Geisenheim, July 10, 2015. According to the official announcement from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) during the „38th World Congress of Vine and Wine“ in Mainz, Professor Monika Christmann was elected as the new president during the 13th General Assembly by the voting members. She will succeed Claudia Inés Quini from Argentina, who has held this office since 2012.

The OIV, based in Paris, is an intergovernmental, international organisation with recognized scientific and technical competence in the areas of vine, wine, wine-based drinks, table grapes, raisins, and other vine products. Currently, the organization represents the interests of 45 member states.

Monika Christmann has been the director of the Institute of Enology at Geisenheim University (the Geisenheim Research Institute until 2013) since 1994. University President Prof. Hans Reiner Schultz is very pleased about the choice. „This is a great recognition and a great vote of confidence for Monika Christmann, for Geisenheim University, and also for the Ministry, which many scientists represent as delegates and experts at the OIV.“

The Vice President of Research, Prof. Manfred Grossmann, also found fitting words regarding the election of Professor Christmann. „The election of Monika Christmann as the new OIV President is also visible proof of the relevance and timeliness of Applied Wine Research at Geisenheim University and its direct instrumentality for wine producers and political decision-making bodies.“
Professor Christmann studied Beverage Technology in Geisenheim and graduated thereafter with a degree in Enology from the Justus Liebig University of Giessen. Following this, she became the Quality Manager in Research and Development at H. Sichel Söhne GmbH in Alzey. From 1991 to 1993, she worked as a Laboratory Manager and a member of the SIMI Winery Winemaker Team in Healdsburg, California. In 1994, she accepted the position as a Professor of Enology at Geisenheim University. For many years, she has been very active in the field of research, academic education, and lifelong learning all over the world. At OIV, she was the President of the Wine Technology Committee from 2004 to 2010, the President of the Enology Commission from 2009 to 2010, and the 2nd Deputy of the President since 2012. An exciting and challenging time now awaits her, with many visits to wine regions around the world, which Geisenheim students and colleagues hope will lead to many new contacts all over the world.