In the course of a working meeting attended by, inter alia, Ms Chrysoula Papadimitriou, Director for Rural Development and Food, Ms Evangelina Komenta, delegate to the OIV, Mr Yannis Voyatzis, President of the National Inter-Professional Organisation for Vines and Wine and Mr Theodore Georgopoulos, Director of the Greek Wine Federation, the Secretary-General spoke of Greece’s contribution to the work of the OIV (of which Greece has been a member since 1929) and confirmed the country’s unstinting support for the Organisation. He went on to speak of Greece’s firm intention to develop its viticulture by upgrading wines produced from native varieties, which are part of Greece’s historical heritage.
Mr Jean-Marie Aurand gave a presentation of the OIV’s Strategic Plan and expressed his pleasure at the active presence of Greek experts in the organisation and the delegation’s contribution to the decision-making process.
He drew attention to the importance the OIV attaches to maintaining the diversity of vine and wine production and improving and upgrading native varietal wines by means of the research and development programmes now being carried out in many countries.
With 110 000 hectares planted to vines, Greece produces some 3 million hectolitres of wine under highly varied soil and climatic conditions.
A land with a millenary wine tradition, Greece has succeeded in building up a modern viticulture sector with international vine varieties while at the same time continuing, from among nearly 300 local varieties, to produce unique wines based on Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Agiorgitiko or Xinomavro grapes. It is also the land of the Cretan diet, based on cereals, olive oil, vegetables and world-renowned wines.