RESOLUTION VITI 4/2006

VITIVINICULTURE ZONING – DECLARATION OF AVIGNON

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ON THE PROPOSAL of Commission I Viticulture, given the «Vitiviniculture Zoning» experts group, after taking notice of papers presented at the 4th International Symposium in vitiviniculture zoning  held in Avignon in 2002 under the patronage of the OIV,

CONSIDERING

One of the objectives of the OIV is the promotion of research and the drawing up of scientific solid references with thorough consultation between specialists in different disciplines (bioclimatology, geology, pedology, physiology, oenology, sensory analysis, ethnology, geography, agronomy, history…) for insight into “viticulture terroirs”,

CONSIDERING

The economic and cultural consequences related to vitiviniculture zoning,

CONSIDERING

The need to value the role played by viticulture landscape in approaches to zoning

CONSIDERING

The need to protect viticulture entities, maintain biodiversity, protect the landscape environment and to maintain the social elements surrounding viticulture

CONSIDERING

That there is increasing interest in partaking in zoning operations in most viticulture countries

RECOMMENDS member countries

• To use methods validated on an international scientific level and to set up methodologies which upgrade and refine pertinent zoning criteria,
• To consider, the relation between “terroir” and varieties and “products” (grapes, wine, etc.) in zoning studies
• To study new technologies (tele-detection, precision viticulture…) to enable important progress in zoning operations
• To further focus on the importance of the hydric factor on zoning operations and to validate zoning proposals through the intermediary of plants and products
• To further research to enable the measuring of input of human factors regarding product quality and the originiality of viticulture landscapes
• To support initiatives focused on the creation of scientific and technical groups in each member country.