Mr Aurand presented in detail the functions and activities of the OIV and the advantage for consumer countries, in particular, of being involved in the work and the scientific community of the Organisation.
The Korean Ambassador highlighted the increase in wine consumption in his country, noting the growing share of Asian countries in global wine trade. The Director General of the OIV said that the contact he had made in Seoul with the ministries responsible for food and agriculture had led to a constructive dialogue and hoped that the Embassy could be an information relay to Korean Foreign Affairs in order to advance the idea of joining the OIV.
More than 125 lawyers from 20 different countries participated in this meeting in Beaune, Burgundy on the topic of access to wine markets, along with speakers from intergovernmental organisations such as the WTO, the OIV or the EU, professional organisations, lawyers and specialist economists. http://www.aidv.org/2014frbeaune/index.html
Mr Aurand explained how the scientific and technical contribution of the OIV can facilitate the world wine trade, while recalling that its activities are carried out within the framework of other international agreements on intellectual property and trade.
- France has once again become the biggest producer in the world (46.2 mhl), ahead of Italy, which saw a poor harvest (44.4 mhl)
- Spain has returned to an average level of production (37 mhl) after a record year in 2013
- Good level of production in the United States (22.5 mhl) for the 3rd consecutive year
- Significant decline in production in Chile (10 mhl) and in several Eastern European countries
- Record production on New Zealand (3.2 mhl) and high growth in Germany (9.7 mhl)
During the press conference that was held at the headquarters of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, the Director General of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand, presented initial information about world wine production in 2014.
Global wine production, excluding juice and musts, is likely to reach 271 million hectolitres – a decrease of 6% compared with 2013, according to the OIV's early estimates for 2014.
Mr Aurand specified that the 2013 data was revised upwards (287.6 mhl) due to wine made from the must of grapes held in reserve, particularly in Italy and Spain.
With only a few weeks to go until the opening of the World Congress of Vine and Wine, which will be held in Mendoza, Argentina (9-14 November 2014), the Director General of the OIV also emphasised the consolidation of global consumption, which is at this stage estimated at 243 mhl.
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H.E. Mr Lipka stressed the importance of this international recognition, which attracts a huge number of submissions every year from OIV Member Countries and non-Member Countries.
This prestigious international award enables a readership seeking quality works to find bibliographic references for everything to do with knowledge and popularisation of the vine and wine sector, as well as to discover scientific works of a very high standard.
The Director General of the OIV, Mr Jean-Marie Aurand, reminded those present that the 2014 award winners undoubtedly illustrate the OIV's decades-old vision of always being the world's reference organisation for vine and wine.
These recognitions contribute to the promotion of the image of viticulture throughout the world, and its different dimensions: scientific and technical, economic, cultural, even historic.
Finally, the President of the OIV Award Jury warmly congratulated the authors who won an award, as well as the publishers, for their cultural, technical or hedonistic contributions, each and every one of whose diverse approaches seeks to share a common passion for the vine and wine world.
This Act supplements chapter V, Part VI of Book VI of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code by Section L. 665-6 that reads as follows:
"Sect. L. 665-6. - Wines, vine products, viticultural terroirs as well as ciders and perries, spirituous beverages and beers derived from local traditions are part of the protected cultural, gastronomic and landscape heritage of France. "
Following in the footsteps of Uruguay or Argentina, which recognised wine as the "national drink", France is thus recognising special protection for wine and viticultural terroirs by integrating them into France's cultural, gastronomic and landscape heritage. It should be noted that the gastronomic French meal has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010. This is a festive meal during which guests practice, for the occasion, the art of "good eating and drinking".