The F.I.C.B. general Assembly met in Paris on Saturday 28 January 2017. 41 active members (out of 43) from 16 countries were present, represented or had sent apologies. The Executive Committee and Board of Administration had met the day before. The very positive outcome of 2016 was reported and new developments for 2017 approved.

2016 was marked by the big success of the 49th F.I.C.B. International Congress held in California (Napa and Sonoma Valleys) in June: over 200 participants from a dozen countries enjoyed an extraordinary programme organized by the Knights of the Vine of America.

Three new members have been registered (two wine brotherhoods from new countries: O.E.V.E. Romania and Macau Wine Society, and a second Serbian brotherhood: the Banat St Theodor Wine Order), while the Commende Majeure du Roussillon (France) made its come back as active member. The programme for the 2018 Congress has been finalized and was presented to the General Assembly by the organizer, O.E.V.E. Makedonia. Registration on line will start on 1 May 2017.Our multi lingual lexicon has been made available on our website, which is increasingly visited.

(click here for the 2016 President’s report)

The main decisions adopted at the 2017 General Assembly related to :

The approval of the “practical guide for the creation and development of a wine brotherhood”. This document will soon be available on our web site in French and English. German, Italian and Spanish versions should be made available within months;

The approval of the creation of two new types of international events under the aegis of F.I.C.B. : the “F.I.C.B. International Wine Tasting Challenge” and the “F.I.C.B. wine discovery tours” (click here for New F.I.C.B. events). The Executive Committee was requested to develop and approve specifications for each type of event, which will broaden the offer of contacts and discoveries under the aegis of F.I.C.B. They should highlight the dedication of our wine brotherhoods to recognizing individual expertise in wine tasting and allowing new wine experiences;

The F.I.C.B. “diplomas of honor” for which the Executive Committee is requested to formalize and approve the criteria, while several candidacies are under consideration;

The decision to examine further the two remarkable candidacies received for hosting the 2020 F.I.C.B. International Congress: one by the Langhe-Roero region in the Piedmont (Italy) and the other by Portugal (regions of Douro, Vinho Verde and Lisbon). The decision on the hosting will be taken by the Executive Committee, compliant with our Statutes, at its meeting on 2 February 2018.

The meeting of the General Assembly was concluded by a presentation by Ms Noélie GENEVEY (Moët Hennessy) who, on behalf of the international association “Wine in Moderation-Art de Vivre” (click here) underlined the positive partnership concluded last 6 June with F.I.C.B. She presented the “guide for responsible wine tasting” which will be promoted within the F.I.C.B. membership (click here for the Guide on responsible wine tasting).

The Board of Administration met just after the General Assembly to elect Ms. Bianca VEDRINO as F.I.C.B. Vice-president for Italy. Ms VEDRINO is the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of the Truffle and the Wines of Alba (Piedmont). The vacant position of Vice-president for Hungary should be filled later in 2017 (click here for the updated composition of the Board of Administration).

Financially, the 2016 accounts were positive due to the royalties from the 2016 Congress and lean management. The 2017 Budget was adopted taking into account the exceptional expenses related to the publication of the practical guide and the launch of new developments. The annual fee for active membership remains at 150€ and 50€ for the admission fee, and 100€ for associate members.

A convivial lunch followed at the Musée du Vin de Paris, thus concluding meetings which open new perspectives for F.I.C.B. and the wine brotherhoods. Later in the afternoon, a tasting of Macedonian wines was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Paris.

The 2018 F.I.C.B. General Assembly will be held on Saturday 3 February 2018 in Paris preceded as usual the previous day by meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Administration and closed this time by a gala dinner in the evening.

(click here for presentation of the Summary of the 2017 F.I.C.B. General Assembly)