CIVB chief to stay till 2007, other reforms

CIVB president Christian Delpeuch will remain in his post until 2007 under new rules voted by the Bordeaux trade body’s general assembly

Encouraged by a secret ballot held in Bordeaux last week, Delpeuch is ready to push through his ‘Plan Bordeaux’, and expects it to be effective from the 2006 harvest.

Delpeuch held a general assembly last week in Bordeaux, and put three main plans before the 48 voters. He received (narrow) agreement on all of them.

The first – that the president be elected for three years, not just one as is current – was agreed by a large majority (44 out of the 48 voters), and effectively means that Delpeuch will remain as president until 2007.

The second reform – the creation of a Vins de Pays de l’Aquitaine – was agreed by two thirds of the voters, and will be presented to ONIVINS (the national wine governing body in France) shortly.

Certain syndicats had been against the creation of this vins de pays, preferring instead a revision of the criteria of the AOC system, making it more liberal – for example, by allowing the addition of oak chips to AOC wines.

The third point – the decision to limit yields of red wine to 50 hl/h throughout Bordeaux – was more closely contested, but passed by a majority of 25 out of 48. This measure is intended to further balance supply and demand, but remains to be agreed by the individual syndicates and other official bodies.

Commenting on the meeting, Delpeuch said, ‘It’s only by standing together that things can improve, even if certain choices are difficult.’

Written by Jane Anson