France Moves to Uproot 4% of Vineyards in Major Bid to Tackle Wine Crisis

France is preparing to remove about 4% of its vineyards in 2026, a move that will affect nearly 28,000 hectares of vines. The plan targets regions most impacted by the ongoing wine crisis, with Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Côtes-du-Rhône at the center. The Gironde department, home to Bordeaux, accounts for 28% of the national area set for removal. Other major areas include Aude (16%), Gard (12%), Hérault (10%), and Pyrénées-Orientales (7%). The decision comes as French wine producers face declining demand, especially for red wines with protected designation of origin (AOP).

The figures come from FranceAgriMer, the national agency overseeing agricultural markets. The agency received 5,823 applications covering 27,926 hectares for the government-funded removal program. The program offers €4,000 per hectare to growers who permanently uproot their vines. Of the vineyards slated for removal, 83% produce red wines and 65% are classified as AOP. This highlights that the reduction will mainly impact red wines from prestigious appellations such as Bordeaux and Côtes-du-Rhône.

Jérôme Despey, president of FranceAgriMer’s wine council, explained that more than half of the affected area is in Occitanie, while Nouvelle-Aquitaine—where Gironde is located—accounts for most of the rest. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Gironde alone represents over 80% of the region’s targeted removals. Among the 45 departments that submitted requests, the top ten account for 88% of the total area and 85% of all applications.

Most requests are for partial removal of vineyards still in production, representing 76% of the total area. However, full removal requests are significant in some areas: they make up 33% in Gers and 27% in Gironde. This trend reflects an aging population of winegrowers who are retiring without successors.

The government allocated €130 million to fund the plan, aiming to remove up to 32,500 hectares. However, actual requests fell short of this target. The current applications would use about €112 million of the budget. In Cognac, where an additional incentive raised payments to €10,000 per hectare, demand was lower than expected. Charente requested removal for 187 hectares and Charente-Maritime for 383 hectares.

The French government launched this initiative in response to a persistent crisis in the wine sector. Overproduction and changing consumer preferences have led to falling prices and unsold stocks, particularly for red wines. The goal is to rebalance supply with market demand and support struggling producers.

Before removals can begin, FranceAgriMer must confirm growers’ intentions and notify them officially. The process also requires approval from the European Commission. Authorities hope notifications will be sent before mid-April so that operations can start promptly. Growers will have until December 31 to complete removals.

This is not France’s first large-scale vineyard reduction plan in recent years. The current effort follows similar measures aimed at stabilizing a sector facing structural challenges across much of the country. European Union support has played a key role in enabling these programs through its “Wine Package” policy framework.

The changes will reshape some of France’s most famous wine regions and could have lasting effects on local economies and global wine markets. For now, producers await final confirmation before beginning what will be one of the largest vineyard reductions in recent French history.