John Buck, Director General of the International Organization of Vine and Wine: China brings a new perspective to global wine governance

China News Service, Yinchuan, October 12 (Reporter Li Peishan) "By joining the OIV, China can participate in the formulation of international wine standards, bring local terroir practices, sustainable exploration, and wine culture perspectives into global industry dialogue, and bring a new perspective to global wine governance." John Barker, Director General of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service in Yinchuan, Ningxia on the 12th.

The 47th World Grape and Wine Conference and the OIV Member State Congress kicked off in Yinchuan on the 12th. This is the first time that OIV has brought this top industry conference to China in more than 100 years since its establishment. This is not John Buck's first visit to Ningxia. He has visited the production area at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain many times. He was deeply impressed by the vineyards growing in the Gobi, the vitality of the production area and the enthusiasm of the local people. In 2025, China officially became the 51st member of OIV and the first new member after the organization entered its second century. Ningxia has participated in OIV exchanges as an observer for a long time since 2012, and has continued to carry out technical docking and scientific research cooperation, laying a solid foundation for this conference to be settled in Yinchuan.

John Buck said that China is not only the third largest grape-growing area in the world, but also an important wine consumer. China's joining the OIV and hosting this conference is a landmark event.

The global wine industry is currently undergoing profound changes. Climate change, changes in consumer preferences, trade uncertainty and digital technology iterations continue to reshape grape growing, winemaking and market patterns. In 2025, both global wine production and consumption will be under pressure, and the industry's development logic will gradually shift from the pursuit of output to the emphasis on quality, cultural tourism experience, and ecological sustainability.

In his eyes, the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia are a living example of the transformation of global production areas. In the past, contiguous vineyards were cultivated on the desert, and industrial development simultaneously achieved ecological restoration, promoted rural employment, and implemented the OIV concept of sustainable development. “Winemakers in Ningxia are rooted at the foot of the Helan Mountains and continue to explore local terroir characteristics, brew wines with Chinese style, cultivate a wine culture that fits the local market, and find a balance between tradition and innovation,” he said.

John Buck proposed that the high-quality development of the wine industry is inseparable from five core elements: win-win cooperation, benchmarking against international standards, adhering to sustainable development, cultivating local wine culture, and adhering to open exchanges. "Although there is market competition among various production areas, responding to climate change, maintaining industry credibility, and improving trade rules are common propositions for the entire industry, which cannot be solved by one country alone." He said that OIV is willing to build a communication platform and promote Ningxia experts to join the OIV international expert group to conduct scientific research exchanges around grape cultivation, winemaking technology, climate adaptation, etc., and promote mutual learning of experiences in global production areas.

“Where the grapevine takes root, the tree of friendship is evergreen.” John Buck hopes that with the help of this conference, more global wine practitioners will understand the terroir value of the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain. In the future, OIV will continue to deepen cooperation with China and Ningxia, use science as a link, build consensus among multiple parties, and work together to build a closer global grape and wine community.