Registration has opened for the 47th World Congress of Vine and Wine, a major international meeting organized by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, or OIV, that will take place from Oct. 12 to Oct. 16 in Yinchuan, in China’s Ningxia region.

The OIV announced the opening on Tuesday from Dijon, France, where the intergovernmental body is based. The event is being held at the invitation of the Chinese government and comes two years after China joined the organization in 2024, becoming its newest member state.

The congress will gather scientists, researchers, policymakers and wine industry professionals from around the world to discuss the future of the vine and wine sector. This year’s theme is focused on how the industry can respond to current pressures through transformation, innovation and sustainability.

According to the OIV, the scientific program will include 271 oral presentations and 149 posters from 35 countries. The sessions will be organized around four main areas: viticulture, oenology, economy and law, and safety and health.

The viticulture track will focus on integrated approaches to resilient and sustainable grape production. The oenology sessions will examine technical innovation and how winemaking can adapt to future demands. Discussions in economy and law will address legal and economic models for a changing market. The safety and health section will center on production practices, consumption and social sustainability across the wine value chain.

In a statement released with the announcement, Yvette van der Merwe, president of the OIV, said the congress carries added significance because it will be held in China at a time when the country is expanding its role in global wine. She said China’s recent accession to the OIV reflects both dynamism and opportunity for the sector and that the meeting represents a strengthening of international collaboration.

The choice of Ningxia places the congress in one of China’s best-known wine regions. Located in the country’s northwest, Ningxia has built an international profile for wine production over the past two decades. The region sits between the Helan Mountains and the Yellow River, conditions that have helped support vineyard development in an otherwise dry landscape.

Yinchuan, the regional capital, has become a gateway for visitors to Ningxia’s wineries as well as its historical sites. The OIV said delegates will be able to discover cultural landmarks including the Western Xia Imperial Tombs and ancient rock art alongside vineyards that have helped establish Ningxia as one of China’s leading wine-growing areas.

The congress also highlights China’s broader weight in global grape and wine markets. In background information released with the announcement, the OIV said China has the world’s third-largest planted vineyard area. It is also the 11th largest consumer and importer of wine. In table grapes, China holds an even larger position, accounting for 43% of world production, according to the organization.

That scale has made China increasingly important not only as a market but also as a producer with growing technical ambitions. Over recent decades, Chinese wineries have invested heavily in vineyard development, cellar technology and regional branding, especially in areas such as Ningxia where local authorities have promoted wine as part of economic development and tourism strategy.

For producers, researchers and regulators attending the congress, those shifts are likely to shape many of the discussions. The global wine sector is facing pressure from climate change, shifting consumer habits, trade uncertainty and public health debates around alcohol consumption. By structuring its program around resilience, innovation and sustainability, the OIV appears to be positioning this year’s meeting as a forum for practical responses to those issues.

The organization said participants are encouraged to register early to benefit from reduced early-bird fees available through Aug. 31. Journalists seeking accreditation have been asked to contact the OIV directly through its press office.

The OIV currently has 51 member states. According to the organization, those countries account for 90% of the world’s vineyard surface area, 88% of global wine production and 75% of global wine consumption. The body describes itself as the main scientific and technical reference for the international vine and wine sector, bringing together more than 500 experts twice a year to review standards, guidance and resolutions related to viticulture, oenology, law, economics, consumer health and safety.

This year’s congress in Yinchuan will serve not only as a scientific meeting but also as a signal of how much Asia, and China in particular, now matters in global conversations about wine production, trade and research.