Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

SUN BELT, CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO RECOGNITION

We share the article published by the French newspaper “L'Indépendant Perpignan” by Thierry Bouldoire who interviewed Bernard Rouby, committed to carrying forward the dossier of UNESCO candidacy of the ancient practice of fortifying wines in the “Sun Belt”, together with Spain, Greece and the Sicilian Region and Irvo in Italy.

The UNESCO recognition of the Mediterranean Sun Belt as intangible cultural heritage of humanity currently involves four large poles of the historical production of fortified wines: Marsala for Italy; Jerez-Xérès-Sherry for Spain; Samos for Greece; the Confederation of Vins Doux Naturels of Mediterranean France.

This coveted enhancement would allow the Sun Belt to be identified as a living cultural heritage, protecting and enhancing its naturally sweet wines, a unique viticultural heritage and the legacy of ancestral knowledge typical of the Mediterranean axis, the fruit of handed down knowledge, community identities, historical relationships and ancient maritime trade, and contemporary developments that embrace the territories of the Mare Nostrum between Mediterranean Europe and the Atlantic.

 

 

 

Natural sweet wines, candidates for UNESCO recognition, aim to accelerate their progress.

by Thierry Buldoire published in L'Indépendant Perpignan

Wines and heritage

This is a historic moment for naturally sweet wines: the request for inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage. The application is being pursued by several Mediterranean countries. In France, an accelerated process would be desirable.

No, naturally sweet wines are not doomed. They are leveraging their particular expertise—a unique production method—and a historical cultural heritage tied to the Mediterranean to raise awareness of their cause within UNESCO. Their goal is twofold: to preserve this heritage and strengthen their image. To do so, they have joined an initiative dedicated to "fortified" wines, a term used to describe wines to which alcohol is added during production.

Associated with Sicilian Marsala, Greek Moscato de Samos, Andalusian Jerez, and Port, the French VDNs, including, of course, the Catalan ones, officially submitted their candidacy in January 2025. A year later, the process is progressing, especially in Italy and Spain, but in France it is struggling to take off.

"This request for inclusion in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage is a crucial step. The VDN market is fragile and needs to be accelerated," says Bernard Rouby.

The president of the National Confederation of VDN, a winemaker in Maury, insists: "We are in the process of compiling our dossier. Our interlocutor is the Ministry of Culture, through the DRACs, the Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs. We hope for their support and attention, particularly in the search for historical and environmental experts."

With 250 letters of support—250 from elected officials, educational institutions, trade unions, winemakers, winemakers, and retailers—the initiative hopes to double this number by 2028, the year scheduled for final deposit with UNESCO. It's therefore time to shift gears. This is especially true because in Spain, Greece, and Italy, the consensus around the initiative appears very strong.

"A Peace Pact" around fortified wines

"Clearly, these countries are ahead of us. The political will is stronger." One example is the pact ratified during the Vinoble fair, held in Jerez de la Frontera, the Andalusian home of Jerez, on May 31, 2026.

"We have signed a so-called Peace Pact, which brings together all stakeholders from the five countries. It affirms the universal nature of our fortified wines, a catalyst for relationships, dialogue, and cooperation. This is an important symbolic step, accompanied by the elected officials of the Jerez region, including the mayor," explains Bernard Rouby.

In France, the production of naturally sweet wines has declined fourfold in 30 years. The VDNs are hoping for a boost from their inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage.