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 After presiding over the Oenology Commission for three years Dr. Monika Christmann had gone on to assume the position of OIV Vice-President for the last two years. As expected, the decision was unanimous. She takes over from another lady, Claudia Quini from Argentina, who was elected as the president of the world body in 2012 for three years and now becomes the first Vice President.
I had met Dr. Monika Christmann in 2008 in at the Nederburg Auction, South Africa where she was a keynote speaker and talked about the future of wine-making and global warming. She was then the de-facto Head of Department of Oenology and Wine Technology at the world-famous Geisenheim State Research Institute in Germany (it is a full-fledged University under the government Act now). She was also the President of the OIV Expert group Technology. Later , when I met her, she invited me to visit Geisenheim which is one of the best known universities in viticulture and oenology in Germany.
Thanks to her active participation at OIV, there has been a close link of OIV with Geisenheim which is a partner in the OIV Master's in "Wine Management". The University has trained many of the OIV's experts, particularly in Oenology and Methods of analysis.
Last year, I did have an opportunity to stop by on the way to my hotel in Deidesheim to judge at the annual Mundusvini International Wine competition at Neustadt and though I could not meet Dr. Christmann, I found the training and teaching facilities at the university commendable- in fact, excellent for Indian students who want to pursue their careers in wines and vines.
Federico Castellucci, who had worked as the elected Director General of OIV for two full five-year terms from 2004-2013, was also unanimously elected as the Honorary Director General of OIV at the Assembly. According to the rules of OIV, the DG may not continue for more than two terms of five years each. Castellucci, who currently shifts from Rome and Marche where he has his own vineyards, says ‘Prof. Christmann said she would count also on me for advice. We have to organise for her to come to India to renew and strengthen the contacts.’ Jean-Marie Aurand continues to be the Director General till his first term expires in 2017. India got the membership primarily because of the concentrated efforts of Castellucci who knows Indian’s future potential and would like to see it achieved and help in any way he can, as he conveyed to Arora.
‘There was a good attendance of more than 500 experts,’ he said, ruing that there was none from India. This is a pity as India joined OIV almost 3 years ago and has not been able to take advantage of the technical committee reports and huge data resources. They have specifications on wines that most countries follow with or without modifications. With the problem of FSSAI trying to re-invent the wheel, some of these problems could have been resolved with the help of this body having 46 member states, including India and all the wine producing countries except perhaps the US.
 Every year OIV awards a Medal of Merit to 2-4 wine experts who have been doing exceptional work. This year it was awarded to George Sandeman of the Sandeman Port family in Douro ( for his work in the European Wine in Moderation program, and in memoriam to the late Serge Hochar from Chateau Musar of Lebanon, who died in a freak accident a few months ago. Subhash Arora was given this recognition in 2011 during the 34th General Assembly in Porto, Portugal. In fact, Castellucci wondered why Arora was not designated to be present, being the sole Award winner from India.
One really hopes the Indian government and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and IGPB, through whom the government has taken the membership of this august organisation through a Presidential decree, see the light and do not fritter away the advantage that the country was able to gain by getting admitted to OIV. In fact, with Dr. Christmann being at the helm, there could be a huge jump in the educational facilities provided to upgrade the skills of winemakers in India.
For earlier related articles, click
OIV Report: World Drinking More Imported Wines
TechTalk:Trends for vineyards and wineries
Subhash Arora |