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.

Several major contributors enabled to explore different approaches to this topic. Christophe Riou, Scientific and Development Director of the French Vine and Wine Institute showed what oenologists had done for innovation; Bernard Praz, Director responsible for wine buying at the Grand Chais de France Group, presented their contribution to the development of marques; Hubert de Boüard, co-proprietor of Château Angelus and consultant oenologist, dealt with the enhancement of terroirs and vine varieties which oenologists have done so much to bring about; while Gérard Bertrand, proprietor of the wines that go by that name, spoke of the serenity that comes of the skills, values and the art of living defended by oenologists.

Closing the morning’s proceedings, Yann Juban, Assistant to the Director General of the OIV, traced the evolution of the international definition of the oenologist between 1976 and the definition adopted by the OIV in 2013, from a collaborator ensuring respect for fair practice to an expert able to carry out duties in all fields.

Referring to the different phases of the oenologist’s profession, as defined by the OIV, he listed all the different aspects of the work, showing how they correspond to the international view of the oenologist. Innovation, especially in regard to vineyards, “with the aim of adapting the raw material to the demands of […] production and consumer requirements” (phase I of the profession); the marque, formulating “recommendations in the field of marketing on the designation and presentation of the product […] in order to improve the response to the consumer preferences identified” (phase IV); enhancement, “consider the ethical, including potential effects on consumer health, economic, social, environmental and technical aspects and develop proposals for measures in order to adapt production to needs and demands”(phase V) and last but not least, serenity, ensured by means of controls, traceability, quality management, food safety and respect for the environmental balance (phase III).

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.

“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).