150 winemakers met at a professional celebration
Maja Petric, Unsplash
The 17th Luxembourg Wine Industry Day took place today at the Cultural Centre in Wormeldange, bringing together around 150 winemakers. The event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, who launched initiatives to support the industry.
Wine Day is a key annual platform for knowledge exchange between representatives of the wine sector. It is organised by the Union of Luxembourg Winemakers and the Institute of Viticulture and Viticulture (IVV). The forum programme included practical presentations on wine marketing, enotourism, generational change, sustainable winemaking in the context of climate change, as well as issues of wine production regulation and labelling.
Minister Martin Hansen emphasised the crisis of generational change in the wine business. She noted that the transfer of farms to young winemakers is becoming increasingly difficult, which threatens the future of the industry. In this regard, a National Generation Change Plan will be launched on 21 March to help develop simpler business transfer mechanisms and make the process easier for family wineries.
To analyse the situation more accurately, the Viticulture Institute will carry out a specialised study to identify the problems and needs of Luxembourg winemakers.
Also touched upon were changes in agricultural legislation that simplify the process of recognising qualifications for new specialists, including those entering the industry from other spheres. The planned reforms in the recruitment of seasonal workers should be fully finalised before the harvest begins this year.
Martin Hansen highlighted the effective cooperation with the Winegrowers' Union, which actively supports the development of the Mosel region within the LEADER-Miselerland programme. This helps wineries to develop the local economy, tourism and innovative production methods.
The forum ended with a tasting of PIWI wines (created from sustainable grape varieties) and a presentation of new technologies presented by companies in the wine industry.
