|
Logroño, October 2003
Dear Friend,
We are pleased to inform you of the celebration
on 12th, 13th and 14th May 2004 of the IV World Wine Forum ‘Rioja
3rd Millennium', promoted and organised by the Department of
Agriculture and Economic Development of La Rioja and the Business
Federation of La Rioja (FER).
This forum, the senate of the wine world,
brings to La Rioja all the sector’s experts, specialists and
technical workers at a moment that is crucial for the winegrowing
world. Consequently, we would like to have your active presence,
your work and your posters, your opinions and your written proposals;
for only with the participation of all members of the sector of
which you are a part shall we succeed in finding the best ways and
solutions for progress during the 21st century.
Besides exhibiting the work of the world’s
best experts, the IV World Wine Forum is to stage a debate between
all those involved in winegrowing throughout the world (specialists,
technical workers, researchers, oenologists, legal experts, winery
owners and cellarmen, grape producers and marketing, advertising
and communication specialists, as well as representatives from government,
universities, research centres and other entities). The debate shall
look at current proposals and possible solutions to the problems
of a sector that is in constant development.
We are at a crucial moment. The differences
between the traditional winemakers and those not sharing their ideas
are becoming increasingly greater since the United States withdrew
from the IWO in July 2001. This has brought about permanent confrontation
on the world market, a situation that could lead to repercussions
specific to each case, especially in the areas included in the traditional
European market.
The traditional system defends the European
concept of designations of origin, which is a heavily regulated
system in which winegrowing transcends from a purely economic standpoint
and becomes a socio-cultural asset. On the other hand, the countries
that follow the new model make wine using unregulated winemaking
and oenological methods.
The existence of these two models, the
impact of technology, the global market, new standards, the organised
consolidation of countries with less developed economies, changes
in employment, ever-changing competition, the consideration of information
as a key economic resource and training as the leading strategic
tool must lead to thought in order to find the road to the new future
of the world’s wine and vineyards. Consequently, all postures
and opinions regarding the different components of the world’s
two winegrowing sector models must be voiced and heard.
These matters, together with alternatives
for the future, shall be examined in the next World Wine Forum,
the meeting point for the winegrowing sector. In the forum, the
people and organisations that make up the aforementioned sector
may get to know each other, meet up and present and debate current
problems with a view to finding solutions together.
If you wish to contribute with your ideas
and present solutions, find out the latest about sectorial matters,
increase your knowledge of market technologies, attend the discussions
and meet representatives from the entire sector, the IV World Wine
Forum offers you the opportunity. With these words, I would like
to reiterate my invitation to you to present your work, your opinions
and your proposals and urge you to take part in this initiative.
Our aim is to achieve the best possible future for the world winegrowing
sector.
Kind regards,
Mr. Francisco Javier Erro Urrutia
Department of Agriculture and Economic Development
Government of La Rioja |
|
