TOWARDS A NEW FUTURE FOR WINE

The beginning of the 21st century sees the wine sector traversing critical times. The existence of two winegrowing models, with their different paces, trends, permitted oenological practices, rules and regulations, combined with the “stagnation of growth in worldwide wine consumption,” has contributed heavily to this situation. Debate and positive solutions are required.

Different variables must be considered and tackled in order to set about this debate:

• Changes taking place in the sector.
• Strategic alliances with regard to each one of these models.
• New regulations.
• Permitted oenological practices.
• Use of new technologies.
• Globalisation of the economy versus traditional regionalisation of wine.
• Greater wine awareness among consumers.

Given its standing in the traditional winegrowing sector of modern Europe, La Rioja has been chosen to host the IV World Wine Forum ‘Rioja 3rd Millennium’. This shall be a framework for in-depth debate and analysis of the winegrowing sector, as well as its present and future perspectives.

It is a unique opportunity to be able to participate in the invention, planning and improvement of the future of wine. All ideas, trends, theories as well as the most ambitious research shall be expounded and debated. Also on the discussion table shall be the most advanced technological innovations and to summarise, all those aspects that are going to shape the future of wine.

The IV World Wine Forum ‘Rioja 3rd Millennium’ thus takes centre stage as a meeting point for all wine-sector protagonists and elements in their broadest sense: political, economic, business, scientific, technological and human. A meeting point where combined action is achieved through free expression.

The IV World Wine Forum ‘Rioja 3rd Millennium’ shall be the pivotal moment in the redefinition of the wine sector, a sector in constant development, and one that must be capable of controlling its own future.

OBJECTIVES

• TO ANALYSE the important changes occurring in the winegrowing sector and the possible sector-development with regard to aspects as important as:
  
  
  • Oenological practices.
  • Opportunities and problems with the oenological models.
  • Globalisation and traditional wine of the European model.
  • The application of technological advances to winegrowing and oenology.
  • Market internationalisation.
  • Favouring the increase of healthy wine consumption.
    
    
• TO CONSIDER the future of the winegrowing sector adapted to the two existing models, with the participation of specialised professionals and representatives from all activity spheres of the sector: productive, commercial, promotional, economic, regulatory, legal, governing and administrative.
  
  
• TO PROVOKE DISCUSSION on the different manners of keeping the two winegrowing models in the framework, and their socio-economic repercussions on a worldwide level.
  
  
• TO ASSESS aspects of the derived and synergic economy of the winegrowing sector, such as the tourist, cultural, communicational and heath elements, responsible for setting market trends and consumer tastes.
  
  
• TO OPEN A FORUM where work, research, oenological practices, ideas and opinions are presented and discussed. A place where active participation is encouraged, taking into account the range of disciplines involved in the future shaping of the winegrowing sector.
  
  
• TO ESTABLISH personal contact with individuals with shared interest from this sector, and to exchange experiences, knowledge and preoccupations.