support measures totaling hundreds of millions of euros. These include funding for vine-pulling programs, crisis distillation schemes to reduce surplus stocks, subsidized loans for growers, emergency aid for young winemakers, and support for vine nurseries.

Despite these efforts, many in the industry remain anxious about their future as they wait for decisions that could determine how French viticulture adapts to ongoing economic and environmental pressures.