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“…a production based on
quality and variety is not antagonist to the use of sophisticated
technologies” Paillotin & Rousset (1999)
In 1992, several wine professionals and public researchers of diverse
nationalities created “Vinelink International” gathering international
scientists and professionals convinced with the importance of developing
innovation within the wine production and trade.
The Association was based on the evident need of a joint international
innovative effort. It was created after seeing that beyond commercial
competition,many major problems of the wine profession are often the same
in different regions or countries like for example many serious grapevine
diseases. Therefore it is desirable that research associates countries or
regions concerned with common problems in order to make the best use of
limited financial means and combine complementary expertises in various
regions.
From that time , Vinelink International has organized many research
programmes mainly oriented in two sectors: grapevine diseases and grape
berry ripening (see below).
But several operations have been also developed on the communication for
the wine consumer: the themes being Wine & Health, Jeunes Amis du Vin,
Goût et Santé, stimulation sessions for new consumers.
GRAPEVINE DISEASES
We all know that wine business is now confronted to a serious situation
since some vine diseases increase dangerously , while at the same time
their chemical treatments have been or will be soon prohibited.
From its creation, the Association has started very important research
programmes regarding wood decay diseases, backed by the European
Commission: Eutypiosis ($ 2,4 Mio) and ESCA ( $ 1.8 Mio)
Another objective of ours aims at the pesticides reduction especially for
Botrytis, Mildew and Powdery Mildew treatments, 3 diseases for which the
wine business is spending 130.000 tons/year today and only for Europe!. A
few years ago we launched and financed an international coordination on
Powdery Mildew and Botrytis. At the moment, a project of fundamental
research analyzing grapevine defence against those 3 diseases is under way
.
GRAPE BERRY RIPENING
The development of new tools for a better control of wine maturation
adapted to each terroir is essential for improving the quality of wine
thru out the world.
The Association has decided to investigate this research domain thru 2
paralleles and complementary programs:
First a fundamental program: looking for a better understanding of the
ripening phenomenon. In 2003 we obtained the EU financial aid for our
“Development and ripening of grape berry” project , gathering 14 European
countries.
And secondly an industrial program: targeted to create new tools for the
vineyard. In December 2004 the French Ministère de l’Agriculture selected
our project “New tools for the optimisation of grape ripening in the
vineyard” ( gathering 3 research centres and 3 technical institutes) for
an important grant.
HEALTH AND WINE
COMMUNICATION FOR THE CONSUMER
In 1993 when the scientific works of Pr Serge Renaud (on what was later
called the “french Paradox“) was produced on T.V. in the States , it was
clear that Wine & Health could be a major promotion tool for the wine
business .
Consequently our Association moved to support the domain altogether
concerning the scientific field but also its communication to the consumer
: many operations have been organised in France, Japan …
From that time we have joined with the Provence Association COREVI to back
researchers’ efforts and their publications in this field , and more
recently to help a better communication of the wine business toward young
consumers.
The Association schedule
Two annual plenary meetings allow the members to determine what has been
done and decide which actions to undertake in the future. At the same time
technical lectures on current news are given. Last topics were “Precision
viticulture”, “Viticultural intrants reduction” and in March 2005
“Evolution of the oenological practices”; all stressing the importance of
the technological evolution of our business.
Who takes part in the Association ?
Vinelink International is a free multinational association, without
national or industrial dependance : It is a neutral ground for proposals
and for setting up technical or marketing concerted actions on stategic
themes.
The Association strives not to take themes already treated elsewhere.
In 2005, the Association counts 90 members and 280 partners of 25
nationalities, in 2 colleges:
1) A Public Research College gathering scientists in order to organise and
implement research programmes. They come from INRA (Bordeaux, Montpellier,
Colmar …), universities (Poitiers, Dijon, Cornell and Davis in the USA,
…), wine research centres (Geilweilerhof in Germany, Changins in
Switzerland, …), specialized research institutes (Australian GWRDC,
Portuguese ADVID, American Vineyard Foundation, …)
2) And a Professional College sponsoring the activity of the Association
and at the same time guaranting the Association independence. This college
will define prioritary problems of the business to be solved thru research.
Among them are Schenk (Switzerland); Freixenet, Torres (Spain); Amorim,
Calem (Portugal); R. Mondavi (USA); Villa Banfi, CAVIT (Italy); Hennessy,
Moët & Chandon, Château Léoville las Cases, Rémy Cointreau, Vaslin-Bucher,
Rémy Martin, Pernod Ricard, Roederer (France); Centres Interprofessional
de Champagne (CIVC), Cognac (BNIC), Inter-Rhône, Interloire, …
Membership
The annual subscription fee is € 850 for private members, free for public
members.
If interested, please ask for a form to fill out to:
•
Association Lien de la Vigne - c/o
Monsieur Jean-Pierre Mégnin - 35, rue Roux Alphéran - F 13100
Aix-en-Provence
• Or e-mail to jpmegnin@wanadoo.fr
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