European Winemakers Seek UN Recognition of Wine's Historical Value

How do you answer the anti-alcohol "public health" advocates. One way is to highlight the historical role wine has played.

That's the argument that was made at a recent meeting of the International Organization of Vine & Wine (OIV), where David Songulashvili, Georgian Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, said, “Wine is a lifestyle and philosophy, not just a liquid alcoholic beverage.”

OIV is seeking "a more global recognition for the culture of wine," OIV Director General John Barker. Wine, he added, has been part of cultural history for more than 8,000 years.

To get that global recognition, OIV is turning to UNESCO, which recently succeeded in getting its cuisine inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

We think it's a brilliant move, and we think the U.S. beverage industry should jump on board, starting with highlighting its historic wineries, distilleries and breweries