Chisinau — the “global wine capital” today
About 300 guests from all over the world gathered today in Chisinau at the World Congress of Vine and Wine. An event hosted, for the first time, by the Republic of Moldova, which, according to the authorities, is transforming us today into the “global wine capital”. Below we report behind the scenes and explain the importance of the event.
The OIV Congress should not be confused with a wine exhibition (Prowein or Wine Paris – with 50-60 thousand visitors) or with a wine competition (Mondial de Bruxelles, Berliner Wein Trophy – with 7-8 thousand wines and 300-400 jurors).
It is, rather, a scientific and intergovernmental forum. It takes place every year in a new destination and, usually, the 51 member governments fight for the honor of hosting these forums. From this point of view, it is a great diplomatic and image-building success for the Republic of Moldova.
It began at the Palace of the Republic of Moldova with the national anthem sung by children.
Later, several officials gave speeches, including President Maia Sandu and Minister of Agriculture Ludmila Catlabuga. “You have beautiful authorities,” a colleague from Italy whispered in my ear.
“We have a great tradition in winemaking (…) Even my parents and grandmothers made wine,” said Maia Sandu. She gave her speech in English, with an ending in Romanian, emphasizing that she hoped that the guests “will return home with good impressions and, perhaps, with a few bottles of good Moldovan wine.”
The director of the OIV, John Barker, reported on the world state of wine, a not very rose one: production and consumption have been in a depressing decline lately.
“Any crisis must be treated from the perspective of the opportunities it offers. The Republic of Moldova has experience, Vinul Moldovei has reinvented itself and is an example in this regard,” John Barker added.
In order not to be too sober, the speeches were alternated with artistic breaks. Performer Violeta Botezatu sang, on piano and kobza, “Lie Ciocârlie” and, of course, the traditional “Bun e vinul ghiurghiuliu”. How could we do without that?!
I asked Gheorghe Arpentin — the one who represented us at a high level in the OIV for many years — what he thought of the organization. “It’s good, but in addition to the image, we should also offer more consistency,” he said. He is always critical and efficient. Gheorghe Arpentin is going to make a scientific presentation about the “Rara Neagră 2.0” revitalization project, carried out in Purcari.
Over 300 scientific papers will be presented over the next 3 days, in panels divided into separate themes. They will be exhibited at the Palace of the Republic and maib park, and visitors can have access if they buy a ticket here, or with an invitation from the organizers.
The Director of the National Office of Vine and Wine, Ștefan Iamandi, will probably sleep little these days. In addition to the scientific sessions, ONVV has 13 technical tours to wineries and tourist locations across the country, from Casa Vinicolă Luca, in Cricova, to Crama Mircești in Ungheni or Vinăria Purcari in the southeast.
The guests of the Congress each received a kit with promotional materials – wine-tourism guides, an invitation to the Wine Day in the fall, a bottle of wine, but also a… sun hat, to better cope with the coming heat. Global warming will definitely be discussed at the Congress.
After the festive part, the guests were invited to lunch, with several wines offered for tasting.
The gala dinner will be held on Saturday in Cricova.
“We have been extraordinarily well received so far,” confessed a journalist from an Italian wine magazine at the press conference.
Spreading a favorable image of Moldovan wine in the world is probably the most important mission these days. Wine of Moldova needs more (re)knowledge in the world and, perhaps, the 300 experts will be, at least for a day, ambassadors of our wine.
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