On this occasion, during a presentation of the wine sector, Ms Gabriela Matečná, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted the variety of terroirs that determine a rich variety of quality wines. The Slovak Republic is implementing a programme of modernisation, which endeavours to promote the use of new vine varieties and native vine varieties, as well as encouraging initiatives with the aim of developing wine tourism. The Small Carpathian Wine Route, which runs along the vineyards of almost 400 grape growers, is an illustration of this.
Around 15 companies took part in the tasting that followed the presentation.
Jean-Marie Aurand praised the quality of the existing relations between the OIV and the Slovak Republic, which supports the guidelines and work of the Organisation. The Director General also made reference to the action of H.E Ambassador František Lipka as President of the OIV Award Jury, which every year recognises authors and editors of works on different aspects of vitiviniculture (technical, economical, historical or cultural).
With a surface area of 16,600 ha and production of 310,000 hL of wine per year – 70% of which were designation of origin wines – the Slovak vitivinicultural sector has seen a major revival.
