Rhône Valley Sets €200 per Hectoliter Reference Price for Organic Wines Amid Sustainability Push

The Rhône Valley wine industry has taken a significant step to address concerns over the sustainability of its vineyards by announcing new reference prices for bulk wine purchases. On December 9, Inter Rhône, the interprofessional body representing AOC Côtes-du-Rhône and Rhône Valley wines, released guidance prices for the 2025 vintage. These prices are designed to cover the minimum production costs for wines certified as Organic (AB) and High Environmental Value (HVE), which together account for more than half of the region’s AOC production.

For Côtes-du-Rhône red wines, the reference price is set at €170 per hectoliter for organic and €130 per hectoliter for HVE-certified wines. For Côtes-du-Rhône Villages reds, the prices are €200 per hectoliter in organic and €155 per hectoliter in HVE. These figures are based on production costs, current market realities, and economic sustainability margins. The announcement comes as average bulk wine prices have dropped to €139 per hectoliter for Côtes-du-Rhône reds, with conventional wines at €149 and organic at €129, according to Inter Rhône’s latest market data from August 1 to November 30, 2025.

The move follows a decision made at Inter Rhône’s general assembly last month and is now pending approval from the European Commission. The agreement uses Article 210 bis of EU regulations, which allows interprofessional organizations to communicate reference prices under certain conditions. This practice was previously prohibited by France’s competition authority but has recently been legalized, as seen with similar agreements in other French wine regions.

These reference prices are not minimum prices or legal floors. Instead, they serve as a benchmark to encourage fair compensation for producers and remind buyers that unsustainably low prices threaten the future of the vineyards. The agreement aims to bring transparency and shared responsibility to bulk wine transactions, especially as the sector faces challenges from overproduction and declining consumption.

The interprofessional agreement brings together the Syndicat des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône and the Union des Maisons de Vins du Rhône (UMVR). Both groups emphasize that these price guidelines reflect the additional costs associated with environmental certifications and seek to ensure fair remuneration while maintaining competitiveness. Philippe Pellaton, president of Inter Rhône, said that focusing on red wines from AOC Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages targets areas where economic, environmental, and image issues are most pressing.

Samuel Montgermont, president of UMVR, described the reference prices as a common foundation rather than strict limits. He stressed that while stakeholders are free to use these benchmarks as they see fit, ignoring them could destabilize the entire sector. Damien Gilles, president of the Syndicat des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône, called the agreement a “red line,” stating that sustainability should not be a burden borne solely by growers.

The industry is also pushing for further regulatory changes at the national level. Discussions continue around France’s Egalim law to create price corridors in purchase contracts and extend Article 172 ter to allow reference pricing for AOC and IGP grapes and wines in future campaigns.

As these measures await European validation, industry leaders warn that failing to ensure fair prices could undermine the entire value chain. They argue that if only one part of the sector benefits while another suffers losses, the long-term viability of Rhône Valley vineyards will be at risk. The new guidance prices are intended as a tool for balance and sustainability in a challenging market environment.