During a meeting with the Minister and his departments, and representatives from the Ministry of Economy, the Standards Institute, the Agricultural Research Organisation, the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute and the Israel Wine Grape Growers Board, Mr Aurand spoke about how the OIV operates and gave a presentation on the key features of the global vitiviniculture industry. At the request of the professional attendees, he also spoke about various aspects associated with consumption and communication in relation to alcoholic drinks, while Mr Yann Juban summarised the progress of the ongoing reforms to the structure of the European wine market.

Mr Shamir spoke about the development of the Israeli vitiviniculture sector, which is currently adapting its standards on the basis of the OIV standards, and the sector's interest in building new markets.

These meetings were complemented by visits to various production sites, including table grape production facilities (Tali Grapes in Lachish) and wineries, such as those at Barkan, Castel, Carmel, Ramot Naftali and Adar.

At the request of the Israeli Minister, a wine presentation will be held at the OIV headquarters on 24 November 2014 to explore the special features of Israeli production.

Under the patronage of both the OIV and the Union Internationale des Oenologues, this event brought together more than 3,200 wines from 28 countries, and is the most important international wine competition on the Asian continent.

Jean-Marie Aurand also took the opportunity to meet with the Korean authorities (the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health) to speak about the OIV and its work. His hosts were very receptive, and although their country's wine production industry is small, wine consumption is increasing rapidly.

As part of his trip, the Director General also flew to Japan, where he attended meetings with the President of the Japanese Society of Vitiviniculture, the Secretary General of the Japan Sommelier Association, the directors of the National Wine Agency, which reports to the Ministry of Economy, the directors of the Ministry of Agriculture and, finally, Mr Furukawa, a member of parliament sponsoring new draft legislation on wine.

All were very interested in the OIV and its work, as Japan is keen to develop its own wine production industry and has recently established its first ever Geographical Indication for a wine.

These encouraging meetings should be developed into ongoing relationships, in the context of closer ties with the OIV.

In the presence of the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Akram Chehayeb, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Gebran Bassil, the Director General of the OIV, Mr Jean-Marie Aurand, recalled the actions taken recently for development of the wine sector. He also gave presentations during technical sessions on recent trends in the world wine market.

Structured around four working sessions dedicated to the markets, environment, standardisation and development of trade, speakers from the OIV and Lebanon gave presentations on international and local aspects of vitivinicultural production.

Accompanied by the Director General for Agriculture, Mr Louis Lahoud, the OIV delegation also visited the wine regions of Batroun, Jezzine, Chouf and Bekaa, as well as meeting producers around round tables on the topics of wine tourism, "boutique" wineries and wines derived from organic agriculture.

At the end of these days, Mr Jean-Marie Aurand stressed the importance for Lebanon of ensuring increased participation of experts in the work of the OIV, of promoting native grape varieties by adding them to the OIV official list and of registering geographical indications for wines.

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.

Mr de Miguel stressed the importance of maintaining and preserving the accomplishments of this very specific agricultural sector, of avoiding market disruptions and of establishing excellent methods. Mr Aurand thanked Spain for its strong technical and scientific contributions to the different OIV commissions as well as for lending its expertise, which benefits the whole global vitivinicultural community.