Over 250 Million Bottles’ Worth of French Wine Will Be Distilled into Industrial Alcohol

Over 250 Million Bottles’ Worth of French Wine Will Be Distilled into Industrial Alcohol

FRENCH winemakers are looking to sell off some of the excess wine that has not been consumed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reports suggest that the unsellable amount in Europe could be well over a billion bottles’ worth. The main proposed solution has been to distil this excess into industrial alcohol that could be used for things like much-needed hand sanitiser. To help these winemakers out, the EU has a scheme to compensate them for this extra product; however, even at the relatively small price of 53 centimes per 750 millilitres, the cost adds up when dealing with such large quantities, meaning wineries had to wait for government approval. Now, the French government has reportedly taken its first step: agreeing to compensate producers about €140 million for 250 million bottles’ worth of wine.

Yesterday, French officials announced what’s being called “the first series of specific support measures” for the country’s wine industry. Among a number of financial benefits, France approved this first round of “crisis distillation” – though the terms were not entirely what the industry had asked for. Winemakers were hoping to sell off 50 per cent more wine at a higher cost per 750 millilitres. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture apparently said this is only “a first step before a review of the effect of this measure on the market.”

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Damon Mitchell

From the interviewed to the interviewer

As frontman of a rock band Damon used to court the British press, now he lives the quiet life in Spain and seeks to get to the heart of the community, scoring exclusive interviews with ex-pats about their successes and struggles during their new life in the sun.

Originally from Scotland but based on the coast for the last three years, Damon strives to bring the most heartfelt news stories from the spanish costas to the Euro Weekly News.

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Comments


    • naimah yianni

      15 May 2020 • 09:13

      Why has that happened? Everyone I speak to has been drinking more not less!! There´s not much to do when you´re stuck indoors unnaturally for a ridiculous amount of time

    • Michael

      15 May 2020 • 10:26

      Best thing to do with French wine! Drink Spanish its far superior!

    Comments are closed.