International Organisation of Vine and Wine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Organisation of
Vine and Wine

Organisation Internationale de la vigne et du vin
Member states as of 2011
Abbreviation	OIV
Predecessor	International Vine and Wine Office
Formation	January 1, 2004; 21 years ago (2004-01-01)
Type	Intergovernmental organisation
Headquarters	12 Parvis de l'Unesco, Dijon, France
Fields	Winemaking, viticulture
Membership	49 states
Official languages	English French Spanish German Italian
Director General	Pau Roca
Main organ	OIV General Assembly

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (often called OIV) is a special group that brings countries together. It focuses on the science and technical parts of growing grapes and making wine. But it's not just about wine! The OIV also deals with grapes grown for eating (table grapes) and for making raisins.

One of the OIV's main jobs is to collect facts and figures about grapes and wine from all over the world. This helps everyone understand the global grape industry better.

The OIV's main office is in Dijon, France. As of 2022, 49 different countries were members of this organization.

History of the OIV

The idea for the OIV started a long time ago. In the 1800s, a tiny bug called phylloxera caused huge problems for grapevines. It destroyed many vineyards. Because of this, countries started holding meetings to figure out how to fight the bug.

One important meeting was the Montpellier Congress in 1874. During these meetings, people realized it would be helpful to have a permanent international group. So, in 1924, eight countries signed an agreement to create the International Wine Office in Paris.

Later, in 1958, the name changed to the International Vine and Wine Office. The current International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) was formed in 2001. It officially started working on January 1, 2004, replacing the older office.

OIV Member Countries

Many countries around the world are part of the OIV. They work together to share knowledge and improve grape growing and winemaking.

Scientific Work

The OIV also helps with scientific research. For example, they have ways to measure the exact color of a wine. They use special tools to do this. This helps keep standards for wine quality.

Helping Grapevines Stay Healthy

The OIV also works on ways to protect grapevines from diseases. In 2013, they suggested that scientists should try to create new types of grapevines. These new plants would be stronger and naturally resistant to common plant diseases like downy and powdery mildew. This helps farmers grow healthier grapes with fewer problems.