New price indicator for Bordeaux wine

The Bordeaux Wine Interprofessional Council (CIVB) introduced a new price indicator for bulk red Bordeaux AOP on October 20, developed through a collaboration between viticulture and trade sectors. This indicator serves as a midpoint between the production cost and the current market price, setting the price at 1,100 euros per barrel, or roughly 122 euros per hectoliter.

Purpose of the price indicator

The indicator was created under Article 172 ter of the wine OCM, which applies to wines with an AOP or IGP designation. Its goal is to provide a standard reference for bulk wine transactions between growers and merchants, allowing all parties to use it freely in their dealings.

Bulk wine’s role in Bordeaux

Bulk wine accounted for 63% of the first commercialization of red Bordeaux in the 2025/26 campaign. The production cost of 1,300 euros per barrel was calculated from accounting data of about sixty vineyards that focus heavily on bulk wine sales.

Determining the campaign price

The campaign price was set at 877 euros per barrel, based on data collected by the interprofession. This figure is the average of the production cost and the bulk price observed during the 2025/2026 campaign, aiming for a straightforward calculation method.

Working group’s approach

A working group, led by Jean-Raymond Clarenc for trade and Stéphane Héraud for viticulture, aimed to use a simple and clear method for the indicator. The CIVB may need to adjust the price in the future based on market changes and new data.

Market trends and production

The upcoming publication of the harvest declaration will offer important insights into the impact of uprooting (24,000 hectares over three years) and climate-related risks. Bordeaux’s wine stocks are decreasing, with 936,500 hectoliters removed from cellars last year, compared to 789,000 hectoliters produced. Red Bordeaux AOP accounted for 27% of the region’s total production in 2025.