Oh the Pomegranite fields of France...

France's famous vinyards are in decline: a combination of declining consumer demand, and increasing costs of production, not helped by climate change are resulting in Vineyards literally being ripped out.

Premium areas such as Bordeaux and Burgundy still do well, but in many other areas of France Vineyards produce far more wine than they can sell and many producers rely on a government subsidy scheme to buy back their surplus produce.

Climate Change Is Rewriting the French Wine Map

Increasingly Vineyards are being ripped out and replaced with more climate resilient crops.

Grapes thrive in the gentle warmth of Southern France's summers and early autumns of old, however now these regions, especially on the med are plagued by heat waves and drought, and irrigation has become a serious issue.

The effects are not even. Elite vineyards making high-value wines can absorb increased costs through technology and branding, but not so the majority of smaller and not so well known vineyards.

Too Much Wine, Not Enough Drinkers

It's not just climate change, probably more of an impact is changing consumer trends.... Le France gen Z drink less, and so we have declining demand, and I guess non alcoholic grape juice just isn't that appealing?!?

Exports provide little solace. Competition on world markets has become increasingly fierce, with more competitive producers in South America, Australia and the US offering better value, more climax-appropriate alternatives. Consequently, France is churning out millions of litres of wine that nobody wants to buy.

From Vineyards to Pomegranates

Growers are adapting.... some are replacing vines with olives, pistachios, or pomegranates-crops all of which are better adapted to the hotter and drier climate.

Final Thoughts

This isn't an economic disaster yet, as there are in-demand crops which growers can switch to, however this is something of a feeling of cultural decline for France, I mean Le Tour is going to look somewhat different when they're riding through fields of Pomegranites...