Due to the declining wine consumption and export, France is resuming its crisis distillation program. This time, the state is providing 40 million euros to process 1.2 million hectoliters of red and rosé wine into industrial alcohol. This is reported by the industry magazine La Revue du Vin de France.

The amount corresponds to approximately 160 million bottles of red and rosé wine, with only barrel wine allowed for distillation. The minimum quantity per delivery is 30 hectoliters. The supplier receives 30 euros per hectoliter, and the distiller three euros per hectoliter. The aid is financed from the European crisis reserve. As La Revue du Vin de France reports, the financial support falls short of the expectations of French winemakers. They had hoped for a sum twice as high.

In 2023 and 2024, France allocated a total of 200 million euros for the distillation of 4.4 million hectoliters of red and rosé wines. During the Covid crisis in 2020, even 250 million euros were available to distill 2.6 million hectoliters of wine.

The distillation program is part of the "national crisis management plan" and complements the fallowing of vineyard areas in France. The state is already supporting the clearing of 32,500 hectares of vineyards with 130 million euros.

(cs)

More on the topic:

EU Parliament Approves Aid Program for Wine Industry

France Supports Vineyard Clearings with 130 Million Euros

France Increases Contribution to Crisis Distillation by 40 Million Euros