Inscription on the UNESCO Heritage List is a recent step.
The work of the vine and wine is part of the French historical and cultural heritage. The World Heritage inscription procedure is the same for each vineyard. It is a long process that lasts between two and three years. The objective is to protect and enhance the architectural, urban and landscape heritage of the territories.
In total, 11 wine properties around the world are recognized by UNESCO :
They are found in 7 Member States:
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Germany:
Upper Middle RhineValley The Upper Middle
The INSCRIPTION AT UNESCO dates from June 2002 and recognizes the historical, geological, cultural and industrial heritage. It is the second smallest wine region in Germany with a total cultivated area of about 461 hectares.
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Portugal:
Alto Douro Wine Region
After Germany, find the Upper Douro Valley in Portugal. The vineyard produces two popular appellations: Porto and Douro. There is an area of 24,000 hectares of vines.
Wine landscape of Pico Island
Then there is the inscription of the wine landscape of Pico Island in UNESCO. Classified in 2004, this property covers 190 hectares. It is located on the volcanic island of Pico, the second largest in the Azores archipelago.
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Switzerland:
Vineyard of Lavaux terrace region, Switzerland
We also find Lavaux which is a wine region of the canton of Vaud. Listed by UNESCO in June 2007, this landscape is particularly known for its narrow terraces. The vineyard stretches for 30 km on the shores of Lake Leman.
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Austria:
Wachau Valley, Austria
The Wachau is a valley in Lower Austria, 30 km long and crossed by the Danube. The inscription of the Wachau in UNESCO for its agricultural and architectural heritage dates from 2000. The area of this valley is 18,387 hectares.
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Italy:
Piedmont
The inscription of this landscape on the UNESCO list dates from 2014. It is located in the south of Piedmont, and brings together all the techniques related to wine making and vineyards, an activity characteristic of this region for centuries. This property has an area of 10,789 hectares.
The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene
The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiaden is located in northeastern Italy. This landscape is characterized by small plots of vines installed on grassy and narrow terraces and hills with steep slopes. Classified in 2019, this vineyard covers 20,334 hectares.
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Hungary:
Tokaj, Hungary
Then we find the cultural landscape of Tokaj which is located in a region of rivers, hills and valleys. The renowned wines of Tokaj have held strictly controlled quality and management for about three centuries. The inscription of this wine-growing property dates from 2002 and has protected 88,124 hectares.
And the 3 French are:
The jurisdiction of Saint Emilion:
The jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion registered in 1999
There is also the territory of Saint-Émilion which is an exceptional landscape, entirely dedicated to viticulture, whose towns and villages have many quality historical monuments. 5,400 hectares are planted in Saint Emilion.
The hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne:
The hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne registered in 2015
It is the place where the method of making sparkling wines was developed thanks to the second fermentation in bottles. The Champagne vineyard covers 34,000 hectares.
The climates of the Burgundy vineyards:
The climates of the Burgundy vineyard registered in 2015
There are 1247 plots of vines on the slopes of the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. The plots are distinguished from each other by their specific natural conditions (geology, exhibition, grape variety) shaped by the work of men. UNESCO recognizes 13,219 hectares.
Three vineyards are candidates for heritage:
They are also likely to be retained thanks to the quality of their file since it meets several admission criteria.
The vineyard of Sancerre:
Vineyard of Sancerre
For the past 3 years, the Sancerrois committee has been applying for the Sancerre vineyard to the UNESCO world heritage.
The vineyards of Alsace:
Vineyards of Alsace
The inscription would then make it possible to develop the notoriety of alsace wines. The application is expected to take several years to finalize.
The Cadillac vineyard:
The Cadillac
Finally, we find the coasts of Cadillac which are challenging themselves to integrate the list of landscapes recognized and protected by Unesco. They intend to develop their image and their tourist destination.
Among the wine properties classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, are also classified as "wine properties" 3 landscapes in Hungary: Hollókő, the old village and its environment, the Hortobágy National Park and the Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape, as well as one property in Italy: the Amalfi Coast.
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