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A survey conducted by the Chamber of Agriculture on the economic situation of winegrowers in the Bordeaux region shows the extent of the difficulties in which many find themselves. According to this, 1,320 of the surveyed winegrowers, who cultivate 35,000 hectares of vineyards, have financial problems. They are on average 51 years old and mainly operate in the regions of Côtes de Bordeaux, Entre-deux-Mers and Médoc as well as Haut-Médoc.
Of those surveyed, 70 percent want to continue their winegrowing activities. On average, they are 47 years old and have a farm size of 28 hectares. Only slightly more than 100 of them want to remain pure wine producers, but reduce acreage and let leases expire. Most are thinking about diversifying into other crop production such as fruit, olives, hazelnut bushes, arable farming, vegetable cultivation and hemp. Others want to focus in the future on wine tourism. The Chamber of Agriculture states in a statement that economically weak farms can hardly afford the investments necessary for conversion and calls on the authorities to provide "appropriate support".
Of the 1,320 winegrowers in difficulties, 23 percent want to stop all agricultural activity. On average, they are 60 years old, farm 19 hectares and in most cases cannot find a successor.
(al / Source: vitisphere; Photo: 123rf)