Here's an update from Politico.eu, August 15:
Red wine consumption in France has declined substantially in recent decades, in favor of beer and other beverages.
Even the nectar of the gods is susceptible to climate change and the craze for craft beer.
Winemakers in the prestigious Bordeaux region are set to uproot thousands of hectares of vineyards as altered consumer habits and global warming hit one of the crown jewels of the French agricultural industry.
Given Bordeaux's flagship status in the public's mind, this might seem surprising. Yet a mix of factors — including a decline in red wine consumption, falling demand from China and difficulties in producing wine in an increasingly warm environment — is strikingly transforming wine production in France.
Red wine consumption has dropped significantly in the last decades as French drinkers are turning to other, more refreshing beverages such as beer. While high-end Bordeaux bottles such as grand cru still easily find buyers, demand for entry-level mass red wines has been dropping.
This has brought prices down to a point that, for many winemakers, tearing up their vineyards and getting compensation is a better option than continuing to produce wine.
€6,000 per hectare
The French government is planning to spend millions of euros to assist winemakers with uprooting vines — a process called "grubbing up."....
....MUCH MORE
If There Is A Structural Problem In French Society I Think We All Know The Cause
If one is allowed to speak freely, well, here it is:
Wine Sales in France from 1988 to 2020. The 30-year decline of red and the steady rise of rosé. pic.twitter.com/bLersfZCzH
— AAWE (@wineecon) June 26, 2023
Here's the American Association of Wine Economists, homepage.
