China is expected to become a full member of the OIV this November, giving the country greater influence in formulating international standards and regulations on wine production and consumption.

At a press conference held in Ningxia on July 11, it was revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, representing the Chinese government, had formally submitted an application to join the Internaitonal Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) through the Chinese Embassy in France. The application is currently under review by member countries and it’s expected that China will officially become the 51st official member country at the OIV’s 100th anniversary celebration conference in November.

The OIV, the most authoritative intergovernmental international organization for wine-producing countries, wields broad influence in the global wine industry. As a full member, China, a leading wine producer and consumer, will benefit from the expertise, cooperation, and services of a network of more than 500 experts and 50 existing member states.

This membership will enable China to participate in decisions concerning the viticulture sector. China currently ranks as the world’s 9th largest wine consumer (6.3 million hectoliters) and has the third-largest area under vines (756,000 hectares) behind Spain and France, according to the OIV’s State of the World Vine and Wine in 2023.

“To continue working towards the future, we now look forward to having China as a full member very soon, with all the rights and influence that the nation deserves”, said the late Pau Roca, director general of OIV in 2023, who believes in China for its potential, research and new technologies to have its right in shaping the global vine and wine tendencies.

China’s Long Road to OIV

President Xi Jinping in Ningxia visiting vineyards (pic: People’s Daily)

One of the key advocates for China’s long road to joining the OIV has been the Ningxia government.

Ningxia’s wine industry has been closely linked with the OIV since its inception. Since becoming an observer of the OIV in 2012, Ningxia has repeatedly participated in OIV world wine conferences, promoting the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills wine region globally.

Speaking of the anticipated membership, Chen Zijun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills Wine Industry Park, highlighted its positive impacts to boost China’s domestic wine industry. “China’s accession to the OIV is of great significance for the development of the global wine industry, as it will enhance the international status and recognition of Chinese wine.”

According to Ningxia government, the province will lead regular exchanges and cooperation with wine regions worldwide in areas such as market connection, standard alignment, brand promotion, product export, events, technology introduction, and talent cultivation.

Meanwhile, the province will make a push to accelerate the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills region’s membership in the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) and to promote Ningxia’s capital Yinchuan’s entry into the OIV International Network of Vine and Wine Cities.

Founded on November 29, 1924, in Paris, France, the OIV is an authoritative body in the international wine industry, known as the “provider of international standards.” It is one of the international organizations recognized and published by ISO, and OIV standards are adopted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) for wine-related matters. The organization studies scientific, technical, and economic issues related to the cultivation of grapes, the production, storage, sale, and consumption of wine, grape juice, table grapes, and raisins. Over 95% of the world’s wine-producing countries participate in the organization, which includes 50 member countries such as France and Italy.

In 2012, Ningxia became China’s first provincial observer of the OIV and has led delegations to participate in major OIV activities. Yantai City in Shandong Province is the only other OIV observer in China. In 2018, Hebei also expressed its intention to become an OIV observer.

While observers can attend OIV meetings and working group sessions to obtain wine-related information, they do not have voting rights and are not official members.