Bordeaux starts grubbing up vines

Producers in Bordeaux are grubbing up vines, and so far have applied for 9,300 hectares (ha) of Bordeaux vineyards to receive €67m in funding to be grubbed up. With falling demand in France and export markets, almost 9% of Bordeaux's 108,000 ha are due to be removed to help match demand for wine.

Up to 2,000-3,000ha of vineyards in Bordeaux are abandoned according to estimates by the the CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux or Bordeaux Wine Bureau). These vines are not being managed and provide infection points for moulds, mildews and other diseases that affect the wider area.

Many of the vineyards are in the lower classifications of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations, as well as Médoc, Côtes de Bordeaux and Côtes de Bourg according to Stéphane Gabard, head of the AOC Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur in an interview for Decanter magazine. Stéphane claimed that two thirds of Bordeaux producers are nearing retirement with little prospect of passing on the business to family. Each wine maker is expected to receive €6,000 per ha for the grubbing up.