10% of Bordeaux's Vineyard Area to be Uprooted

Bordeaux winegrowers will receive financial support to grub up 9,500 ha of vines - about 10% of the total area, . The plans would result in aid amounting to €6,000 per ha.

Reading time: 50s

Announcement of the decisions during the press conference (from left to right) Allan Sichel, Alain Rousset, Marc Fresneau, Bernard Farges (Photo: Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Announcement of the decisions during the press conference (from left to right) Allan Sichel, Alain Rousset, Marc Fresneau, Bernard Farges (Photo: Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

The plans were confirmed by Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region President Alain Rousset, CIVB President Allan Sichel and CIVB Vice-President Bernard Farges during a press conference at the International Agricultural Fair in Paris on 1 March 2022.

The funding of €57m will be funded partly by the state, which will provide a total of €38m. The Bordeaux Interprofessional Wine Council (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, CIVB) is expected to contribute €19m. Ultimately, this means a grant of €6,000 per ha. This is just a first step, Bernard Farges stressed. "These initial figures are undoubtedly insufficient."

News

Bordeaux’s vignerons took to the streets in protest on Tuesday, drawing attention to the alarming situation facing the region’s winegrowers. Their demands include the grubbing up of vineyards, along with emergency government aid.

Reading time: 1m 50s

The background of the uprooting of these vines is excess stock and low prices, especially of red AOC Bordeaux, resulting from long-term sales difficulties. Since 2019, the winegrowers have been demanding a subsidy to uproot the vines and, in December, mounted a demonstration in Bordeaux to promote their cause.

The winegrowers continue to complain that the current aid fund is not enough. They are demanding a subsidy of €10,000 per hectare and a much larger area - of 35,000 ha. ITP

Opinion

Robert Joseph looks beyond the financially attractive top Grands Crus Classés, at the far less successful mass of Bordeaux and its sub-appellations where large swathes of vines are due to be uprooted.

Reading time: 5m

 

 

Latest Articles