French winemakers take to streets

French wine exports are in their sixth successive year of decline

Thousands of winemakers have staged protests in the streets of France to demand government help over falling exports and a slump in domestic sales.

Demonstrators in Avignon, Bordeaux, Macon, Angers, Nantes and other towns rallied behind black-draped tractors.

They blame over-production, shrinking exports and a government campaign against alcohol abuse for what union leaders call a "crisis" in winemaking.

France's agriculture ministry said it would meet industry leaders next week.

The unions want the government to provide money for farmers wishing to move from vines to other crops and greater compensation for uprooting unprofitable vineyards.

Chanting slogans

They are also threatening legal action against a state advertising campaign to combat alcoholism which they say is unfairly hitting demand, although no decision has yet been taken.

A sign draped on a picking machine in Avignon read, "They want the winemakers' death", Reuters news agency said.

France's annual wine consumption has almost halved since the 1960s

At the same time in Macon, protesters wearing black armbands chanted slogans including "The government's toasting, winegrowers are sinking" and "Stop the lies".

Competition from Australia and Latin America has seized an important share of France's export market, which is in its sixth successive year of decline.

In the first eight months of 2004, French exports were down 5.6% in volume and 9.6% in value compared to the same period the year before.

At the same time, a bumper crop of grapes this year has caused a glut of French wines, while domestic consumption steadily drops.

The average French adult now drinks about 50 litres each year, compared to 126 litres in the 1960s.

Agriculture Minister Dominique Bussereau acknowledged the "deep worry" among winemakers, the Associated Press news agency reported.

"The government understands these difficulties," he said.