Organic conversions slow in France

France’s shift towards organic viticulture has slowed dramatically, with vineyard area entering organic conversion falling 43% in 2024. Growers cite rising costs and challenging weather as key factors, even as consumer demand for organic wine continues to increase.

France remains one of the world’s leading wine producers, with around 750,000 hectares of vineyards and exports worth more than €11 billion annually. Organic wine has expanded rapidly over the past decade, and today about 21% of the country’s vineyard area - roughly 160,000 hectares - is certified organic. However, new conversions have slowed sharply.

In 2024, the area of vineyards beginning organic conversion fell 43% compared with 2023, following a 34% drop the previous year. Overall, land in the conversion process declined by 4%.

Producers point to two main pressures. A run of difficult seasons, including spring frosts between 2021 and 2024, has increased the risks of organic farming. At the same time, organic production typically requires more labour and higher costs.

Despite the slowdown in new conversions, consumer demand for organic wine in France increased by around 7% in 2024.