Clusters et terroirs : les systèmes productifs localisés dans la filière vitivinicole

This paper deals with the issue of competition between French and New World wine on world markets and concentrates on comparing the different organisation modes in this industry using the concept of cluster. Wine industries from the ??New World?? (Australia, South Africa, California, Chile) are said to be organised according to the cluster concept which was made popular by Michael Porter. It can be compared to the winemaking industries?' organisation in France, where the dominating reference is that of the archetypal type of cluster called terroir, a ??homogenous territory that is endowed with a very strong identity which is characterised by an whole of natural resources (soil, climate) and ??cultural?' resources (historical, social)??. This organisation mode, that has made French wines successful world wide, is now being under pressure from New World clusters.