French President calls to uprooting unprofitable vines

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Wine Paris 2026 trade fair on Monday where he addressed the deepening crisis facing France’s wine industry. Speaking to producers, Macron said uprooting unprofitable grapevines was necessary to restore balance in a sector struggling with overproduction and weakening demand. Describing wine as central to “France’s way of life,” he reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting growers through the transition.

Last week, the French government launched a €130 million fund offering subsidies to vineyard owners willing to remove vines that are no longer economically viable. He said the measure was essential to protect the value of French wine for remaining producers, particularly in regions like Bordeaux and Languedoc which have been badly affected by falling sales of low-cost red wines.

The sector has been under pressure from shifting drinking habits, intensifying global competition and export challenges. Tariffs imposed by the United States in 2025, first at 10 percent and later to 15 percent, contributed to a 20 percent drop in French wine exports to the US last year, with shipments falling to €3.2 billion.

Industry groups estimate a surplus of around 100,000 hectares of vineyards, with 50,000 hectares already uprooted and another 30,000 expected under the new scheme. He also highlighted the need to defend French wines globally and identified India, Canada and Brazil as key growth markets.