Geneva to pay wine growers not to grow

Friday, 27 March 2026 06:30

Authorities in Geneva are proposing a new support scheme for struggling winegrowers, aimed at preserving vineyards without forcing production.

The State Council of Geneva plans to offer CHF 18,000 per hectare each year to maintain vines, even if no grapes are harvested.

The proposal comes as an alternative to uprooting vines amid a broader crisis in local winegrowing.

To fund the plan, the government is requesting an additional CHF 2.3m francs for this year on top of existing support measures.

Officials say the goal is to safeguard Geneva’s wine-growing landscape while giving producers time to adapt.

More from Bitesize News

Swiss Post announce job cuts

Swiss Post will eliminate up to 110 positions in 2027, blaming shrinking letter volumes and fewer over-the-counter transactions
Autumn arrives in Switzerland

The heatwave that has gripped Switzerland since May finally breaks tomorrow
Driver warning in Vaud

Drivers in western Vaud face four nights of disruption on the A1 next week.
Mixed results in school classrooms

Swiss 15-year-olds still rank among the world's best in maths and science, but their performance in reading and maths is sliding
Good news for household bills

Swiss households will pay a little less for electricity next year
Fuel reserves now in use

Switzerland is dipping into its emergency fuel reserves for the first time this year to keep petrol and diesel flowing