MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS ARE AN INTERNATIONAL TREASURE

Smith-Madrone is a “textbook” mountain vineyard. We thought you might be interested in a resolution from an international wine industry group about the importance of mountain vineyards.

On July 9, 1999 the General Assembly of the OIV (Office internationale des vignes et du vins), meeting in Mainz (Germany), adopted a resolution concerning “historical mountain and steep slope viticultural lands.” “The main sentiment of the resolution is that many steep vineyard regions have tremendous historic and cultural value,” explains Dr. Carole Meredith, who was involved with developing the resolution and is an emeritus professor at UC Davis’ Department of Viticulture and Enology. The OIV is an inter-governmental organization created by international treaty in 1924; today 42 wine producing countries are members; the U.S. joined in 1984.

Complete text of the OIV resolution adopted on July 7, 1999:
The General Assembly, having taken account of the results of the Centre de Recherche de la Viticulture de Montagne symposium on May 17, 1996 in Vila Real (Portugal) on mountain and/or steep slope viticulture, NOTES
·         that a number of mountain and/or steep slope vineyards of fundamental cultural and historical value are threatened by aggression or abandonment
·         that the type and originality of the products of these territories are of high traditional value
·         that most of the vineyards in question are located in areas with historical and touristic value
·         that it is necessary to maintain human activity in these areas to ensure the safeguarding and durability of these lands
·         that recognizing the sites for the value of their world cultural heritage represents a method of safeguarding biodiversity and socio-economic value and
REQUESTS
·         That member states take action to safeguard and maintain mountain and/or steep slope viticulture
·         That UNESCO favorably considers requests for classifying these vineyards as having worldwide cultural value.

RESOLUTION VITI 2/99
HISTORICAL MOUNTAIN/STEEP SLOPE VITICULTURAL LANDS

The GENERAL ASSEMBLY, having taken account of the results of the Cervim (Centre de Recherche de la Viticulture de Montagne) symposium on May 17, 1996 in Vila Real (Portugal) on mountain and/or steep slope viticulture NOTES
-         that a number of mountain and/or steep slope vineyards of fundamental cultural and historical value are threatened by aggression or abandonment,
-         that the type and originality of the products of these territories are of high traditional value,
-         that most of the vineyards in question are located in areas with historical and touristic value,
-         that it is necessary to maintain human activity in these areas to ensure the safeguarding and durability of these lands,
-         that recognizing these sites for the value of their world cultural heritage represents a way of safeguarding their biodiversity and socio-economic value
REQUESTS
·          That member states take action to safeguard and maintain mountain and/or steep slope viticulture;
·          That UNESCO favorably considers requests for classifying these vineyards as having worldwide cultural value.