Why did wine production decline in Algeria after independence?

Following Algeria's independence, wine production declined significantly due to several interconnected factors:

• Cultural and Religious Values: Because of the prohibition of alcohol consumption in Islam, viticulture is increasingly viewed as culturally inappropriate within the country.1
• Loss of Export Markets: Historically, wine was a mainstay of colonial exports, particularly to France. After independence, French imports of Algerian agricultural products, including wine, were severely restricted.12
• Agricultural Neglect and Restructuring: Since independence, the agricultural sector has suffered from underinvestment, poor organization, and successive restructuring. Consequently, most vineyards have been uprooted, leading to a marked decline in production to about one-tenth of 1950s levels.1

These shifts contributed to a broader transition in the Algerian economy, moving the nation from a food-exporting country in the 1950s to one that relies heavily on food imports.1