A grand opening ceremony for the Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo is held in Yinchuan on Aug 9. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
The Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo, titled "A Marvel to the World: Good Wine Originates from Unique Terroir," commenced in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on Aug 9.
Dr John Barker, director-general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, attended the expo as a distinguished guest and shared his perspectives on Ningxia wine.
Dr John Barker, director-general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, delivers a speech at the expo. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
It a pleasure and an honour to be here in this dynamic wine-producing region upon gracious invitation from Ningxia and to bring with me the warm greetings of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine – the OIV.
This is my first visit to Ningxia and my first time setting foot in Yinchuan. But I do not feel like a stranger. The warmth of the people and the world-class quality of the wines and wineries that I have experienced, have made me feel very welcome. Wine brings people together. It is a universal language. I feel that very strongly here in Ningxia and in Yinchuan.
On this special occasion, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks, on behalf of OIV, to the Ningxia government and friends from all sectors of society who have shown a continued interest and support for OIV.
I know that China has a history of grape growing and wine production dating back centuries. It is very encouraging to see the re-emergence of a high quality wine sector in China today. Wine is an important product because it is a driver of economic growth, it is a driver of regional development and tourism, and it is a cultural asset that links wine producers and consumers to 8000 years of history.
The Ningxia Helan Mountains East Foothill is a key part of that re-emergence. It has undergone an important process of growth and modernisation over the past 40 years.
Despite its recent emergence, this wine region has garnered significant international attention and acclaim for its progressive and globally oriented vision and its commitment to best practices. The success is evident in its notable achievements in various international wine competitions and exhibitions, where it has showcased the exceptional quality of its wines, solidifying its reputation as a world-class wine region.
During my visit, I have observed that there is a lot of discussion about the ‘terroir’ of this region within the local wine community. Terroir is a crucial concept for quality wine production.
In the OIV, we have a definition of ‘terroir’ which refers to the collective knowledge of the interactions between the identifiable physical and biological environment and applied vitivinicultural practices develops, providing distinctive characteristics for the products originating from this area.
That is a very technical definition for what is really a poetic concept: the combination of climate, the land, the grapevines and the people that make a wine special and unique.
It is evident that our colleagues in Ningxia wine industry are committed to building their collective knowledge of their unique terroir to create “distinct wines of Chinese style”. I sincerely commend this terroir-based approach and I congratulate you on the significant progress that has been made. I believe that through wine, you discover the qualities of your land, and you share that discovery with others.
One of the most encouraging things that I have discovered is the commitment of Ningxia Helan Mountain’s East Foothill Wine Region to a philosophy of sustainable development that encompasses ecological conservation, technological innovation, natural harmony and people orientation.
Sustainable development is a core objective of the OIV and we have developed important works and guidance on this subject over many years. In my view, sustainable development is a responsibility for all producers who are linked to their terroir. From a commercial perspective, it is increasingly a requirement for the participation in the premium wine market. It is therefore extremely satisfying to see such a strong commitment to sustainable development here in Ningxia.
The OIV is the international scientific and technical reference organisation for the vine and wine sector. It is an international intergovernmental organisation. It creates global standards and guidance and it provides data and information, to help our members and the sector to navigate the challenges of the future.
The OIV was founded in 1924 with just 8 countries. Today we have 50 member countries covering 87% of global wine production. We are delighted that China has committed to join the OIV with the aim of contributing to and advancing the harmonisation of international grape and wine sector. As a leading vine and wine country, and as a global economic power, it is very significant that China will soon take its place alongside the other major vine and wine countries within the OIV.
This comes at a significant moment in the history of our organisation. It is 100 years since the signing of the international treaty that created the OIV – a special occasion when we look back with pride on the previous century, and we look forward with optimism to the century to come.
We will celebrate our centenary with a series of activities in October, including the inauguration of our headquarters at the historic Hotel Bouchu in Dijon, France. Ningxia will be present to celebrate with us!
As part of our celebrations, we have re-ignited the International Network of Vine and Wine Cities - a global network of more than 100 cities committed to the advancement of wine industry worldwide. We would like to thank and congratulate Yinchuan for joining this network, which is a recognition of its continued efforts to foster the growth of the grape and wine industry along with many other cities around the world.
Finally, I would like to offer my thanks once again to Ningxia for their generous invitation, for their commitment to the grape and wine sector and to the OIV. I strongly believe that the key to success for the grape and wine sector is to share knowledge and to work together to progress our shared interests. I wish great success to this Expo and health and prosperity to all of the guests.