Dilemma for French winemakers as alcohol content rises while consumption falls
French wines are becoming more alcoholic, as warmer summers concentrate the sugars in grapes. But consumers are looking for less – not more – alcohol in the wines they drink, while drinking less in general.
While initiatives such as “Dry January” – which sees people start the new year by abstaining from alcohol for a month – are not popular in France, sales of alcohol-free wine are on the rise. People who do continue to drink are drinking less, and seeking out wines with less alcohol content.
“We do consider the alcohol content when we buy a new wine. Red wines now go up to 15 degrees, and that’s intense, so we pay attention,” said Pierre, who was visiting a popular independent wine makers' fair in the south of Paris.
He considers the alcohol content particularly carefully when he buys wine from a shop, where he can't taste it.
Doctors lament lack of state support for 'Dry January' in France
More from the wine fair, in the Spotlight on France podcast, listen here:
While wine remains the drink of choice for more than half the French population, alcohol consumption in general has dropped over the past three decades, with numerous studies showing that people are drinking less, driven by health and wellness concerns.
Read more on RFI English
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