The world congress of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will take place in Moldova in 2025. The OIV is an intergovernmental body reuniting almost all the world’s wine producing countries. It works on technical issues, regulations, health, statistics, and other critical issues for the industry. And it organises the OIV wine book awards competition. Moldova is a small country in eastern Europe, but a country where wine counts big, perhaps the country where wine counts the most for the national economy.
The OIV World Congress is a meeting place for people in the wine industry. It is an occasion to present and discuss leading-edge research in wine. Many of the world’s leading wine research institutions are represented. It is also an occasion to present and discuss burning issues in wine economics, for example the issues around global warming (the word “burnings” was not chosen by chance).
I often turn to the OIV to find fundamental data about, for example, world wine production and consumption but also trends and changes.
I have been several times in Moldova, a country with some 100,000 hectares of vineyards (similar in size to Bordeaux) and have had the opportunity to discover a very exciting wine country with, for example, a wealth of unusual indigenous grape varieties.
These two things happened to coincide last week. I was in Portugal for the OIV-International Organisation of Vine and Wine Book Awards prize ceremony. Our latest book, The Wine for the Future (actual title in Swedish, “Framtidens vin”) and won a prize and I was there to receive it, as one of the very, very happy and very honoured authors of the book.
At the OIV Book Awards, that this year took place at the Centro Cultural de Belem in Lisbon, Portugal, they also took the opportunity to present the next World Congress. The Moldovan Ambassador to Portugal, Mr. Alexei Cracan, presented the event and gave a short introduction to his country to us who were there for the book awards.
So, in June 2025 the OIV World Congress will take place in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, where the world wine sector will assemble, meet and discuss the critical issues on the global wine scene.
The OIV and Moldova have another thing in common. They are not as well-known to the general wine-loving public as they deserver to be, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you the ambassador’s introduction.
I hope that this may entice you to explore the wines from Moldova. If that wasn’t enough, you can read about the meeting I had a little while ago with the director of the Moldovan Wine Office, Stefan Iamandi, an article to be published tomorrow.
Here’s the full presentation of His Excellency the Ambassador of Moldova, Mr Alexei Cracan, both on video (in French) and below in English.
(I should also underline, this is in no way an official video. I just “happened” to sit in the audience – as one of the recipients of the OIV Book Awards – and having a special interest in Moldova I took the liberty to record it. I hope no one minds.)
His Excellency the Ambassador of Moldova, Mr Alexei Cracan on the OIV World Congress in 2025
“Good evening! I have the great honour to be with you tonight because in front of me is the greatest wine professional in wine. One thing has brought us all together today, everyone in this room. That thing is poetry. The poetry that is found in a bottle of wine.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear guests, it is with great pride that I stand before you today, on the occasion of this OIV award ceremony, to announce that the Republic of Moldova will have the honour of hosting the Congress of International Organisation of Vine and Wine in June 2025.
This event will mark an important turning point for our country, becoming the centre of the world’s largest meeting of wine professionals from around the world . By hosting this Congress, Moldova will highlight its rich wine heritage, a viti-vinicole heritage, a sector that spans several millennia.
Our vineyards are not only places of production. They are the heart of our culture, our identity and a strong symbol of our European aspirations.
Every Moldovan is deeply connected to this historical tradition where wine represents much more than a drink. It embodies the history and resilience of our people.
The Congress of the OIV will be an opportunity for more than 500 experts from around the whole world to debate crucial issues for the future of the wine sector such as innovation, sustainability and adaptation to climate change. As is highlighted by the OIV in its recent work. However, beyond these essential discussions, Moldova will reveal itself to all of you as a land of incredible cultural and human wealth.
Our wines, which are already world-renowned, with over 7,000 medals won in the last eight years, are a testament to the talent and creativity of our producers, both large wineries as well as small artisanal producers.
In June 2025, you will have the opportunity to discover our famous underground wine galleries. Wine collections listed in the Guinness Book (of Records). And above all, to meet the Moldovan people. A people known for their generosity, especially when they opened their doors to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, demonstrating our solidarity and humanity.
Moldovan wine is not just a flagship product. It is a symbol of national pride, courage and resilience. With the OIV Congress, it will become an ambassador for our country on the international and European stage, helping to promote Moldova’s image and strengthen our path towards European integration.
We greatly look forward to seeing you in The Republic of Moldova in 2025 to share with you this unique experience.
Welcome to our territory of wine and history.
And finally, I would like to add one little thing. Yesterday and today, I have had two hours of talks with the organizers of next year’s congress. I can tell you that the preparations are underway, have begun. And really, we are waiting for you with open arms. Thank you.”
