Decisions on Viticulture and the Environment

Following the adoption of the previous guides on sustainable production, the OIV adopted the 'General Principles of Sustainable Vitiviniculture ?Environmental - Social - Economic Aspects' (Resolution OIV-CST 518-2016), whose objective is to specify the definition and scope of application of sustainable production and to provide general principles applicable to all vitivinicultural products. These general principles should serve as a basis for the preparation or revision of guides for the implementation of sustainable vitiviniculture by integrating the three aspects of sustainability: the environmental, social and economic. The development of production systems and practices that preserve and improve the usage conditions of these natural resources and also strengthen the economic conditions of the area of production is imperative for the long-term viability of vitivinicultural activities.
In the field of dried grape production, the OIV adopted a good practice guide for dried grape production systems (Resolution OIV-VITI 522-2016). This document is designed to complement Resolution OIV-VITI 493-2013, which relates to 'OIV recommendations for the production of dried grapes'. Its objective is to provide technical requirements relative to dried grape production, so that these could be recommended to producers and national and/or international organisations.

Decisions on Oenological Practices

Several resolutions relating to new oenological practices will be added to the International Code of Oenological Practices of the OIV, in particular:
The updating of oenological practices by adapting them accordingly to take into account the ever-growing use of non-Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts within winemaking processes (Resolution OIV-OENO 546 2016).

The treatment of wines using filter plates containing zeolites Y-faujasite to adsorb chloroanisoles (Resolution OIV-OENO 444-2016). The objective of this practice is to reduce the content of chloroanisoles responsible for odour alterations in wines by reducing their levels below the organoleptic perception threshold using filter plates containing zeolites Y-faujasite during filtration.

The updating of practices relative to the oxygenation of musts and wines (Resolutions OIV-OENO 545A-2016 and OIV OENO 545B 2016). These practices have the objectives of, on the one hand, accelerating the process of oxidation of musts with the aim of causing browning reactions in phenolic compounds to improve the stability of wines in relation to oxidation and, on the other, contributing to the reduction of the vegetal character and disappearance of reductive aromas, as well as ensuring alcoholic fermentation occurs smoothly and avoiding stuck fermentations. Additionally, the oxygenation of wines has the aims of contributing to the stabilisation of colouring matter and the maturing of red wines, of preparing wines intended for treatments to eliminate excess iron through oxidation of ferrous iron into ferric iron, of reducing the 'volatile sulphur compound' content and of decreasing the vegetal character of wines.
The treatment of wines with potassium polyaspartate was permitted by the OIV within the context of the tartaric stabilisation of wines (Resolution OIV-OENO 543-2016). This new additive should be used at the optimal dose of 100 mg/L. At stronger doses, the stabilising effect of potassium polyaspartate is not improved and, in some cases, may provoke an increase in the turbidity of the wine.

For the first time, with regard to the substances already permitted by the OIV, the Organisation differentiated between substances used as additives and those used as processing aids (Resolution OIV-OENO 567A-2016). This distinction will help to establish better harmonisation among the international organisations and to facilitate the international trade of grape wines. The list examined is not an exhaustive list of additives and processing aids, and the OIV will continue to examine and consider additives and processing aids proposed for wine production.

Decisions on Specifications of Oenological Products

The following monographs were added to the International Oenological Codex, in particular:

A monograph on zeolite Y-faujasite (Resolution OIV-OENO 506-2016). Various detailed specifications accompany this monograph, including one regarding the silica-to-aluminium ratio, which should be 3 or higher. This monograph thus supplements the oenological practice that permits the treatment of wines with this copolymer.

A revision of the monograph on proteins of plant origin (Resolution OIV-OENO 575-2016). The iron limit was increased to 300 ppm, exclusively for pea and potato proteins, while the zinc limit was raised to 150 ppm, solely for pea proteins.
Decisions on Methods of Analysis

During this same session, new methods of analysis or guidelines were adopted and will be added to the analytical corpus of the OIV. These include, in particular:

'Provisions on the use of proprietary methods that should be adopted by the OIV' (Resolution OIV-OENO 526 2016). Just like the Codex Alimentarius, the OIV has adopted a list of requirements that ?for the purposes of adoption by the Organisation ?should be met by methods that contain protected intellectual property preventing full disclosure of information about the method and/or where the intellectual-property rights owner restricts the use or distribution of the method or materials necessary for its performance. Primarily, a proprietary method should not be endorsed if a suitable non-proprietary method of analysis is available that has been or could be endorsed and that has similar or better performance.

The method for the determination of sugars in musts and wines by high-performance liquid chromatography was revised (Resolution OIV-OENO 552-2016). This method, validated by an interlaboratory trial, applies to the direct quantification of sugars in musts and wines up to 20 g/L and, after dilution, beyond. Glycerol (between 0.5 and 15 g/L) and sucrose (between 1 and 40 g/L) may also be determined in the same way. Sugars and glycerol are separated by HPLC by means of an alkylamine column and detected by refractometry.

The method for the determination of alcoholic strength by volume was also updated to consider the measurement in beverages with a low alcohol content (Resolution OIV-OENO 566-2016). Therefore, the procedure was modified slightly in order to take into account beverages with an alcoholic strength by volume less than or equal to 1.5% vol.

A method relative to the analysis of volatile compounds in wines by gas chromatography (Resolution OIV-OENO 553-2016). This method is applicable to the analysis of almost 30 volatile compounds in wines containing less than 20 g/L sugar. For wines with a sugar content higher than 20 g/L and for mistelles, prior distillation (identical to that practised to obtain the ABV) is necessary, however distillation entrains a sometimes significant part of the compounds.

Decisions on Economy and Law

The OIV also adopted recommendations for the establishment of training programmes for oenologists (Resolution OIV-ECO 563-2016). The oenologist training programme should ensure that the oenologist in question is capable of working diligently in each of the five lines of work defined by Resolution OIV-ECO 492-2013, is able to handle the duties described in said Resolution and has in-depth and continually-updated knowledge of all the practices to be carried out under their control. These programmes were established according to the UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-UNESCO 2011). In this respect, oenologist training programmes are considered tertiary education and may be developed at different levels.

Finally, the OIV adopted a new definition within the category of special wines that refers specifically to wines with an alcohol content modified by dealcoholisation (Resolution OIV-ECO 523-2016). Wine with an alcohol content modified by dealcoholisation is a beverage obtained exclusively from wine or special wine that has undergone a dealcoholisation treatment reducing the initial actual alcohol content by volume of the wine or special wine by a proportion of more than 20% and whose actual alcohol content is equal to or greater than the relevant minimum actual alcohol content for wine.

The full texts of the resolutions adopted by the 14th OIV General Assembly will shortly be available on the OIV website.