Tony Spawton dedicated his career to the marketing of wine as an expert for the Australian delegation to the OIV, teacher, consultant, writer and ambassador of a discipline he helped to create.
Originally from the country of Wales, he was an OIV delegate and expert for Australia between 1990 and 2008; in particular, he was the President of the “Market Analysis” Expert Group, and as such a member of the OIV Scientific and Technical Committee.
During long periods in Europe as an associate professor, Tony Spawton undertook research on risk reduction and changing consumption trends.
As Professor of Wine Marketing at the Roseworthy Agricultural College of the University of Adelaide, then at the School of Marketing of the University of South Australia, he was very active in different groups of the “Economy and Law” Commission and took part in the congresses in Cape Town, Paris, Lisbon, Bratislava, Budapest, Adelaide, Mainz and Buenos Aires.
His collaboration with numerous universities and schools led to him teaching in France, Spain, South Africa, Austria, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Hungary, Italy, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Portugal.
The author of a great many publications and of a reference book on wine marketing, he was an active member of the International University Association of Wine.
The OIV has highlighted and recognised his career dedicated to a new aspect of the field and the importance of wine marketing, which undoubtedly contributed to the significant development of the knowledge of markets and thus to the progression of the international wine trade, awarding him the OIV Merit Award in 2011.
To attend this press conference, journalists are kindly asked to send an email with their name and their professional contact details to press@oiv.int.
Date: Tuesday 24 April 2018
Time: 11:00am
Location: International Organisation of Vine and Wine, (OIV), 18 Rue d'Aguesseau, Paris 75008 - Metro station Madeleine or Concorde [see map]
This meeting allowed to follow the various topics covered by the Codex Alimentarius, but also to consolidate relations with the Codex Alimentarius secretariat, and in particular with Tom Heilland, secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
In parallel of the session, the President and the OIV Scientific coordinator have discussed with different national delegation members or non-members of the OIV regarding different issues.
Among the technical issues, the CCFA has endorsed different decisions in particular regarding the specifications of microcrystalline cellulose. In addition the Joint Expert Committee of Food Additive (JECFA) has reported its works on tentative specifications on oenological tannins, metatartaric acid and yeats mannoproteins. In addition a safety assessment of potassium polyaspartate has been included in the work programme of the JECFA.
For more technical information, please consult the enclosed document
Mexico, which joined the OIV in 2016, embarked upon a bill in 2017 for the development of its national vitivinicultural industry, which is expected to be adopted several weeks from now. It was at the time of introduction of this bill and during the OIV Director General's visit to the Mexican Senate that the Undersecretary of Agriculture announced his intention for his country to organise a presentation of Mexican wine in Paris.
First Mexican wine tasting at the OIV headquarters
It was with great pleasure that Jean-Marie Aurand welcomed this first tasting of Mexican wines at the OIV headquarters, highlighting the strong and rapid growth of the sector and the synergy between the Mexican professional and public sectors. Mr Guillermo Garza García, Director of PROMÉXICO, representing H.E. Mr Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, Mexican Ambassador to France, was proud to be able to present, with the Mexican Wine Council, a selection representative of the high quality of Mexican wines.
A production of 260,000 tonnes of table grapes per year
With a production of 260,000 tonnes of table grapes per year, an increase of 25% since the year 2000 with more than 60% exported, Mexico is becoming a significant player on the world market. Its production is well rewarded as it arrives on the market out of season (May to July). As for raisins, since 2000, production has increased by 225% to reach 14,000 tonnes in 2015. Driven by strong domestic demand (an annual increase in consumption of 12% for the last 10 years), wine production has experienced remarkable growth. A large number of wine companies established in 11 Mexican states produce nearly 200,000 hectolitres of a wide variety of high-quality wine every year.
Three Mexican regions represented
Mr Gabriel Padilla, Director of the Mexican Wine Council, presented historical, geographical and economic data on the sector, and this data was illustrated by oenologists from wineries in the regions of Lower California (Monte Xanic), Coahuila (Casa Madero) and Aguascalientes (Vinícola Santa Elena). The wines were presented to 100 or so professionals, amongst different wine-tapas pairings illustrating the perfect marriage between wines of character and recognised gastronomy.
The Director General of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand, presented information on the potential wine production, assessment of the harvest, and state of the market and international trade in 2017 at the Organisation's headquarters in Paris on 24 April.
- With 7.6 mha in 2017, the size of the global area under vines appears to have stabilised.
- Wine production was at 250 mhl in 2017. This was a historically low production year, with a decline of 8.6% compared with the previous year, explained in particular by unfavourable climate conditions within the EU (-14.6% compared with 2016).
- A total of 243 mhl of wines were consumed in 2017. Consumption had almost stabilised following the 2008 economic crisis, with a positive trend over the past 3 years.
- World wine trade: there was a very positive balance, both in terms of volume (108 mhl, +3.4% compared with 2016) and value (30bn EUR, +4.8% compared with 2016).
Global State of Conditions Report
