The 7th CERVIM International Congress of Mountain and Steep Slopes Viticulture, held from 12 to 14 May in Vila Real (Portugal), was a very special opportunity to share the needs of the MOVING project and to assess the perceptions of local actors on the vulnerability of the wine value chains.
Three of the value chains (VCs) investigated within MOVING’s project belong to viticulture and wine production, in particular the Trento Doc wine in Eastern Alps (Italy), the Douro wine in Maçico Central (Portugal) and the mountain wine linked to the landscape of Ayerbe/Loarre in Pyrenees (Spain).
The CERVIM, Centre for Research, Environmental Sustainability and Advancement of Mountain Viticulture, is an international organisation set up for the specific purpose of promoting and protecting the heroic viticulture defined by the following criteria: (a) vineyard sites at altitudes over 500 meters (1600 feet), (b) vines planted on slopes greater than 30%, (c) vines planted on terraces or embankments and (d) vines planted on small islands in difficult growing conditions.
Its 7th Congress was entitled “Extreme viticulture: from cultural landscape to economic and environmental sustainability” and it was divided into 4 sessions:
1. Maintaining sustainability and landscape in steep slope vineyards.
2. Mountain and steep slope vineyards: agronomic practices through new technologies.
3. Quality factors of “wines”.
4. Mountain and steep slope vineyards: people, history, economy and culture.
The themes of the congress fitted perfectly with MOVING’s holistic and multidisciplinary approach, and the search for sustainability and resilience of mountain value chains in the light of climate change and the demographic evolution of these areas.
More than 100 participants, coming from 10 countries, and 27 organisations brought to life a 3-day event of scientific presentations, exchange of practical experiences and social exchanges.
Vinidea, one of the MOVING partners coordinating two of the value chains focused on wine, had the opportunity to present MOVING and the three “wine” cases.
In its presentation, Vinidea was able to gather opinions and perceptions of the participants on the vulnerability of the different mountain chains and mitigation measures. Participants highlighted main themes such as: land management to reduce labour and preserve soils; maintaining locally the added value generated by wine production; and water availability as a thread for the future.
