02 May 2017
Remarkably well organised by the Director General of the Council, Gabriel Padilla Maya, this trip allowed Jean-Marie Aurand to present the OIV and its missions to the professional leaders of the Mexican wine sector, a few months after Mexico joined the Organisation and to visit the country's main wine-producing regions: Sonora, Parras, Coahuila, Querétaro, Baja California, Valle de Guadalupe and Valle de Santo Tomás.During a meeting where a bill to determine the general framework of State intervention to support the wine sector was presented to the Senate in order to develop the national wine industry, and in the presence of representatives of governors and the CMV, the Director General of the OIV stressed the importance of such an initiative that will, as in the case of many other countries, facilitate the growth of Mexican wine production.Before the representatives of producers of table and dried grapes, Jean-Marie Aurand presented the latest study of the OIV, carried out jointly with the FAO, on the global landscape of table grapes and raisins, highlighting the opportunities for Mexican producersBefore the representatives of producers of table and dried grapes, Jean-Marie Aurand presented the latest study of the OIV, carried out jointly with the FAO, on the global landscape of table grapes and raisins, highlighting the opportunities for Mexican producers.With a production of 260,000 tonnes of table grapes per year, an increase of 25% since the year 2000 with more than 60% exported, Mexico is becoming a significant player on the world market. Its production is well rewarded as it arrives on the European market out of season (May to July).As for dried grapes, since 2000, production has increased by 225% to reach 14,000 tonnes in 2015.With a production of 260,000 tonnes of table grapes per year, an increase of 25% since the year 2000 with more than 60% exported, Mexico is becoming a significant player on the world marketDriven by strong domestic demand (an annual increase in consumption of 12% for the last 10 years), wine production has experienced remarkable growth. A large number of wine companies established in 11 Mexican states produce nearly 200,000 hectolitres of a wide variety of high-quality wine every year.The development and modernisation of the sector is driven collectively by the CMV with the government's support.During a visit to the Autonomous University of Baja California, which organises the Ensenada Tierra del Vino international wine competition, the promoters expressed their wish to request the patronage of the OIV for their next events.Jean-Marie Aurand presented the main trends in the global wine market to senior figures in the wine sector as well as key issues for the future, highlighting the opportunities for Mexico.At a meeting chaired by the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Jorge Armando Narváez Narváez, also delegated to the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand presented the main trends in the global wine market to senior figures in the wine sector as well as key issues for the future, highlighting the opportunities for Mexico. The Director General, like the Undersecretary of Agriculture, welcomed Mexico's accession to the OIV, a very important decision for the future of Mexican viticulture. He praised the active role of Mexican experts in the OIV's work, supported by the CMV and encouraged by the ministry by means of the recently-created Inter-institutional Wine Committee.Jean-Marie Aurand presented the main trends in the global wine market to senior figures in the wine sector as well as key issues for the future, highlighting the opportunities for MexicoLastly, the Undersecretary of Agriculture announced his country's intention to organise a presentation of Mexican wine at the OIV headquarters in the near future.
12 Apr 2017
On 10 April in Brussels, the Director General of the OIV participated in the Conference of the International Federation of Wines and Spirits (FIVS).The annual meeting was dedicated this year to major issues for the vitivinicultural sector, within an uncertain and ever-evolving international context.A number of workshops provided opportunities to address various current topics: environmental issues, consumer behaviour and expectations, and the environmental and social responsibility of companies.Jean-Marie Aurand, as part of the introduction to the conference, gave a presentation of the major trends observed in the vitivinicultural sector at a global level and underlined the main challenges for the future in economic, societal and environmental terms. He also highlighted the role of the OIV in accompanying the vitivinicultural sector through these substantial changes.Jean-Marie Aurand highlighted the role of the OIV in accompanying the vitivinicultural sector through these substantial changesThe Director General of the OIV also praised the quality of the relationship between the two organisations, emphasising the involvement of industry representatives in the work of the OIV and their consistently constructive contribution to collective expertise thanks to FIVS' status as an observer.
10 Apr 2017
The Director General of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand, presented information on the potential wine production, assessment of the harvest, and state of the market and international trade in 2016 at the Organisation's headquarters in Paris on 11 April.
- The size of the global area under vines remained at 7.5 mha in 2016, with China's vineyard surface area continuing to increase (+17 kha), confirming its place as the country with the 2nd biggest vineyard surface area.
