France Plans to Uproot 32,500 Hectares of Vineyards by 2026 Amid Union Backlash

The Confédération Paysanne, a major French agricultural union, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed plan for large-scale vine removal in France’s wine sector. The plan, currently under discussion and expected to be finalized soon, aims to uproot 32,500 hectares of vineyards by 2026. The government has allocated €130 million for this initiative, offering a premium of €4,000 per hectare to winegrowers who agree to permanently remove their vines.

The union argues that prioritizing total vineyard removal will mainly benefit large agro-industrial companies and major wine traders. According to the Confédération Paysanne, these actors are “uberizing” small-scale farming and threatening the survival of independent and cooperative winegrowers, both organic and conventional. In a statement released as FranceAgriMer’s specialized wine council prepared to approve the aid scheme on January 14, the union described the plan as “a mirage more than an illusion.” They believe that simply removing 32,500 hectares with a flat-rate premium will not resolve the structural imbalance between supply and demand in the French wine market.

The Confédération Paysanne is particularly concerned that the current proposal favors those who wish to leave the profession entirely. They warn that many growers may not apply for aid unless they are certain of receiving enough support, which could push more producers toward total exit rather than partial restructuring. The union fears this approach will accelerate land concentration and allow a handful of powerful players to dominate the market.

Instead, the union is calling for a different system: a degressive premium structure. Under their proposal, higher support would be given for the first hectares removed, with reduced aid for additional hectares. This, they argue, would ensure greater fairness and prevent large operators from capturing most of the funds. The Confédération Paysanne also wants the plan targeted at regions where growers are struggling most and combined with other forms of assistance—such as help for career changes or support for viable farms willing to continue production.

The union criticizes what it sees as a lack of long-term national strategy for the wine sector. They point out that recent policy responses have been mostly reactive—such as distillation subsidies and uprooting programs—rather than preventive or strategic. The liberalization of planting rights and new authorizations have led to overproduction disconnected from actual demand, according to the union. They blame leaders of the FNSEA (France’s largest farmers’ union) for supporting these policies, which they say have made producers more vulnerable.

To address these issues, the Confédération Paysanne is demanding a comprehensive long-term strategy for French wine. Their recommendations include halting new planting authorizations and ending restructuring aid for large estates or groups that exceed certain size thresholds. They also call for guaranteed minimum prices for wine, regulation of imports with minimum entry prices tailored to different appellations, and special support for cooperative wineries facing high operating costs and potential mass closures.

As discussions continue among government officials, industry representatives, and unions, many small producers remain uncertain about their future. The outcome of these negotiations will likely shape not only the structure of French viticulture but also its social fabric in years to come.