The Ministry of Agriculture has published the map of “loss of wine-growing potential” in the municipalities of Aude. Subject to acceptance of the files, the department will be most impacted in Languedoc-Roussillon with the uprooting of nearly 5,000 hectares of vines, which should therefore disappear. Explanations.
The announcement was awaited by an entire industry. The wine world has become aware, with more details, of the number of hectares of vines which should be uprooted following the announcement from the Ministry of Agriculture notified to the European Commission. This uprooting responds to a major crisis suffered by winegrowers: inflation, struggling markets and climate change. In Languedoc-Roussillon, it is the Aude department which is the most impacted, in number of hectares. Subject to acceptance of the files, the map produced by FranceAgriMer shows that almost 5,000 hectares of vines could disappear in the Aude region. “This represents 7% of our vineyard”confides Ludovic Roux, president of the Occitanie wine growers.
A percentage to put into perspective according to him: “We are average. So yes, in terms of surface area it is significant but all the wine-growing areas are suffering.” In addition, 1,420 hectares which will be uprooted concern wine growers wishing to stop their activity.
DR – DR
Total removal
A total of 999 files were submitted to state services. Alexandre They, president of the independent winegrowers of Aude, recalls that for “our business represents a recalibration to bring farms up to speed. Current markets are very complicated. Time is not really an expense. For us, this uprooting is an opportunity”. In other words: achieving a balance between supply and demand.
Among these files, 227 are affected by a total uprooting representing 23%. On the FranceAgriMer map, several Aude municipalities are affected such as Bages which has a share of surface area to be uprooted between 50 and 100%. Same story in Berriac. “Many winegrowers do it because of the drought,” explains Frédéric Rouanet, president of the Aude winegrowers’ union. “As a defender of our profession, uprooting the vines is always heartbreaking. This is really what we ask for as a last resort. In our union, many winegrowers have removed some but not all. They want to concentrate their vines on viable plots that are little affected by drought. On the other hand, for everything that is in the scrubland, there is nothing left for us because it will only be wasteland.explains the winegrower.
For his part, Alexandre They affirms that a third of independent winegrowers had to uproot part of their vines.
When there is a crisis like this, we must carry out this social plan
The other black point for the sector is that of the amount per hectare of vines uprooted. In fact, it was set at €4,000. A figure below that hoped for by wine representatives. “Some winegrowers said to themselves that it wasn’t worth it”notes Frédéric Rouanet. And Ludovic Roux to support: “In terms of money it’s quite low. If we calculate, you need at least €2,000 to carry out its uprooting in good conditions. So, you have the other half left. These €2,000 in question mainly allow debts to be repaid. Some wine growers reinvest in other sectors. But when there is a crisis like this, we must implement this social plan.
