Under the OIV's high patronage, this conference organised by the Society of Chemistry Experts of France (SECF) and the Association of Oenology Laboratories of Portugal (ALABE) focused on progress in analysis techniques, standards and methods allowing for and guaranteeing the identification and authentication of wines and spirits.
The techniques and tools working together to ensure the traceability of vitiviniculture products aim to better preserve the authenticity and quality of wines, especially when it comes to counterfeits and fraud.
Traceability is meant in a very broad sense and concerns both viticulture as well as the winemaking process, the product itself, its packaging and its distribution. This year, a particular emphasis was placed on the isotopic analysis of wine, the traceability of the cork and of the glass of the bottles.
Wine Track® 2018 was a unique moment of exchange between scientists and materials and equipment providers regarding the current situation and methods available to guarantee the authenticity and traceability of products in the sector and to imagine new solutions.
The importance of guaranteeing the authenticity and traceability of vitivinicultural products
Jean-Claude Ruf, Scientific Coordinator of the OIV, emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the authenticity and traceability of vitivinicultural products in an increasingly globalised market.
Furthermore, he detailed the steps the OIV has already taken in this area, notably through the establishment of international standards related to:
- the definition of products,
- oenological practices and especially the concern for the consumer's safety and for maintaining the authentic character of the wines and their organoleptic qualities,
- labelling rules,
- the establishment of traceability standards,
- the establishment of analytical standards in order to monitor this traceability and these origins.
Following the conference, it was decided that the next edition of Wine Track® will take place in the Champagne region (France) in 2019.
With 282 million hectolitres (mhl), 2018 vitivinicultural production is one of the highest since 2000.
- In Europe: Italy (48.5 mhl), France (46.4 mhl) and Spain (40.9 mhl) recorded very high production levels. Germany (9.8 mhl), Romania (5.2 mhl), Hungary (3.4 mhl) and Austria (3.0 mhl) have also forecasted harvests above their 5-year averages. Portugal (5.3 mhl) and Greece (2.2 mhl) were the only countries to see a decrease in production compared with 2017.
- Production levels in the United States (23.9 mhl) have remained stable for 3 years.
- In South Africa, drought significantly impacted 2018 production (9.5 mhl).
- South American production levels were very high. In Argentina (14.5 mhl) vinified production increased by 23% compared with the previous year, and in Chile (12.9 mhl) it grew by 36%. Brazil (3.0 mhl) reached a high level, even if its production fell compared with the very strong 2017 production.
- Australian wine production (12.5 mhl) declined compared with that of the previous year and New Zealand production (3.0 mhl) remained at a very high level.
Since Azerbaijan joined the OIV in 2013, the relationship between this country with an ancient viticulture tradition and the OIV has been strengthened at the highest level. As part of this, the Organisation's Director General received the Azerbaijan Minister for Agriculture, who headed a delegation of producers who had come to present their wines to the press and to professionals from the sector.
Jean-Marie Aurand was delighted by the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OIV. The Director General emphasised that the OIV was interested in expanding its cooperation with Azerbaijan and in technical and scientific exchanges with Azerbaijani experts at OIV meetings.
“The development of the vitivinicultural sector is one of our primary objectives. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev grants a particular importance to this field. A State programme for the development of viticulture has been implemented in Azerbaijan”, Mr Inam Karimov, the Azerbaijani Minister for Agriculture, announced during his conversation with the Director General of the OIV.
Mr Inam Karimov addressed the importance of reinforcing the close cooperation and communication with the OIV’s experts, the support for the development of the vitivinicultural sector, the participation of Azerbaijani students at different levels of education and of the grants offered by the OIV.
On the occasion of the tasting, Mr Elchin Matadov, President of the Wine Producers and Exporters Association recalled the history of viticulture in his country and its current development, with 500 to 800 hectares planted annually.