Gard winegrowers stifled by competition from Spanish wines

Three months after the mobilization of farmers throughout France ended, Gard winegrowers say they have forgotten the measures announced by the profession. With the massive importation of Spanish wines, their sales are going down. They consider the aid to be insufficient.

The Freddy Paulet winery in Moussac has just emerged from the ground. The first grapes are expected in three years. However, this winegrower is concerned about competition from Spanish wine. “Every year we have a little more wine from Spain. As a result, half of the wine remains to be sold. Languedoc’s production is 11 and a half million hectolitres. Today, between five and six million are unsold, while in four months it will be autumn. What we want is to sell our wine!”

After the mobilization of the farmers at the beginning of the year, these professionals formed a collective to continue the mobilization. For them, the aid announced is insufficient. Almost a third of Gard’s wine producers have been hit by them. The others would have given up because the grant conditions were too restrictive. “Not all farms benefited from cash flow supportexplains Aurélien Dupuy. We had to limit the import of wines that did not complythe standards French. Overall, we always find ourselves in competition with Spanish wines.”

We got nothing, we got nothing… Just promise that’s all. We no longer have cash on our farms. Our cellars, cooperatives, cannot sell a liter of wine. We are the forgotten ones. I’m afraid we’re dying professionally. Honestly, it’s bullshit. A cry of despair.

Patrick Chaleil

winemaker

The pandemic and the various climatic episodes have weakened the financial situation of the producers. “Our cooperative cellars have suffered from inflation, cellar costs have increased by 20% compared to the year 2022. Even with this additional percentage, it does not give us much A liter of wine costs the cooperative 85 øre and 65 øre paid to the operator Our fees are subject to an increase of 50 % that is not transferred to the purchase price of our wines.worries Aurélien Dupuy.

The collective asks to meet Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau during his visit to Gard on Friday 25. April. This refused. Winegrowers have the feeling of being forgotten by the government’s announcements.