Before local officials, representatives of the vitivinicultural sector (including the President of the Italian Federation of Industrialists, Producers, Exporters and Importers of Wines [FEDERVINI]), and scientists and experts in the sector, Jean-Marie Aurand – after a presentation of the OIV – gave a panorama of global vitiviniculture, highlighting major trends before discussing the major economic, environmental, social and societal issues for the future. Also present at this event were Professor Luigi Bavaresco (on whose initiative the Conference was created), Vittorino Novello, Eugenio Pomarici and Honorary OIV President Professor Mario Fregoni.
During this visit, the Director General of the OIV went to see the International Library "La Vigna", a veritable institution whose collection of books – with over 60,000 works, 20,000 of which are devoted to vitiviniculture – is just as remarkable in number as it is in its antiquity and diversity.
Founded 50 years ago at the end of the 1960s by Demetrio Zaccaria, a Vicenza entrepreneur, who started this collection out of passion, the International Library "La Vigna" is now an institute of specialised documentation that promotes cultural activities and organises conferences and events focused on agriculture, viticulture and the diffusion of rural culture.
During this visit, the possibility of establishing collaborations between the International Library "La Vigna" and the OIV was broached by President Mario Bagnara and the Director General of the OIV.
Finally, the day of 3 May was devoted to visiting vineyards in Verona province, in the heart of the Valpolicella designation, where the OIV Director General was hosted by Sandro Boscaini, the President of FEDERVINI, at his company, the Masi Group.
Organised by the Center for Research, Study, Safeguarding, Coordination and Valorisation of Mountain Viticulture (CERVIM), with the cooperation of the Government of the Canary Islands and under the high patronage of the OIV, this Congress brought together the representatives of around 15 countries, focusing on the theme of ‘Heroic viticulture: from grape to wine through sustainability and quality'.
The Congress comprised four technical sessions:
- mechanization and precision viticulture for steep-slope vineyards,
- examples of heroic viticulture and their sustainability and identitary landscape elements,
- oenological practices for heroic viticulture valorisation,
- the biodiversity value of wine in heroic viticulture.
Around 20 experts gave an oral presentation at the same time as 30 or so posters were displayed.
An important role in land-use planning
During a round table dedicated to perspectives of mountain and steep-slope viticulture, the Director General of the OIV highlighted the significant role of this type of viticulture with regard to land-use planning. These vineyards not only maintain economic activity in difficult regions, but also shape landscapes in an exceptional manner.
‘Heroic viticulture’ has transformed handicaps (steep slopes, climate, etc.) into attributes thanks to the enhanced value it provides for native vineyards that produce wines with great diversity and very strong typicity.
The different speakers coincided in advocating the need to support the development of this type of viticulture through suitable public policies.
CERVIM: defence and promotion of mountain viticulture on the international scale
Jean-Marie Aurand praised the role played by the CERVIM in the defence and promotion of mountain, steep-slope and small-island viticulture on the international scale. In this respect, he praised the commitment of President Roberto Gaudio, as the ‘spokesperson’ for mountain and steep-slope viticulture, to protection and development.
At the end of the Congress, several technical visits were organised to explore the vineyards on the island of Tenerife, which comprises no less than 5 protected designations of origin spread over more than 8000 hectares.
The CERVIM is an international organisation set up for the specific purpose of promoting and protecting heroic viticulture.
The Technical and Scientific Committee of the Center has defined the criteria that define the type of viticulture it represents:
- slopes of over 30%,
- altitude higher than 500 metres above sea level,
- viticultural systems on terraces and embankments,
- viticulture on small islands.
The Center, whose headquarters are in Aosta Valley (Italy), has always worked to support mountain, steep-slope and small-island viticulture. It pursues its objective by organising congresses and participating in initiatives of the sector, both at the national and international levels.