This competition brought together 140 wines from 5 countries.

Placed under the patronage of the OIV and the International Union of Oenologists (Union Internationale des Œnologues), this competition promotes wines made from Tannat – an emblematic vine variety in Uruguayan vitiviniculture.

While on this visit, Jean-Marie Aurand met with the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr José Luis Cancela, in the presence of the INAVI (National Institute of Vitiviniculture) President, José Lez Secchi, in order to look into how to organise the future OIV Congress, which will be held at the end of November 2018 in Punta del Este. The Vice-Minister expressed his delight that Uruguay was able to host the Congress and reaffirmed his country's full support for the OIV.

In 2016, Uruguay produced 104 500 tons of grapes from 6745 hectares, 97% of which are dedicated to vinification. Red vine varieties represent 80% of the vineyard surface area, with Tannat in the lead (25%) followed by Muscat of Hamburg (19%) and Merlot (11%).

During a working lunch at the invitation of Santiago Queirolo, President of the Vitivinicultural Committee of the National Society of Industries (which brings together the main companies in the sector), Jean-Marie Aurand presented the actions led by the OIV and called for the increased participation of Peruvian experts in the work of the Organisation.

Mr Aurand attended a meeting with the Vice-Minister for Small- and Medium-Sized Entreprises and Industry and also President of the National Pisco Commission, Juan Mathews Salazar, who affirmed the importance that Peru attaches to the OIV at a time when vitiviniculture is developing and modernising. Several actions were considered to bolster relations with the Organisation, including strengthening Peruvian expertise and the possibility of organising a presentation of Pisco and Peruvian wines at the OIV headquarters in 2017.

These guidelines were confirmed at a meeting with the Director for Agriculture, Edson Seopa Ruiz, at the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Director General also gave a presentation at the Institute of Wine and Pisco on the state of the global vitivinicultural sector and the major issues it faces.

Peruvian viticulture has been undergoing a significant revival for some years now.

Over the last 10 years, the vineyard surface area has doubled, reaching 32 000 ha in 2015. With more than 510 000 tons of table grapes produced in 2015 – 60% of which were exported – Peru is demonstrating its ambitions.

Wine production has seen an increase of almost 20% in 10 years, reaching 700 000 hL, while consumption has followed the same growth pattern, establishing itself at 785 000 hL.

Finally, Pisco – an emblematic product for which a competition placed under the patronage of the OIV is held every year – experienced a rise in its production and reached over 9.5 million litres in 2015.

During a meeting with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Mohammed Sadiki, in the presence of the Director General of the ONSSA (National Office for Health Security of Food Products) and his colleagues, the OIV President and the Director General welcomed the quality of the collaboration between the Moroccan authorities and the Organisation, expressing the desire for this to be continued and further developed. The even greater participation of the Moroccan experts in the work of the OIV, as well as the possibility of organising a presentation of Moroccan wines at the Organisation's headquarters, was discussed in this spirit.

Professor Mohammed Sadiki (in the centre of the group photo) confirmed his country's commitment to the OIV and the Moroccan authorities' desire to strengthen this relationship at a time when Moroccan viticulture is making great efforts to adapt and modernise.

With a surface area of 50 000 ha of vines, Morocco produces over 4 000 000 tons of grapes – 80% of which are destined for direct consumption and 20% for vinification.

Table-grape and dried-grape production is steadily growing, while wine production (350 000 hL/year) has seen a revival thanks to a proactive policy of quality promotion and identification of wines through geographical indications and designations of origin.

With regard to COP22, Monika Christmann and Jean-Marie Aurand participated in the work of the 4 per 1000 initiative, which involves promoting carbon sequestration in the soil through appropriate agronomic practices and thus helping to reduce greenhouse gases.

This initiative launched in Paris during COP21 brought together over 170 organisations (states, intergovernmental organisations, research institutes, non-governmental organisations) and the OIV was involved in the project.

During his speech the President highlighted the OIV's interest in the work conducted within this Forum, which fits perfectly with the work areas of the Organisation in terms of climate change and sustainable development.

This professional trade fair brought together more than 225 companies representing over 85% of the global bulk wine trade.

During the programme of conferences organised as part of this exhibition and placed under the patronage of the OIV, Director General Jean-Marie Aurand gave a presentation on the overall state of the wine market, with a particular focus on the bulk wine trade. This sub-sector is steadily developing, with exports rising from 15 million hectolitres in 2000 to 40 million in 2016 – equating to 38% of the total volume of wine exported in the world. Seven countries account for 85% of bulk wine exports: Spain (35%), Italy (12%), Australia (10%), Chile (10%), South Africa (7%), France (6%) and the United States (5%).

The Director General of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand, took part in the official opening of this event, whose programme of technical and scientific conferences was placed under the patronage of the OIV.

The trade show brought together 850 exhibitors from 20 different countries and hosted almost 45 000 visitors.

A veritable showcase for materials, equipment and services, Vinitech-Sifel places a strong emphasis on innovation – which is important both to improve the competitiveness of companies in the vitivinicultural sector and to address the major issues for the field in terms of environmental protection and consumer expectations.