Several Georgian wines produced using the traditional method of winemaking in Qvevris (large clay jars) received an award.

Jean-Marie Aurand met with the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Otar Danelia. The Minister highlighted the importance that his country attached to his presence at the OIV and indicated that he wished to develop collaboration with the Organisation even further.

The Director General also visited the National Wine Agency as well as the Scientific Research Center in Jigaura, which has a collection of over 525 native vine varieties grown in Georgia. In addition, he went to Tbilisi University, which has a significant vitiviniculture department, and paid a visit to several vitivinicultural companies near to the capital and in Kakheti.

Georgia produces over a million hectolitres of wine per year and exports about 40% of its production.

Inseparable from the country's history and culture, Georgian viticulture is demonstrating its ambitions for both tradition and modernity.

This competition, organised by the Deutsche Wein Marketing allowed to taste and evaluate the surprising number of more than 1200 different samples from all around the world.

The Portugal Wine Trophy plays also a prominent role in the international ranking of wine competitions.

To ensure the respect of the OIV standards for international wine competitions, this competition had the presence of OIV’s expert commissioner Jean-Claude Ruf: Scientific Coordinator and Head of Unit of Health and Security of the Organisation.

Claudia Quini, the official OIV delegate at this competition that was placed under the patronage of the Organisation, praised the rapid development of the event, which brought together over 2100 wines this year – 25% more than the last one. A total of 35 countries were represented.

During the conference, Jean-Marie Aurand gave a presentation on the OIV and its missions, putting its actions in the context of major developments in the global vitivinicultural sector.

Although modest, Canada's wine production – mainly situated in the provinces of Ontario, British Colombia and Quebec – has increased steadily in recent years to reach nearly 600,000 hectolitres (hl).

Wine consumption currently stands at 4.8 million hl and has seen an average annual growth of 2.5%. Canada is the fourth biggest wine-importing country in terms of value (1.5bn EUR in 2014).