26 May 2021
Vine sciences will be at the forefront of the global vitivinicultural stage on 6-10 September 2021 in Alcala de Henares, Madrid (Spain), with the celebrated return of the OIV International Course in Ampelography.El Encín, IMIDRA (Alcala de Henares, Spain)On 6-10 September 2021, the "El Encín" collection of vine varieties will host nationally and internationally renowned professors for 5 days of theoretical and practical in-person classes designed to allow participants to exchange, update and/or deepen their knowledge about ampelography. The practical approach will make it possible to clearly and precisely identify vine varieties in the field, pointing to all the key characteristics to recognise these.Places are limited and course registration is open until 31 July 2021! To register, send an email to oivampelography@oiv.int.
Complete information and detailed programme hereRelated reading:The OIV works to disseminate ampelographyThe OIV International Course in Ampelography is back!
25 May 2021
Water resources, at global, regional and local levels are now recognised to be under severe pressure. Sustainable use of water has now become a societal, environmental, industry and business imperative across the globe, and a core policy for many governments, industries and commercial entities. Increasingly, social licence shall be dependent on the sound environmental credentials of all players in the supply chain, with sustainable water use as a leading theme. Many vineyard areas in more recently developed, semi-arid or arid regions have annual rainfall which cannot reliably support modern viticultural systems. Meanwhile, in other long-established systems, rainfall quantity and reliability has become inadequate or unreliable, making it difficult to meet supply chain demands for quality and supply assurance.Production systems have been further differentiated and adapted in the light of local conditions and resource availability (including water), informed by experience and relevant R&D, and according to the requirements of continually evolving markets.The document has been drafted by the Viticulture Commission’s “Vine Protection and Viticultural Techniques” (PROTEC)In this sense, the “Sustainable Use of Water in Winegrape Vineyards” document is intended to outline key, universally relevant principles specific to the activity of growing Winegrape vineyards, bearing in mind that variability in regional resource and environmental considerations, site characteristics and enterprise circumstances may be substantial, so requiring adaptation in practice to individual circumstances.The document has been drafted by the Viticulture Commission’s “Vine Protection and Viticultural Techniques” (PROTEC) Group and revised by other OIV Commissions.* OIV Scientific and Technical Committee chart
This document is freely available here [EN]Another step towards sustainabilityThe OIV adopted in 2018 the resolution OIV-VITI 569-2018 “OIV protocol for the sustainable use of water in viticulture” whose main objective is to define good water management practices based on principles of sustainability established in the OIV-CST 518-2016 resolution “OIV general principles of sustainable vitiviniculture - environmental - social - economic and cultural aspects”. The OIV, aware that this resolution should be accompanied by a document that spelled out certain technical and scientific aspects, decided to create a document of collective expertise within the PROTEC Group, with the objective that this document could be a tool for reference and guidance for the sector regarding the sustainable use of water. Furthermore, this document seeks to respond to the objectives of the OIV’s Strategic Plan for the period 2020-2024, particularly axis 1 “Promote environmentally-friendly vitiviniculture” through points B and C: “Improvement of environmental performance” and “Preservation of natural resources”. A tool for reference and guidance for the sector available on open source*OIV collective expertise documents are not submitted to the Step Procedure for Examining Resolutions and can under no circumstances be treated as OIV resolutions. Only resolutions adopted by the Member States of the OIV have an official character
10 May 2021
The pandemic halted important activities such as direct contact with Member countries at their working environment. The evolution of the sanitary conditions brings new signs of optimism, allowing the return of physical meetings, even if under strict conditions. The official visit of the Director General of the OIV, Pau Roca, to Portugal last week is proof of this. It represents the kick-off for future visits to different countries, aiming to strengthen the important contact with its 48 Member Countries.Portugal: a founding member of the OIV since 1924 During the two days spent in Portugal, Pau Roca participated in several activities with different representatives of the sector. On 5 May, accompanied by the President of the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (IVV), Bernardo Gouvêa, the OIV Director was received by the Portuguese Minister for Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes. A meeting where the strong cooperation and dynamism of the country with the OIV were highlighted.Meeting with the Portuguese Minister for Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes© Ministério da Agricultura de PortugalThe following day, ACIBEV: Associação de Vinhos e Espirituosas de Portugal (Association of Wines and Spirits of Portugal), organised a hybrid conference in which the Director General spoke about the State of the Vitivinicultural World in 2020. A presentation followed by session of questions & answers with the participation of personalities from the Portuguese wine sector. In the conference opening speech, ACIBEV’s President Jorge Monteiro