Germany pays winemakers to remove vineyards
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In Baden-Württemberg, Germany, winemakers can now receive payments to remove their vineyards and leave the land fallow.
Agricultural Minister Marion Gentges announced the program in Sasbachwalden, stating that it will give businesses a chance to rethink their operations. The program responds to increasing economic hardship for winemakers, as costs rise and wine sales decrease across Europe.
The area dedicated to vineyards in the region decreased by 3 percent to 25,822 hectares in 2025, according to the Statistical State Office in Fellbach. Often, winemakers stop cultivating land because it is no longer financially viable to grow grapes. The government will pay 2,500 euros per hectare for a limited time if the land is planted with flowers instead of vines, with a maximum of three hectares qualifying for the payment.
Gentges also stated the government intends to support and preserve the region’s steep vineyards. Rainer Zeller, president of the Badischer Weinbauverband, emphasized the need for political support to give businesses the freedom to operate successfully. The 2026 grape harvest began unusually early in many regions, and ongoing drought conditions are expected to result in below-average yields.
