French Vineyard Removal Plan Draws Fewer Applicants Than Anticipated

France’s new national vineyard removal plan, aimed at reducing wine production capacity and addressing a long-standing crisis in the sector, has received fewer applications than expected. The program, which closed for applications on March 11 at noon, was designed to remove up to 32,500 hectares of vineyards with a budget of €130 million, offering €4,000 per hectare to participating growers.

According to provisional data from FranceAgriMer, as reported by Vitisphere, the total area requested for removal reached nearly 28,000 hectares. Of these, 10,342 hectares were targeted for complete removal through 1,392 applications, representing 37% of eligible land. Partial removal accounted for 17,586 hectares across 4,432 applications, or 63% of the eligible area. The main regions seeking support are Gironde, Aude, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Gers—areas known for red grape varieties.

Despite the significant interest, the total area covered by requests falls short of the plan’s maximum target. If all requests are approved and carried out, the budget used will be close to €112 million—well below the €130 million allocated. This comes at a time when French wine producers are facing rising production costs and declining prices due to market surpluses and weak demand. Export figures reflect these challenges: in 2025, French wine exports dropped by 4.1% in value compared to 2024.

Initial expectations suggested that requests could reach up to 50,000 hectares. However, several factors may have limited participation. Some growers may be optimistic about future market conditions or prefer to wait before making a decision. Others may have found the timing or terms of the program less attractive than anticipated. A recent FranceAgriMer survey estimated that more than 34,000 hectares needed to be removed to balance supply and demand; the current requests come close but do not fully meet this estimate.

Growers who have applied now have until December 31 to remove their vines. The European Union supported France’s vineyard removal plan through approval of the “Wine Package,” providing additional backing for these measures. The ongoing difficulties in the French wine sector highlight the complex challenges facing producers as they adapt to changing market realities and seek long-term sustainability.