The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Vassil Groudev, played on the analogy between Thracian gold and the gold that flows in Bulgaria’s cellars, positioning his country among those on which a long history of wine growing has conferred a special magic, a special spirit, and inviting us to discovery in the salons of the OIV, but even more so in the landscapes and vineyards of his country.
Hosting this event, the Director-General of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand, stressed the importance of Bulgaria’s vine and wine sector, gate of Europe between the Balkans and the Black Sea, with five wine producing regions that offer a wide range of terroirs in which native vine varieties (Gamza, Mavrud, Dimyat, Rubin or Pamid) flourish alongside international varieties developed more recently as part of the restructuring of the wine sector.
M. Aurand added that he was delighted with the contribution of Bulgaria’s Executive Agency for Vine and Wine to the work of the OIV and expressed the hope that new initiatives could be developed.
The purpose of this document is to recall and assemble in a single document some important elements of guidance from the OIV activities related to biotechnology in vitiviniculture. This study does not attempt to cover in detail all the issues and facts, but rather to contextualize the overall potential impact of the application of biotechnology in the wine sector. Its purpose is to provide a factual basis for potential discussion.
This document has not been submitted to the step Procedure for Examining Resolutions and cannot in any way be treated as an OIV resolution. Only resolutions adopted by the Member States of the OIV have an official character.
Different approaches regarding vitiviniculture products derived from modern biotechnology are expressed.
This document includes in particular definitions adopted by Codex Alimentarius and by the Cartagena protocol on biosafety as well as the resolutions adopted by the OIV on this issue.
Any approach implemented should be consistent with other texts already adopted by different intergovernmental organisations.
With more than 150 exhibitors and 200 makes of wine-growing equipment on show from 7 different countries, this exhibition held in the heart of one of China’s premier wine producing regions was a remarkable success.
The Director General of the OIV took part in the opening ceremony in the presence of Mr. Cui Bo, Vice Secretary of the Ningxia Committee, Mr. Hao Linhai, Vice Party Secretary of Ningxia People ´s Government and Mrs. Valérie Lobry, Director General of COMEXPOSIUM.
In his speech, he stressed the importance of this event in one of the most dynamic wine-growing areas in China.
With more than 35,000 ha of areas under vines (including 12,000 ha planted over the past 3 years) and an annual production of 100 million bottles of wine, Ningxia is flaunting its ambition, with the active interest and strong support of the local authorities.
The Ningxia Autonomous Region has Observer status in the OIV.
Both Mr. Cui Bo and Mr. Hao Linhai, who is, moreover, Chairman of the regional Winegrowers’ Federation, stressed their interest in developing collaboration with the OIV so as to strengthen expertise and continue improving the quality of their wines on the basis of OIV standards.
Jean-Marie Aurand also had talks with the Beijing Authorities, resuming the contacts made in 2014 with a view to bringing about closer institutional ties in the future between the Peoples Republic of China and the OIV.
Claudia Quini, the official OIV delegate at this competition that was placed under the patronage of the Organisation, praised the rapid development of the event, which brought together over 2100 wines this year – 25% more than the last one. A total of 35 countries were represented.
During the conference, Jean-Marie Aurand gave a presentation on the OIV and its missions, putting its actions in the context of major developments in the global vitivinicultural sector.
Although modest, Canada's wine production – mainly situated in the provinces of Ontario, British Colombia and Quebec – has increased steadily in recent years to reach nearly 600,000 hectolitres (hl).
Wine consumption currently stands at 4.8 million hl and has seen an average annual growth of 2.5%. Canada is the fourth biggest wine-importing country in terms of value (1.5bn EUR in 2014).
“Wine is also a major sales item and it matters that people should know what it is, and what it is not – thus so much hangs on its correct definition,” said the French President, adding that “this is not only the responsibility of producers; consumers too need to be part of the process, and that is why an intergovernmental organisation was set up in 1924, the Organisation of Vine and Wine, which has its headquarters in France.”
Affirming that he wants “the OIV to be able to play its fullest possible part”, François Hollande noted that the Organisation brings together almost 50 Member States “and does a truly remarkable job.”
Addressing the representatives of the world vine and wine sector, the French President concluded: “We must widen the scope of the OIV – it is in our interest to do so – to include big countries like China or the United States.”
The 18th Vinexpo brings together in Bordeaux some 2400 exhibitors from 45 countries.
This salon, which is among the world’s foremost, strives to encourage international trade in wines and spirits, to foster knowledge of these products and to promote them.
Speech by François Hollande at the opening of the Vinexpo Exhibition (OIV Speech from 10’18 to 11’06).