The Director General of the OIV, Pau Roca, took part of the official opening ceremony where he transmitted a note of optimism: “we should look at Climate Change as an opportunity”. And why should it be an opportunity? “It will generate a new model of economy based not on growth but on sustainability. Sustainability is the new value of global economy”, stated.
“Wine is well placed to adapt to Climate Change”
In Pau Roca’s opinion “wine is well placed to adapt” and explained: “better than other sector, the wine industry has a big capacity of adaptation and has already shown its performance and resilience”.
In a sector based on a multiplicity of actors, “when wine leaders work on something it quickly expands to producers, suppliers, and small businesses”. Therefore, the OIV Director General applauded the Climate Change Leadership Conference for “being an example to transmit to the wine industry”.
It is urgent to reduce greenhouse gases
Nevertheless, “we must underline the importance of mitigation. It is necessary to create political measures in view to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases”, defended Pau Roca.
Several solutions praised by the different speakers were in this direction as well. It can be mentioned the implementation of renewable energy resources, use and reuse of rainwater, reduction of water consumption in irrigation, adoption of lighter packaging and bottles, reduction of fossil fuels. All have a common objective: reducing the emission of greenhouse gases produced by the wine industry.
The speakers were peremptory in stating that it is only collectively that efforts can have optimal results in the future, underlining that knowledge sharing and investment in research and innovation are fundamental in this evolutionary process.
More information:
Climate Change Leadership 2019 website
The President of the OIV, Regina Vanderlinde, and the Scientific Coordinator of the OIV, Jean-Claude Ruf, took part in the 31st session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) held on 11-15 March 2019 in Bordeaux, France.
During discussions on emerging and future issues, the President highlighted that several topics under discussion within the CCGP were also being dealt with within the OIV, which illustrated the need to pursue and increase collaboration between the two organisations.
Regina Vanderlinde specified that the OIV was participating in several projects that were also being discussed within the Codex, namely:
- consideration of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,
- the issue of food fraud, and the integrity and authenticity of food products,
- consumer information, through the work of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL),
- observation of the application of standards,
- mechanisms with the aim of improving coordination with other international organisations.
The President of the OIV concluded by stating that it was necessary to pursue cooperation and coordination in relation to activities that present a common interest for the OIV and the Codex, and that it would be important for the Codex to draw upon the expertise of the OIV as a reference organisation for vitivinicultural products.
Speech by Regina Vanderlinde (in French with English subtitles)
Audio file
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: Thursday 11 April 2019
Time: 11:00am
Location: International Organisation of Vine and Wine, (OIV), 18 Rue d'Aguesseau, Paris 75008 - Metro station Madeleine or Concorde [see map]
Speaking from the OIV’s headquarters in Paris on 11 April, Director General Pau Roca presented information on wine production, wine consumption and international trade in 2018.
- World area under vines 7.4 mha in 2018
- Strong growth in production, which reached 292.3 mhl, an increase of 42.5 mhl since 2017
- Consumption relatively stable at 246 mhl
- World wine trade on the rise: 108 mhl traded in volume, and a 1.2% rise in value to reach 31.3bn EUR
Global State of Conditions Report
PPT Presentation [FR]
Regina Vanderlinde also took part of the 12th Cyprus Wine Competition, an event under the OIV Patronage.
We caught up with the President to discover her impressions about her visit and the role of wine competitions.
How was your visit to Cyprus?
This was my first time in Cyprus. I am impressed by this country’s beauty and the warm welcome that I received. I had the opportunity to have a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, to whom I expressed the satisfaction of the OIV by the quality of the relationship maintained with the Cypriot delegates. Within the framework of my visit I participated at the technical conference “The wine production in the sphere of differentiation and global competitiveness” presenting the role of the OIV as a scientific and technical reference in the global wine sector. Finally, I took part in the 12th edition of the national Cyprus Wine Competition.
Lately you have participated in several competitions with the OIV patronage. What have you think about the Cyprus Wine Competition?
The Cyprus Wine Competition has OIV patronage since 2008. Despite the national character of this event, during the tastings I could witness the strict respect of the OIV standard for international wine and spirituous beverages of vitivinicultural origin competitions. Regarding the quality of samples I was impressed by the different and interesting wines on competition. During the last week, we had the opportunity to taste several amazing wines from the natural and extraordinary varieties of Cyprus. We tasted 194 samples from 36 wineries. This exercise showed us the great evolution of the wine sector in the country.
Why, in your opinion, is the OIV standard so important?
The OIV standard allows producers to compete under controlled and fair conditions, guaranteeing that samples are anonymous, and judged with optimal tasting conditions. Also with an evaluation based on harmonised sensory criteria.OIV wine competitions are very important because they look for fundamental aspects. We can underline the fact that they promote the knowledge of wines with outstanding quality. Naturally, this motivates wine producers to improve the technical and scientific level of production, what will contribute to the expansion of the wine sector too.
Wine is a millenary and historic beverage, therefore wine competitions are very important to promote the historical and social value of this unique product as an active part of civilisation.
Also, crucially, an important note regarding the role of wine competitions: they shall encourage responsible consumption as well.
What about the value of medals?
With the OIV Rules, medals have a real value as we limit the awards to 30% of the wine presented, what sometimes lead to withdraw very valuable wines from the winner’s list.Therefore, when I participate in wine competitions I always give the biggest congratulations to the winners. Getting an award for a wine has a lot of significance.
It means that the one who created that wine was searching for an exceptional beverage with unique characteristics, assembling beautiful colours, multiple reflections, perfumes and their most subtle aromas. Here or anywhere else in the world of wine, it is the research of uniqueness that gives us motivation. Those who approach exceptional wines will always be rewarded. Most importantly, awarded wines are a reference for consumers and an important recognition for the producers.
8 facts about wine sector in Cyprus (source: Cypriot government)
- Cyprus is a historical wine region with more than 5.500 years of legacy
- Is the only phylloxera-free protected zone in the European Union (among the three phylloxera-free nations over the globe)
- The current surface under wine vineyards is 7.710 hectares
- It has a mosaic of ten unique indigenous wine cultivars of Vitis vinifera: Xynisteri, Local Mavron, Maratheftico, Giannoudi, Ofthalmo, Promara, Morocanella, Spourtico, Canella and Vlouriko
- The wine production in 2018 was 109.200 hectoliters
- Five regions are recognised as protected designations of origin (PDO’s): Commandaria, Krasochoria Lemesou, Laona Akamas, Vouni Panayia-Ampelitis and Pitsilia
- Commandaria, the sweet wine from sundried grapes is the uncontested flagship of the wine sector
- Four districts are recognised as protected geographical indications (PGI’s): Lemesos, Pafos, Larnaka, Lefkosia
Know more about the OIV standard
To know more about the OIV standard for international wine and spirituous beverages of vitivinicultural origin competitions follow this link