Global Market:Backgrounderon OIVhttp://www.oiv.int Theaim of the Parisheadquartered International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is to be “the worldscientific and technical reference organisation on vine and wine.” It is, inshort, an international forum of discussion for the wine, and wine-relatedspirits, sector and a means by which international agreements on any aspect ofthe sector can be made. Theorganisation’s origins date to the late 19th century phylloxera pandemic. In 1874, producersfrom Austria, France, Germany,Italy and Switzerland held the firstinternational co-operative meeting in the wine industry to discusscollaborative means of combating phylloxera. Widespreadfraud in the post-phylloxera era atthe beginning of the 20th century saw further internationalcollaborations to identify ways of preventing fraudulent claims of origin andprovenance. In the same period,international traders were looking for joined-up efforts regarding customstariffs and regulation of trade across borders. Ittook until 1924 for the predecessor of the OIV, the Office International de laVigne et du Vin (same acronym), to be created, to deal “with all scientific,technical, economic and human aspects of the vine and its derivatives (wine,table grapes, raisins, wine spirits).” The eight founding countries were Spain, Tunisia,France, Portugal, Hungary,Luxembourg, Greece and Italy. Intergovernmentalco-operation is a core tenet. Among others, the OIV works with the World TradeOrganisation (WTO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), Codex Alimentarius,and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Harmonisationand standardisation of practices and regulation and international standards andmethods of analysis is a key function. The OIV compiles an annual overview ofthe state of the vini-viticultural world, from which trends can be identified,and forecasts made, for production, consumption and trade. Viticulturalworks include the description and list of synonyms of grape varieties,authorised limits for pesticide residues, international code of oenologicalpractice, compendium of international methods of analysis, internationalstandard of wine competitions, international standard for labelling of wine andspirits. Inthe late 1990s the OIV underwent review with the aim of increasing itsrelevance to the wine industry. Following a six-year review, a new treaty wassigned in 2001, formulating its current guise as an inter-governmentalorganisation covering the same subject matter. It was at this time that the USA withdrewfrom membership. The world’s biggestwine consuming nation and the fourth biggest wine producing country is notableby its absence, though the current 45 member countries represent 70% of globalwine production. Therevised treaty came into force in 2004, and was followed by the organisation’sfirst three year strategic plan (2005-2008), followed by one for 2009 to 2012,which targeted sustainable viti-viniculture, climate change, biodiversity andgenetic resources, oenological practices and techniques, greenhouse gasbalances, and the impact of biotechnologies (genetic engineering). Resultsincluded the issuing of sustainable viti-viniculture guidelines in 2008,incorporating a complicated definition: a “global strategy on the scale of the grapeproduction and processing systems, incorporating at the same time the economicsustainability of structures and territories, producing quality products,considering requirements of precision in sustainable viticulture, risks tothe environment, products safety and consumer health and valuing of heritage,historical, cultural, ecological and landscape aspects.” Nonetheless, thetriple bottom line ‘E’ (economic, environment, social equity) issues areunderlined, plus a wine-specific consideration protecting geo-physical andhuman vinous heritage. There is a built-in review and revision protocol tothese guidelines. In2011 this was followed up by member states agreeing a framework for calculatinggreenhouse gas emissions. The Green House Gas Accounting Protocol allows allbusinesses around the world producing, supplying, transporting and retailingwine to use a standard methodology to report their environmental performance.This will create a great deal of transparency in the industry. It was reportedby the UK’sWSTA wine policy director John Corbet-Milward that “the wine sector is one ofthe first trade sectors worldwide to develop such a system.” Its potential useis not restricted to OIV membership. In theprevious year, 2010, the OIV even adopted a definition of the imponderable termterroir: “Vitivinicultural ‘terroir’ is a concept which refers to anarea in which collective knowledge of the interactions between the identifiablephysical and biological environment and applied viti-vinicultural practicesdevelops, providing distinctive characteristics for the products originatingfrom this area. ‘Terroir’ includesspecific soil, topography, climate, landscape characteristics and biodiversityfeatures.” Using this definition, a set of guidelines is being developed toestablish viticultural zoning to offer growers a common framework. Thecurrent strategic plan runs from 2012 to 2014. it covers a full 15 ‘strategic axes’,building on the work of previous strategic plans, and including continuedstatistical and economic analysis of the sector, at least five climate/ environment/sustainability axes, one on biotechnology, plus harmonisation axes foroenological practices and measurement methodologies, among others. See them allhttp://www.oiv.int/oiv/info/enplanstrategique In2012 the OIV issued an updated version of its international code on oenologicalpractices, which runs to 286 pages, covering grapes, musts, wines, ‘specialwines’ including liqueur, sparkling and ice wines, and spirits. It includes,for example, the new oenological treatment of using yeast protein extracts forfining operations. In 2010, the use ofelectro-membrane treatment (bipolar electrodialysis) was permitted as anacidification technique for wines. Theuse of spinning cone columns to reduce alcohol by up to 2% has been allowedsince 2004. Amongother things, work is progressing on the definition and role of sommeliers. Ageneral assembly is held each year in a different host nation, where scientificpapers are given and resolutions, such as the above, adopted. Asat October 2011, the OIV has 45 member countries. India was the most recent,joining in 2011:
Organisationsand countries can hold observer status. Yantai and Ningxia Hui in Chinaare both observers as are such organisations as the International Federation ofWines and Spirits (FIVS), the International Union of Oenologists (UIOE) and theWorld Federation of Wine Competitions.