welcomed the OIV Director, thanking him for his presence and contribution to the sector. Considerations shared by Bernardo Gouvêa, who showed his high appreciation of the work developed by the OIV and its close relation with Portugal, when closing the conference. To top the agenda, on the same day Pau Roca had the opportunity to visit the Experimental Centre for the Conservation of the Variability of Autochthonous Grapevines, managed by the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity (PORVID*) under a partnership protocol signed with the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture.Portuguese research reflected in OIV resolutions This centre, managed by PORVID, is a pioneer infrastructure dedicated to the integral conservation of grapevine varieties’ diversity (intravarietal diversity) aiming to add value, adaptability and sustainability to vitiviniculture. Ten years after its foundation, over 30 000 genotypes are already conserved with the final aim being to secure 50 000 of all 250 varieties native of Portugal.This living genetic bank materialises innovation from knowledge through the provision of polyclonal selections for both grape growers and winemakers, a novel methodology created in Portugal and, since 2019, recognised by the OIV through a resolution unanimously adopted by all its Member Countries. This recognition made the methodology globally accessible, opening the path for global conservation of the original diversity of ancient grapevine varieties in vineyards across the world. See resolution OIV-VITI 564B-2019A result of the work developed by the centre could be appreciated at the end of the visit with a tasting of wines experimentally made from little known Portuguese varieties. The tasting was guided by António Graça, OIV’s ENVIRO’s expert group Secretary who represents Sogrape at PORVID. Sercialinho, Tinta Francisca or Touriga Fêmea were among the tasted wines, varieties that according to Graça “could be extinct nowadays if this conservation work had not been started 40 years ago”.Pau Roca thanked the visit and the presentation of the project, stating that "in this type of approach for the conservation of biodiversity and understanding of nature lies the future of world vitiviniculture". The OIV Director General concluded by congratulating those responsible for the results already visible and for involving the OIV in its worldwide dissemination.Sercialinho, Tinta Francisca or Touriga Fêmea were among the tasted wines, varieties that according to Graça “could be extinct nowadays if this conservation work had not been started 40 years ago”.*About PorvidPORVID is a non-profit association created in 2009 with the objective of conserving and adding value from the genetic diversity and wild populations of grapevines. In 2010, the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture signed a protocol with PORVID for the creation of the Experimental Centre for the Conservation of Variability of Autochthonous Grapevines, placing it under its management for a period of 50 years. Integrated by a municipality, public institutes, universities, technical associations, private companies and independent entrepreneurs, PORVID surveys and collects extinction-threatened grapevines from old vineyards, giving priority for those marked for plucking-off and conserves them in collections of each variety’s diversity that eventually become objects of study. The knowledge generated by these studies becomes the basis for polyclonal selections allowing growers to plant vineyards that synergize economic efficiency with resilience and sustainability. Having published a relevant corpus of scientific papers, PORVID also supports diversity conservation efforts beyond Portuguese borders.
19 Apr 2021
Speaking from the OIV’s headquarters in Paris, by web conference, Director General Pau Roca presented on 20 April, information on wine production, consumption and international trade in 2020. Read Press ReleaseOIV State of the vitivinicultural world in 2020 reportPPT PresentationWatch the replay
07 Apr 2021
To attend this press conference, journalists are kindly asked to send register with their name and professional contact details here.Date: Tuesday 20 April 2021Time: 3pm CETLocation: Zoom, YouTube live streamingLanguage: EN, FR, ES
05 Apr 2021
General purpose and how will the course be organisedThe main objective is both to train professionals and experts in the field of “Ampelography and Genetic Resources”, and to create a pole and experts network who can exchange continuously around this important topic for the vitivinicultural sector. To achieve this, the courses are designed in collaboration with international actors and the OIV relied on the knowledge and experience of important technical, research and training centres from France and Spain:
- France - Montpellier, in cooperation with IFV (Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin), INRAE (l’Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement ) and the Institut Agro Montpellier SupAgro -, with its extensive experience in this area, was initially scheduled to run the course in July 2021. Given the international health context and in order to provide better conditions for the participants, this important worldwide ampelography centre has decided to postpone the course due to force majeure to July 2022.
- Spain - Madrid. For its first edition1 the OIV International Course in Ampelography should take place at the beginning of September 2021 with the Vine Varieties Collection of "El Encín", Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), belonging to IMIDRA (Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario). It is an important centre of reference in the Community of Madrid and Spain where the agri-food and agro-environmental research projects are carried out.
