This event, the fifth of its kind, (the previous iterations having taken place in France, the USA and Germany) brought together 32 business from the country’s different viticultural areas.
On this occasion, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gebran Bassil, highlighted the dynamism of the Lebanese vitiviniculture industry, with its high-quality wines which are exported around the world.
The Director General for Agriculture Louis Lahoud recalled the long history of Lebanese viticulture and emphasized the efforts made by the Lebanese government to promote their wines and support businesses within the industry.
In an ever more globalized world market where nearly 45% of wines consumed have crossed at least one border, common promotion makes more sense than ever, as Jean-Marie Aurand made clear in his speech.
Lebanon boasts 14,000 ha of vines across the country for an annual production of 80,000 hL, of which more than 20% is exported around the world.
This visit was a continuation of the presentation of Slovakian wines which took place in Bordeaux this past 30th November.
During an interview at the Ministry of Agriculture, Gabriela Matečná emphasized the dynamic nature of their vitivinicultural industry which is in the midst of a major renewal, accompanied and supported by the government.
This process of modernisation relies on the great variety of terroirs, the promotion of indigenous vine varieties and research on the value added through the production of high-quality wines.
More than 80% of Slovakian wines bear an AOC or a PGI. “Slovakia is a little country with big wines”, the Minister is proud to say.
Within the framework of research and training development policies, the Minister mentioned the possibility of presenting a Slovakian candidate for the grants distributed by the OIV.
Jean-Marie Aurand welcomes the many relationships between the OIV and Slovakia, mentioning among others the role of Ambassador František Lipka as President of the OIV Awards Jury.
The diversity of Slovak vitiviniculture
During the “Viticulture Workshop” organised as part of the National Slovakian Wine Exhibition, the Director General of the OIV made a presentation to the Slovakian Association of Winemakers regarding the Organisation and the state of conditions of the wine industry, highlighting the major changes and primary challenges which future holds.
After a presentation on the control and certification system by Ivana Benkovičová (Slovakia’s delegate to the OIV) and an overview of the situation of vitiviniculture in Slovakia by the President of the Winemakers Association, Ondrej Celleng and their general director Jaroslava Kaňuchová-Pátková, the award ceremony of the National Slovakian Wine Exhibition took place.
The end of the trip was reserved for visits to three farms which represent Slovakian vitiviniculture in all its diversity.
The weekend was also marked by the organisation in Prešov of the 23rd Muvina International Wine Competition, placed under the patronage of the OIV.