91 works consisting of 39 presentations and 52 posters;
attendance by researchers, technicians, vine-growers and journalists;
expert and impeccable organisation;
the unique grandeur of an area such as the Ribeira Sacra:
these are the reasons behind the success of the Second International Congress on Vine-growing in mountainous and steeply sloping areas organised by the CERVIM and by the authorities of Galicia (Spain).
Moreover, 4 working groups, led respectively by Prof. Failla, Dr. Orriols, Dr. Ambroise and Prof. Sorbini, and dealing with issues concerning the history and culture of vine-growing in the mountains and/or on steep slopes, grape- and wine-producing technology, the environment, territory and landscape, and economic and social issues – the recently presented conclusions of which were coordinated by the masterful expertise of Prof. Bianchi de Aguiar, President of the Scientific Committee – give us good reason for saying we are satisfied.
At the same time, we should say that if on the one hand the reform of the CMO has acknowledged the work and commitment of the CERVIM for vine-growing in mountainous and steeply sloping areas, on the other hand we have to voice our disappointment: we expected more extraordinary results for the initiatives that mountain vine-growing has been carrying out for over 20 years.
The exclusion of uprooting for mountain vine-growing is certainly an important sign, but a more manifest recognition of the toil, labour, culture and heroism of vine-growing, or rather its role in defending the environment and enhancing the landscape, would have been justified.
Certainly « l’enveloppe nationale » is a political situation that will allow us to deal with the problems of restructuring and, more so, of recognising vine-growing in mountainous and steeply sloping areas.
And also on this occasion we need to take an active role. But our action must be far-reaching. In order to succeed we need new energy and resources. We have to find political and institutional support. We have to spread awareness among the Regional Authorities, countries and the European Union, without forgetting international vine-growing and wine-producing organisations. We have to invite politicians and top managers to visit our areas and learn about mountain vine-growing, by seeing it with their own eyes.
Good communications are essential to do this.
Our web portal, magazine, the International Competition of Mountain Wines and the Congress are excellent communications tools, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do more.
The conclusions of the Congress will be reported to the recently changed CERVIM Board of Directors; it is here that new strategies will be adopted to make the defence and promotion of mountain vine-growing even stronger and more incisive.
Finally, a thank you to the CERVIM management, as well as to all the officials and other people without whom this Congress would not have been so successful.