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.
The conference brought together over 250 participants, mainly in the vitivinicultural sector. On this occasion, Jean-Marie Aurand gave a presentation on the situation of the world wine sector and its main developments. Australia is the 6th largest producer and 5th largest exporter in the world, with more than 60% of Australian production being exported.
During his visit, the Director General met with the representative for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Travis Power (Assistant Secretary), as well as the Australian OIV delegate, Mr John Power, and the Australian OIV experts, Ms Creina Stockley (President of the "Safety and Health" Commission) and Tony Battaglene (President of the "Economic and Situational Analysis" Expert Group).
- France has once again become the biggest producer in the world (46.2 mhl), ahead of Italy, which saw a poor harvest (44.4 mhl)
- Spain has returned to an average level of production (37 mhl) after a record year in 2013
- Good level of production in the United States (22.5 mhl) for the 3rd consecutive year
- Significant decline in production in Chile (10 mhl) and in several Eastern European countries
- Record production on New Zealand (3.2 mhl) and high growth in Germany (9.7 mhl)
During the press conference that was held at the headquarters of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, the Director General of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand, presented initial information about world wine production in 2014.
Global wine production, excluding juice and musts, is likely to reach 271 million hectolitres – a decrease of 6% compared with 2013, according to the OIV's early estimates for 2014.
Mr Aurand specified that the 2013 data was revised upwards (287.6 mhl) due to wine made from the must of grapes held in reserve, particularly in Italy and Spain.
With only a few weeks to go until the opening of the World Congress of Vine and Wine, which will be held in Mendoza, Argentina (9-14 November 2014), the Director General of the OIV also emphasised the consolidation of global consumption, which is at this stage estimated at 243 mhl.
Read full Press Release