Paris (France) (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Monday that to boost the wine sector, in crisis, it was necessary to sacrifice some vineyards.

First modification: 02/09/2026 - 18:27

The wine sector in France is faced with overproduction, due to reduced demand due to changes in consumption, fierce competition and export difficulties.

During his visit to the large Wine Paris fair, Macron told producers that their activity was part of the "French way of life", but that measures had to be taken to revitalize the sector.

Possible efforts include the government's latest 130 million euro ($155 million) bailout fund, which began Friday and offers subsidies to losing owners to start up their vineyards.

"It has to be done... so that the other (producers) retain their value," Macron said.

These measures are especially concentrated in areas that produce inexpensive red wines in the southwest of France, such as Bordeaux or Languedoc.

In previous years, to alleviate the surplus of wine, France subsidized its distillation into ethyl alcohol, which can then be used for industrial purposes.

The French professional group CNAOC estimated in September that the country had a growing surplus of about 100,000 hectares. According to this source, about 50,000 hectares had already been uprooted and another 30,000 would be impacted with the new fund.

French and European wines are also affected by the increase in tariffs of 10%, and then 15%, imposed on European alcoholic beverages by US President Donald Trump in 2025.

According to data from French customs, beverage exports to the United States, the main destination for French wine, fell by 20% last year, to 3.2 billion euros.

© 2026 AFP

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