French Senate Unveils 23-Point Plan to Rescue Wine Industry Amid Deepening Crisis

French senators have released a detailed report on the future of the country’s wine industry, calling for urgent unity and reform to address a deepening crisis. The report, presented on October 29 at the French Senate in Paris, is the result of months of work by three senators who are also winegrowers: Daniel Laurent (Charente-Maritime), Henri Cabanel (Hérault), and Sébastien Pla (Aude). The findings come at a time when French viticulture faces unpredictable international tensions, accelerating climate challenges, and significant shifts in consumer demand.

The senators’ report includes 23 recommendations aimed at ensuring the long-term survival and competitiveness of French wine. Central to their proposals is the organization of a national summit for the wine sector in the first half of 2026. This event would be based on a “pact of trust” between all parts of the industry, from grape growers to distributors. The senators argue that only by working together can the sector overcome its current difficulties.

One key recommendation is to integrate wine merchants more closely into the official bodies that oversee and manage wine production and marketing. The report also calls for formal agreements on pricing and sustainability, including publishing reference prices to guide contracts between producers and buyers. The senators point to successful models in other regions, such as the IGP Pays d’Oc, as examples to follow.

The report highlights that any new government aid for crisis management should be tied to progress on these industry-wide agreements. The senators stress that resolving what they call a “polycrisis” depends on both upstream producers and downstream marketers signing a binding pact of cooperation.

This is the first time in 23 years that the Senate’s economic affairs committee has conducted such an in-depth review of French viticulture. The process involved around 50 hearings with organizations and experts from France and other major wine-producing countries. According to Daniel Laurent, similar problems are affecting vineyards across Europe, with many countries also uprooting large areas due to falling demand.

The recommendations cover a wide range of issues. The senators urge the industry to reduce its number of interprofessional organizations—currently 23 for wine compared to just 10 for fruits and vegetables—and streamline more than 200 regulatory bodies defending over 400 different wine designations. They suggest expanding volume regulation systems modeled after those used in Champagne, which have helped stabilize that region’s market.

Other proposals include increasing support for young people taking over family vineyards, boosting funding for international promotion, and simplifying administrative requirements for producers. The report also calls for a major communication campaign to win back both domestic and international consumers.

On climate change, the senators focus on developing grape varieties that are more resistant to weather extremes and disease. They recommend extending insurance calculations over eight years instead of five, and lengthening vineyard planting authorizations from eight up to thirteen years to help maintain production capacity.

Throughout their report, the senators emphasize that French wine remains a sector of excellence but is often targeted during trade disputes or free trade negotiations. They warn that if one part of the industry suffers—whether it is growers, merchants, or retailers—the entire sector is at risk. Their message is clear: only by uniting can French viticulture secure its future in an increasingly competitive global market.