INVITATION BY THE MINISTER
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great joy that Portugal is preparing to host the OIV’s 34th World Vine and Wine Conference and 9th General Meeting in July 2011.This international event, which is taking place in Porto – a city of great beauty, a World Cultural Heritage Site and the home of one of the world’s most famous fortified wines, which bears its name –, will attract the world’s greatest wine sector specialists to Portugal to discuss the alliance between Art and Knowledge in the construction of wine.
The foundations will be laid for a knowledge forum that will be used to develop the sector by promoting new, wealth-generating synergies.
The theme The Construction of Wine opens up an area for critical thinking and discussion, introducing, among other subjects, the question of a new, sustainable architecture for cellars – the vast potential of the relationship between the wine trade and the urban development of our cities and regions having been identified.
We therefore invite you to come and learn more about wine-making Portugal – a country that combines tradition, modernity and innovative spirit -, small in size but big in terms of the genetic heritage of its castes, the variety of climates and soils and the rich aromas and flavours of the many excellent wines that it produces.
In 1998, the OIV Conference and General Meeting enjoyed great success in Lisbon. In 2011, in Porto, we will do our utmost to surpass it.
We are counting on you and your scientific contribution! The subject is fascinating and there is no doubt that this is an event not to be missed.
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing