Jacques Gravegeal describes situation for Pays d’Oc as “challenging”

fter several years of buoyant sales, producers of Pays d’Oc wines are entering the latest financial year with concerns about the future. The region’s growers’ organisation, which convened for its AGM on December 15 in La Grande Motte, spoke of the laboured start to the year and downward trend in prices, both of which seem to intimate at a trend reversal. Smiling faces amongst last year’s delegates gave way to grave expressions this year. “The situation is challenging, ex-cellar shipments are lethargic and lower price proposals are worrying wine growers”, stated organisation chairman Jacques Gravegeal at a press conference just before the AGM, citing the terrorist attacks and drop in tourism as the main causes of declining consumption in France this year. The finger was also pointed at Spanish wines that are half the price of their French counterparts.

“Allowing the grape variety and vintage to be stated on wines without a geographical indication was tantamount to setting the cat amongst the pigeons. At the time, I was the only one who complained about the decision. Now the consequences are plain for all to see”, stressed Gravegeal. Whilst speaking out against lack of clarity on labelling in supermarkets, particularly as regards provenance, the organisation’s chairman is not looking to cross swords with multiple retailers which market 1.8 million hectolitres of Pays d’Oc PGI wines every year. “We are going to take a close look at the market with the major market players and meet up with supermarket representatives to find ways of promoting our wines rather than let ourselves be defeated”, he announced.

Source: Vitisphere. Photo: Michèle Trévoux.