At the invitation of the President of the Saint-Yves conference (the oldest association of legal professionals in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg), Mr William Lindsay Simpson, and of the Director of the Vine and Wine Institute and also Luxembourg OIV delegate, Mr Robert Ley, Jean-Marie Aurand gave a conference in the capital on 15 March dedicated to the regulatory role of the OIV and its impact on the global vitivinicultural sector.
This conference was open to a diverse audience: representatives of the vitivinicultural sector, ambassadors, members of European Union institutions working in the Grand Duchy, legal professionals... It also played host to the Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, Mr Fernand Etgen.
During his introduction, the Minister gave a presentation on Luxembourg viticulture, emphasising the substantial efforts made by grape growers to improve the quality of wines, supported by public policies that have been put in place.
1250 ha of vines along the banks of the Moselle
The Grand Duchy has 1250 ha of vines along the banks of the Moselle, with an average annual production of 110 000 hL of wine – 90% of which are white wines, and 25% of these crémants.
Mr Fernand Etgen reminded those present that Luxembourg was one of the eight founding members of the OIV in 1924 and assured the Director General of his country’s full commitment to the Organisation.
Jean-Marie Aurand gave a panorama of the state of the global vitivinicultural sector, highlighting the major issues for the future and the role of the OIV within this context.
He also praised the high level of involvement of Luxembourg in the work of the OIV and the unfailing support that the Grand Duchy has given the Organisation.