In France, there is an excess of wine production which is creating problems for the sector.

. The French government has allocated 200 million euros to launch an emergency distillation programme, converting excess production into ethanol for industrial uses such as perfumes or disinfectants.

The French Ministry of Agriculture has obtained European approval for this financial support plan. This initiative aims to address the overproduction of wine which is particularly affecting the Languedoc and Bordeaux regions. While France is poised to regain its title as the world's leading wine producer, this is partly due to a declining Italian harvest. However, the French wine sector faces internal challenges, such as declining domestic consumption and foreign competition, coupled with an economically struggling China.

The government is trying to support prices and wine farmers with this financial aid. Emergency distillation and other measures, such as cutting down excess vineyards, are helping to rebalance the market. The goal is to find new sources of income for wine producers and adapt to changes in consumer habits. The use of alcohol made from the destruction of wine in non-food products, such as disinfectants or perfumes, offers an alternative to recover value from overproduction.

In summary, the overproduction of wine in France has led the government to allocate 200 million euros to start emergency distillation and address the challenges facing the wine sector. The goal is to support prices and find new sources of income for farmers, adapting to changes in consumption and the global economy.