OIV Photography Winners Announced

The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) has announced the winners of the "Pau Roca" photography contest, launched last April to celebrate the centennial of the organization. With the theme "The Vine and Wine Sector in the Face of Climate Change," the competition aimed to inspire both amateur and professional photographers from around the world to artistically portray the impact of this global phenomenon on viticulture.

The contest received nearly 70 images from various countries. The jury, comprised of experts from both the wine and photography communities, selected the best works that captured the essence of the theme. Yann Juban, Deputy Director General of the OIV, emphasized the importance of the event and the communicative power of art: "The submitted photographs show how the vine and wine sector confronts one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change. It is inspiring to see how art can powerfully convey such a critical issue while celebrating the beauty and richness of viticulture."

The judging panel included Yann Juban; Christophe Deschanel, a professional photographer and OIV award winner in 2021; Ricardo Fernández Núñez, founder and CEO of Vinos de la Luz, the contest's sponsor; and Benjamin Bois, a viticulture expert at the OIV.

The First Prize went to Kristian Kielmayer from Hungary for his photograph "The Blur." Taken at sunset in the Somló wine region, the image contrasts the stillness and movement of a vine leaf. According to Kielmayer, the photo symbolizes the planet's beauty and its fragile balance, a perspective that the jury praised for delivering a compelling message about environmental vulnerability.

The Second Prize was awarded to Michel Joly from France for his photograph "Global Warming." It depicts a vineyard worker named Jean repairing vineyard posts under an unusually intense sun in Savigny-lès-Beaune, highlighting the sector's challenges as extreme weather events become more common. The scene captures the hard work of those tending vines under increasingly harsh conditions.

Christophe Der, also from France, won the Third Prize for "Vine Leaf in Ice." The photo emphasizes the vulnerability of vines to late frost, a consequence of premature development caused by global warming. Der artistically illustrates the complexity of climate change, underscoring the threats viticulture currently faces.

A special mention was given to Per Karlsson, a photographer from Sweden and France, for his work "Flooded Vineyards in Bourgueil." The striking image shows Cabernet Franc vineyards in Bourgueil with their roots submerged after heavy rainfall, offering a visual testament to how extreme weather events impact wine production. The photograph clearly illustrates the problems posed by excessive precipitation, a concrete example of the adaptation required in the sector.

The winning images will be exhibited at the OIV headquarters, the Hotel Bouchu dit d'Esterno in Dijon, and made available on the organization's official website and social media. This exhibition not only honors the awarded photographers but also seeks to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on the vine and wine industry, a sector deeply reliant on the environment and climate.