- World wine production declined by 3% compared with the previous year, falling to 267 mhl in 2016.
- Wine consumption stood at 242 mhl in 2016, having stabilised after the 2008 economic crisis.
- The world wine trade: a slight reduction in volume (104 mhl, -1.2%) but increase in value (29 bn EUR, +2%).
27 Mar 2017
It is the sixth edition of this global standard developed and adopted in 1983 by the World Customs Organization (WCO), used by over 200 countries and economic and customs unions for the purposes of classifying goods traded around the globe. The 2017 version of the HS Nomenclature comprises 5387 subheadings composed of 6 figure-codes (compared with 5205 in the 2012 version). The HS is used by countries to draw up national customs tariffs and establish international trade statistics. In total, the 2017 version of the HS Nomenclature includes 233 sets of amendments; 85 of these are related to the agricultural sector, including the proposal the OIV made to the WCO in 2013.Heading 22.04 only comprised two subheadings: 2204.21, which identified wine in containers of 2 litres or less, and 2204.29, which identified wine in containers of more than 2 litres – the latter being generally defined as bulk wine. With the new 2204.22 subheading, "wine in containers holding more than 2 l but not more than 10 l" will no longer be considered as bulk, yet as a packaged product.The bulk marketFor Jean-Marie Aurand, Director General of the OIV, "this new world Nomenclature of reference proposed by the OIV improves transparency and clarity in the collection of statistical data on the sector and will make it possible to communicate more precise figures at the global level on this product type". Bulk wine exports are showing considerable growth and in 2015 reached 39.6 million hectolitres, equivalent to 38% of the total trade volume. (Statistics based on the 2012 Nomenclature relating to wines in containers holding more than 2 litres.)
12 Mar 2017
To attend this press conference, journalists are kindly asked to send an email with their name and their professional contact details to press@oiv.int.Date: Tuesday 11 April 2017Time: 11:00amLocation: International Organisation of Vine and Wine, (OIV), 18 Rue d'Aguesseau, Paris 75008 - Metro station Madeleine or Concorde [see map]
09 Mar 2017
This competition – organised by the Wine Producers Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard under the patronage of the OIV – was presided by Konstantinos Lazarakis, the first Greek professional to have obtained the title of Master of Wine. Almost 800 wines and spirits from 8 countries were evaluated by an international panel of professionals in the sector – oenologists, sommeliers, producers, journalists. Since its creation in 1990, the competition has steadily gained in international popularity and renown. The official delegate at the event, Tatiana Svinartchuk, Head of the OIV Economy and Law Unit, highlighted the significant expansion of this competition, which recorded a 20% increase in the number of samples this year.On this occasion, the Wine Producers Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard took advantage of the gathering of professionals from around the world to raise awareness of Greek wines and regions by organising thematic seminars. The competition results are now available here
09 Mar 2017
2017's Reading and Selection CommitteeThere were 289 communication proposals in the form of oral presentations, briefs or posters. These were evaluated by the Committee made up of both OIV experts and Bulgarian scientific personalities.Around 160 oral presentations and briefs were selected for the 3 Congress sessions and just over 120 communications will be presented in poster form, representing more than 30 different countries.During the Reading and Selection CommitteeIn addition, the OIV Director General, Jean-Marie Aurand, met with the Bulgarian Minister for Agriculture, Hristo Bozukov. This meeting showed that the organisation of the 40th Congress was running smoothly as it moved into its operational phase. The Director General made a point of thanking the Minister for the commitment and efficiency of the teams, both from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Executive Agency on Vine and Wine (EAVW).Jean-Marie Aurand with the Bulgarian Minister for Agriculture, Hristo Bozukov
27 Feb 2017
Presided by Professor Rosa María Lamuela-Raventós and Professor Ramon Estruch from the University of Barcelona, the meeting was a great success, with over 200 participants including, scientists, health professionals, journalists, and some winery representatives who attended the various conference sessions. The sessions were very dynamic and of the highest quality, which was evident by the high participation during the question periods as well as the many requests for the transcript of the sessions afterwards.Numerous technical communications presented by well-known scientists coming from Europe, USA and South Africa have summarised the different effects of wine consumption on health. If moderate wine consumption is known to provide some beneficial effects several issues remain to be solved.On this occasion, Jean-Claude Ruf, scientific coordinator of the OIV, highlighted the main issues and the role of the OIV in this context.The next Wine and Health Meeting (probably in 2019) will be organized by Prof. Andrew Waterhouse in California (USA).To Consult:Closing remarks from Professor Rosa María Lamuela-Raventós
26 Feb 2017
During this meeting, Professor Bozukov expressed his delight to be hosting the 40th Congress of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine in Sofia on 29 May to 2 June 2017, and emphasised the excellent collaboration that exists between his country and the OIV.Jean-Marie Aurand thanked the Bulgarian Minister for organising the Congress. This event – set to bring together hundreds of experts and leaders in the global vitivinicultural sector – is to be hosted by a Member State where vitiviniculture is inseparable from the country's history and culture, and has seen a thorough revival.The Director General also praised the quality of the collaboration between the teams on both sides working to make this Congress a success.
