In 1930, in issue no. 24 of the “BULLETIN INTERNATIONAL DU VIN”, the OIV – then the “International Wine Office”, founded on 29 November 1924 – publishes regulations governing the first O.I.V. Awards.
This is a call for applications, firstly, to write text and captions in French or in one of the languages of the OIV “member” countries, and secondly, to illustrate this “promotional leaflet” in support of wine and its health benefits, entitled: “The Truth about Wine”. Candidates are required to indicate the various virtues of drinking wine from “early childhood”: as a “tonic” or “medicinal vehicle in small doses as prescribed by a doctor”. Then they are to specify that, from the age of 10-12, “moderate doses of wine should form part of main meals”. Finally, they are instructed that, for adults, specifically “healthy individuals ... all the reasons in favour of using this beverage should be emphasised”.
For any question: jurydesprix@oiv.int
2 submission forms: here or jurydesprix@oiv.int
- Paper printed books with PDF / EBook in the 11 categories.
- Interactive digital tool (E-learning, Website…) in the categories: Viticulture and Sustainable Vitiviniculture, Oenology, Vitivinicultural Economy and Law, History, Litterature and Fine Arts, Wine and Health.
Advertising and commercial documents are not accepted.
In line with the new Strategic Plan 2020-2024, the Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), Pau Roca, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, with the objective of promoting wine tourism at the global level.
The two intergovernmental organisations met on 24 January at the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain, to sign this agreement in principle, seeking to give impetus to guidelines and concrete actions designed to foster wine tourism.
Pau Roca considers that “this joint work will make it possible to carry out the axes of the Strategic Plan of the OIV and its goals, and at the same time achieve 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations”. The OIV Strategic Plan specifically makes reference to the need to “encourage and participate in the development of wine tourism, viticultural landscape and terroirs, highlighting their importance for society”.
In the current circumstances, accordingly with the Steering Committee, and under the precaution principles applicable in these situations, I regret very much to inform you that, the OIV Spring meetings scheduled from 24 March to 3 April 2020 in Paris, France are cancelled and will be postponed.
Due to the availability of rooms, the tentative agenda will be to have Sub-Commission of Methods of analysis from 3 to 5 of June, and Commission Enology meetings from 6 to 11 of June, in Paris
The other meetings will be held from 15th to 24th of July 2020 also in Paris.
A more detailed agenda will be sent very soon.
After highlighting the intergovernmental, scientific and technical nature of the OIV and its role in facilitating international trade, Chile, one of the Organisation’s 47 Member Countries, has just amended its vitivinicultural regulations to take into account some of the OIV’s recommendations.
On 24 December 2019, the Chilean government promulgated a new Decree No. 9 amending Decree No. 78 of 1986 of the Ministry of Agriculture. The purpose of the original Decree was to enact the regulations of Act No. 18.455, which sets out rules for the production, preparation and commercialisation of ethyl alcohols, alcoholic beverages and vinegars. Some modalities of the application of the Decree are specified in resolution 826/2020 of the Ministry of Agriculture published on January 30, 2020
The new Decree, which entered into force on 1 January 2020, reiterates that some oenological practices, which have been developed and recommended by the OIV, offer significant technological advances for wine production and foster the increased competitiveness of wines in international trade. It refers to the treatment with potassium polyaspartate in wine, treatment with glutathione (musts / wines), and treatment with selective plant fibres to reduce levels of ochratoxin A or phytosanitary products. Resolution 826/2020 introduces strict requirements regarding obligation for companies to keep registers with dates and volumes of the treatments carried out under the responsibility of an oenologist, as well as declaration to the Control department of the Ministry on the amount of water used and the level of reduction which must not lead to less than 23.5 ° Brix the treated must.
This update to Chile's regulations demonstrates the importance of integrating OIV standards into national or supranational regulations, in order to reduce technical barriers to trade.
Decree No. 9’s provisions on water use
Chile’s new Decree modifies some of the previous provisions regarding the use of water in wine production. The addition of water has thus become an authorised practice, under certain conditions, for the reduction of the sugar content in musts with Brix levels over 23.5. This practice is not, however, permitted by the OIV.
The Chilean regulations stipulate that water may also be used during winemaking to solubilise additives and rehydrate fermentation yeasts. The volume of must cannot be increased by more than 2% of the initial volume. In reducing this from 5% to 2%, the use of water for cleaning of pressing equipment has been eliminated with this Decree, since this cleaning procedure is no longer considered a winemaking practice.
However, water may be used during winemaking to dissolve additives and oenological products. The volume after these treatments cannot have been increased by more than 1.5% of the initial volume of wine (the previous limit was 2%).
In view of the disparities among different national regulations with regard to water use, which may lead to trade problems, the OIV has been called upon to find a solution to this issue in the interests of harmonisation.