 While accepting the award from the Argentinean Ambassador in Holland, H.E. Horacio Salvador on November 25th, Don Lorenzo said that COVIAR had realized in the last two decades that the country could not make progress in the competitive wine export market and domestic sales unless it received active support from the government and lobbied hard to have the government declare wine as a national beverage through an Act.
Almost 3 years to the day, a decree was passed on November 24, 2010 by President Cristina Fernandezde Kirchner who reportedly had then said, “It is an honorable ambassador in the world and represents the pride of the Argentines that can enjoy in the domestic market world-class wines that are prestigious in other continents.” The government also took into account the rise of viticulture in the development and the fact that it also generated activities that affect regional economies such as tourism, gastronomy, hotels, which are ancillary to the production of wine. She had also said that the decision had been taken because of continued requests from this sector and COVIAR was one such organisation.
Lorenzo gave a copy of the Act that was passed declaring wine as the national beverage, to the Director of the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) Ms Otilia Romero Condés. She said that the decision of giving this prize to COVIAR was taken because of their efforts to promote wine on national markets and their firm support to the initiative of the presidency of the nation to designate wine as the National Beverage of Argentina.
As the Award ceremony was in progress my mind instantly raced back to India where wine is treated generally as liquor and is given the spiritual treatment that it does not deserve but yet it comes under Article 47 (Part IV) of our constitution which states that it is the ‘Duty of the State…which shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.’
There has been enough written by philosophers and medicinal experts about the therapeutic benefits of wine for centuries. The recent studies, in the past two decades have empirically proved that wine is beneficial for heart health when taken in moderation. Of course, there are valid arguments about what is moderation and whether it is practical to enforce those levels - there is no foolproof safeguard against that. So the argument cannot stand the legal grounds. But it is in the context of a country like Argentina that we ought to give wine a special status. Being in the agricultural sector, it can provided thousands of jobs and even help wean away the die-hard alcohol abusers.
Back to Amsterdam where the 2-day World Bulk Wine Exhibition was being held in RAI, in the southern part of town; the annual Voice of Wine Award was instituted in 2011 to recognize and reward notable groups or people who defend the values of wine and the sector’s economic, cultural and social features. The first Award was given to the International Organisation of Vines and Wines (OIV) for promoting wines collectively as a corporate entity by getting the governments of vine and wine producing nations together (India joined the 45 member UN-type organisation a couple of years ago). Last year’s recipient was the European Wine Committee (CEEV) based in Brussels, recognizing the colossal amount of work carried out by the representative body of the European industry and trade in wines at international forums and its efforts to transmit the positive benefits of responsible moderate consumption.
Curious to know what the Indian National Beverage was, I googled and was flabbergasted and amused to find that the Wikipedia list is Bhang (Cannabis), Feni (Cashew or Coconut) and Toddy (Palm Wine)! This is in contrast with some of the other national beverages like Australia (Beer), Chile (Pisco), Korea (Soju), USA (Bourbon Whiskey, Beer and Wine) and Japan (Sake). It goes on to explain the illegality of some of these national drinks of India including Bhang and Toddy, making the listing a rather contentious one, deserving attention and possibly requesting Wikipedia to amend.
The fact that Argentina declared it as the National Beverage by a government decree should be seen as an encouraging sign for wine internationally and the efforts made by COVIAR are laudable. It remains to be seen what steps are being taken by the Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB) in that direction. Lobbying with the government of India to serve Indian wine at the State Banquets would be a good, practical start. We may never see wine given the status of a National Beverage by an Act in India but certainly we need to take it forward in that direction and IGPB must constantly endeavour to do so, if it takes its mandate seriously.
Subhash Arora
Tags: Don Lorenzo Capece, Argentinean Viticulture Corporation (COVIAR), World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE), Voice of Wine Award, International Organisation of Vines and Wines (OIV) |