- Language: Spanish / English / French
- 15 participants in order to respect social distancing
- 5-day course
- Practical, leading-edge knowledge
- Highly-qualified teachers from various countries
- The assurance of an international network of experts in the field
- Yearly registration (each country edition will require its own registration procedure)
- An OIV course certificate in ampelography
Related news
23 Mar 2021
33 years after its first edition, the prestigious OIV International Ampelography Course is coming back. As the scientific and technical reference in the world of vine and wine, this OIV course in ampelography allows participants to acquire in-depth knowledge in the recognition and understanding of grapevine varieties, helping them to be better prepared for future challenges in the vitivinicultural sector (latest trends in genetic resources, climate change and environment societal expectations, etc...).Historical backgroundThe OIV's International Course in Ampelography is part of a whole historical background dating back to 1938 when "ampelography" was first cited by the OIV. Nearly 10 years later, in 1949, an ampelography commission was created in order to lead the work relating to the creation of an international ampelographic register.In the 1990s, considering the importance of identifying varieties in the international vitivinicultural sector and the need to disseminate more widely technical and scientific work in the field of ampelography, the OIV launched a first cycle of courses in ampelography: in 1988 in Italy (ISV Conegliano), in 1990 in France (ENSA Montpellier) and in 1992 in Germany (BZWG-IR Geilweilerhof). Today, the OIV is relaunching this initiative anew with a cycle of international courses in ampelography. This course with practical, leading-edge knowledge will be facilitated by specialists from different countries.General purpose and how will the course be organisedThe main objective is both to train professionals and experts in the field of “Ampelography and Genetic Resources”, and to create a pole and experts network who can exchange continuously around this important topic for the vitivinicultural sector. To achieve this, the courses are designed in collaboration with international actors and the OIV relied on the knowledge and experience of important technical, research and training centres from France - Montpellier, in cooperation with IFV (Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin), INRAE (l’Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement) and the Institut Agro - Montpellier SupAgro - and Spain - the Vine Varieties Collection of "El Encín", Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, belonging to IMIDRA (Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario). Illustration: Mauzac blanc © Viala et VermorelWhy the OIV aims to promote and disseminate ampelography: A major discipline of current interestAs the scientific and technical reference in the world of vine and wine, the OIV's role is to participate actively in the promotion of this fundamental discipline since knowledge of wine comes from understanding the vine. In reaffirming the scientific and technical nature of ampelography the OIV is emphasizing the fact that this discipline embraces both tradition and innovation. In this rapidly changing world, it is the role of OIV and its experts to contribute to developing and supporting ampelography and vine resources as an important field for the sustainability of the sector.More information on fees and the registration procedure will be available soon.For further details, please send an email to: oivampelography@oiv.int
10 Feb 2021
This unique global compendium, first database of grape varieties across the world, was established by Kym Anderson and Signe Nelgen and published by “University of Adelaide Press” in December 2013.The reader will find answers to many questions relating to grape varieties: from the most cultivated to the less known, local, modest or forgotten, and will find at the same time a lot of information including on the changing trends in consumer behavior The Honorary President of the OIV Peter Hayes wrote about the book awarded in 2014 (OIV Award in the Viticulture category), that in addition to the density of data the publication can offer: “This volume captures the longer-term and recent evolution of the varietal mix and balance within the global wine sector.Its systematic treatment and correlation of varieties to a consistent identity/nomenclature together with the introductory analysis and commentary provides an excellent basis from which to review the diverse, comprehensive coverage of planted areas by country, region and variety.It will no doubt be of considerable value to researchers, students and those planning future investment in the vineyard base for the sector.”No doubt remains today as to the value of these enriched and updated statistical data. The reader will find answers to many questions relating to grape varieties: from the most cultivated to the less known, local, modest or forgotten, and will find at the same time a lot of information including on the changing trends in consumer behavior.Free online access hereAuthor: Kym AndersonAuthor: Signe Nelgen
27 Jan 2021
This regulatory amendment had been notified to the SPS Committee of the WTO at the end of 2020.In particular, it concerns ammonium hydrogen sulfite, chitin-glucan, dipotassium DL-tartrate and polyvinylimidazole-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVI-PVP) copolymer. The ministerial order also stipulates the corresponding specifications for these four additives.Used to improve the clarification and stability of wines, these additives – along with their monographs – have already been approved by the OIV for several years. With this new decision, Japan acknowledges the OIV’s scientific and technical work in oenological practices and specifications of oenological products.The decision by the Japanese government is yet another example of the importance of the OIV’s work in the international harmonisation of existing practices and standards. This work is crucial to improving the conditions under which vitivinicultural products are produced and marketed, and for taking consumers’ interests into consideration. With this new decision, Japan acknowledges the OIV’s scientific and technical work in oenological practices and specifications of oenological productsSources
- MHLW Amendment _202001015 (in Japanese)
- Ministerial Order No.3 (in Japanese)