CPVO Fruit Expert Meeting 2026 in Conegliano

The European DUS experts for fruit species met on 23 June in Conegliano, Italy. In the heart of the Prosecco-producing region, discussions naturally centred on the implementation at EU level of the new CPVO guide for DUS (Distinctness – Uniformity – Stability) testing of vines. GEVES was represented at the meeting by Nathalie Luchaire, who is in charge of the trials conducted at the INRAE site in Vassal, Baptiste Lederer and Carole Dirwimmer.

Following a presentation on the vine breeding work carried out as part of the European GrapeBreed4IPM project, we were invited to visit the CREA-VE laboratories, where breeding programmes are being conducted with the aim of introducing disease resistance into vine varieties that are already widely planted. The visit concluded with a tour of the local trial plots and DUS collections, which include many varieties intended for winemaking as well as for the production of table grapes.

Finally, we were lucky enough to sample a sparkling wine made from a threatened grape variety, Grapariol, which has been the focus of a local development project.

From the creation of the variety to the finished product, this session of work and discussion was, as always, very enriching!