French Winemakers Plant Trees to Beat Climate Change

Across France's wine country, something old is becoming new again as winemakers plant trees among their vines to fight climate change.

The practice called "vitiforestry" might sound modern, but it's actually centuries old. Countries like Italy and Greece never stopped growing trees alongside their grapes, but France abandoned the tradition in favor of vine-only rows.

Now climate change is forcing French winemakers to rethink that choice. Pierre-Jean Villa, who grows grapes in southeastern France's Rhône valley, noticed the shifts happening around him. Harvests started coming earlier, heatwaves intensified, and violent rainstorms arrived with little warning.

His son Hugo, fresh from agricultural school, had an idea. What if they brought back the trees that used to grow on their land a century ago? The father-son team planted 400 apple, pear, peach, hazelnut and quince trees among every 15 rows of their prized Syrah grapevines.

The trees do more than look pretty. During a brutal 20-day heatwave in August 2025, Villa's tree-planted plot fared better than his traditional vineyards. The shade kept temperatures down on leaves and berries, protecting the harvest.

Christian Dupraz, a research director at France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, has been studying this approach since 1997. When temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius last year, his agroforestry vines sailed through without damage. The trees shield young vines from spring frosts and help plants release water during dry spells.

The Ripple Effect

The movement is spreading fast. Winemakers from Bordeaux to Champagne are now planting trees in their vineyards. Regional authorities started offering subsidies, and in 2024, customs officials created a legal framework to support the practice.

The French Agroforestry Association estimates that two to five percent of vineyard areas now include trees to some degree. They're calling it a growing trend in response to climate uncertainty.

Dupraz sees even bigger potential ahead. As some struggling growers abandon their vineyards entirely, those empty spaces create perfect opportunities for tree planting. And with climate models predicting regular temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, growing vines in full sun may soon become impossible.

For Villa, the project represents something deeper than just protecting his business. Standing on his plot with maple and fruit trees dotting the landscape, he sees his entire region's history coming back to life. The estate now has sheep and bees again, just like it did generations ago.

Other winemakers are taking notice, making pilgrimages to see his young vitiforestry plot in action. What started as one family's experiment is becoming a roadmap for an entire industry adapting to a changing world.