Harvest: French winegrowers worried

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At harvest time, it was disillusionment for Fabien Mariscal, winegrower. National production has fallen by 16% this year, due to new trade constraints and the effects of global warming. “Since 2016, every year, we have had one or two, three, or even four climatic hazards. Over two years, or even three years, I lost 70 to 80% of my harvest”he laments.

Wine growers also denounce an escalation of standards which weakens the fight against certain diseases. This year, the harvest promises to be the weakest since the post-war period.

“There is a growing anger because the winegrowers are no longer getting by. Financially, we are no longer able to make a living from our profession. People work, but do not earn a living, and therefore they feel the same anger”explains Fabien Castelbou, vice-president of the cooperative winegrowers of Occitanie.

Saturday November 15, in Béziers (Hérault), 5,000 wine growers will meet to raise the demands of Occitanie, the leading wine-growing region in France.