22 Feb 2017
On Thursday 16 February 2017, the technical conference ENOMAQ 2017 took place at the Feria de Zaragoza exhibition centre (Spain). This conference was coordinated by La Semana Vitivinícola, and its main theme was wine and sustainability. The OIV attended the event, represented by its Vice-President Vicente Sotés, with the involvement of the head of the Viticulture Unit, Mario de la Fuente.Mario de la Fuente, on left in photo The conference, chaired by Feria de Zaragoza director Rogelio Cuairán and La Semana Vitivinícola director Salvador Manjón, benefited from the involvement of researchers from a variety of universities and research centres, as well as the Federación Española del Vino (Spanish Wine Federation) which was represented by its Deputy Secretary General, Susana García. Technicians, producers, wineries and wine industry professionals, students and others also participated in the event, which gathered around 150 participants.The presentations were organised into three thematic groups: Viticulture, Oenology and Wine Marketing. A total of seven talks were given, dealing with integrated and sustainable vineyard management, the use of new varieties resistant to fungal diseases (including a case study from a winery), key elements and new technologies for sustainability in wineries, the price of sustainable wines and certifications for different types of wine. These talks contributed substantially to the technological transfer of these advancements to the vitivinicultural sector and, in particular, to the understanding of the concept of sustainability and its potential practical application within vitivinicultural enterprises.Sustainable vitiviniculture is a priority for the OIV, as evidenced by the promotion of sustainable viticulture within one of its five strategic axes for the 2015-2019 Strategic Plan. Understanding ‘sustainability’ to include everything surrounding it, since 1997 the OIV has been working on a variety of resolutions: in integrated production (VITI 1/1999; CST 2004); in the conservation of diversity (VITI 01/2002); in organic production (ECO 460/2012) and, of course, in sustainable production, with the resolution on the development of sustainable vitiviniculture (CST 2004); the guidelines for sustainable vitiviniculture (CST 2008) and the specific guidelines for sustainable viticulture adapted to table grapes and raisins (VITI 422/2011).When dealing with sustainability in the wine sector, it is essential to bear in mind that it must be carried out on the basis of four fundamental pillars: environmental, social (safety and food hygiene), cultural and economic. Recently, at its General Assembly in Bento Gonçalves (Brazil, November 2016), the OIV adopted the “OIV General Principles of Sustainable Vitiviniculture - Environmental - Social - Economic and Cultural Aspects”, in the form of its resolution CST 518/2016, which allows us to distinguish between the general principles of sustainability and the production methods that fully or partially incorporate these principles.
Sustainable initiatives require planning, monitoring and assessment of knowledge. It is a constantly-evolving process and, as such, it requires continuous evaluation and improvement.This is why in 2015, as part of its work plan, the OIV decided to restructure its working groups, creating the multi-disciplinary horizontal group “Sustainable Development and Climate Change (ENVIRO)”.As a result, various sustainability-related initiatives are now underway as part of the work of this Expert Group, such as:
- CSR: corporate social responsibility (ISO 26000), adaptation to vitiviniculture (draft resolution CST 13-530),
- protocols and recommendations on GHG calculation,
- recommendations for sustainable water management (draft resolution VITI-TECVIT 16-569) and on the methodology to be applied when calculating water footprints,
- good practices or reasonable pesticide use in viticulture (draft resolution VITI-PROTEC 16-592),
- functional biodiversity,
- conservation of varieties and selection processes (draft resolution VITI 14-564),
- management of by-products in viticulture,
- resilience and climate change: strategies for adapting the vitivinicultural sector to climate change.