Annual conference of the oenologists' association at Wine Campus Neustadt for the first time
The 63rd BDO symposium with the motto "BDO to the power of two" was a very special conference with new challenges and formats. For the first time, there were scientific speakers at a symposium - duos from the participating universities: Hochschule Geisenheim University, Heilbronn University and Wine Campus Neustadt. Under the existing conditions, the BDO symposium was streamed live for the first time with the integration of an online wine tasting and for the first time the host was the Wine Campus Neustadt.
The conference was opened at 2 p.m. on 23 November 2020 by BDO President Prof. Dr. Erik Schweickert and welcoming words from Dr. Günter Hoos, Director of the Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rheinpfalz.
Vice President Rolf Stocké moderated the conference and welcomed Prof. Dr. Manfred Stoll (Hochschule Geisenheim University) and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Fischer (Rural Area Service Center (DLR) Rhenish Palatinate), the first duo to speak on the topic "Forever Young? The influence of age on the adaptation of vines and the aroma of wines".
Dr. Christian von Wallbrunn (Hochschule Geisenheim University) and Prof. Dr. Dominik Durner (Wine Campus Neustadt) took a critical look at "Enology today and the challenges of the future".
Based on the latest market figures, the two scientists Prof. Dr. Simone Loose (Hochschule Geisenheim University) and Prof. Dr. Ruth Fleuchaus (Heilbronn University) provided insights into "Wine consumption under Covid-19".
After each 30-minute presentation, the approximately 120 online participants took the opportunity to ask their questions to the respective duo in a live chat.
After these scientific double-headers, moderator Rolf Stocké handed over to BDO board member Holger Klein, who chaired the panel discussion on the topic of "The winegrower as whipping boy".
Viticulture in the field of tension between the glyphosate debate, fertilizer regulations and the promotion of biodiversity brought the participants from very different positions into a constructive, critical exchange.
There was great agreement in the discussion that it was necessary to free ourselves from our previous defensive stance. The attacks from the public and the press should be acknowledged and taken seriously. Peter Wohlfahrt, Managing Director of the Baden Winegrowers' Association, emphasized the need to communicate the achievements of winegrowing businesses more effectively to the outside world. Oswald Walg from the DLR Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück added that winegrowers were actively maintaining the landscape with their work. Prof. Dr. Otmar Löhnertz from Hochschule Geisenheim University emphasized that the demands for sustainability and diversity in viticulture are also goals of the industry. The goals are undisputed, but the question of how to practice sustainability in viticulture without jeopardizing the existence of a large number of winegrowers needs to be discussed further.
The participants in the specialist tasting were each sent four wines on four main topics in advance.
The question of successful wine styles of today and with a view to the future dealt with PIWI's, white Burgundy varieties, the topic of international red wines and an excursion into the world of orange wines.
The speakers' presentations were followed by a lively exchange with the online participants. Questions could be forwarded directly to the panel and discussed via the live chat. For example, legal issues relating to the labeling of orange wines were addressed or questions were asked about how the ageing process of Piwis compares to traditional varieties.
In summary, it was clear that the new streaming format was well received and actively used by the participants.
The Wine Campus becomes a streaming studio
In times of contact restrictions and strict hygiene requirements, the 63rd BDO Annual Conference could not take place as in the 62 previous editions. New solutions had to be found to reach participants from all over Germany. Digital pioneering work was therefore carried out at the Wine Campus Neustadt: The auditorium was quickly converted into a multimedia streaming studio and viewers were able to watch live at home.
It was pioneering work in many respects. Transporting knowledge digitally is now part of daily business for lecturers from all over the world. However, wine is an emotional product that lives from one thing above all: tasting the wines and the subsequent sensory evaluation. The challenge was therefore to combine digital knowledge transfer, exciting discussions and oenological expertise and to allow hundreds of people to participate at the same time.
A Zoom link would not have been able to solve this task: How could a lively discussion arise, how could an exchange on controversial political topics and sensory experiences be possible if people could only see each other on screen? The actors had to come together in a protected and strictly regulated setting. That was the solution.
The BDO board and Wine Campus Neustadt decided to stream the event on site. Professional streaming providers were brought on board: Pfalz Stream and Südwest Sound took care of the technology.
However, you need more than just a podium to stream an event in a visually appealing way. You need an entire studio. The speakers' presentations had to be easy to understand and the sound and images had to be stable. How often have you had to deal with technical problems in Zoom? That shouldn't happen in this format.
Professional lighting was also used in the steaming studio and the speakers on the podium were able to follow their presentations live on a huge screen. The aim was to make it as pleasant as possible for the speakers on site and the viewers at home to follow the demanding content for five hours. A challenge!
The biggest challenge, however, was the digital wine tasting. For this, 84 packages, each containing 16 small bottles, were filled by hand and sent out in advance. Some of them were even sent abroad! A Sisyphean task that was well worth it. The participants in the wine tasting took a lively part in the live chat that was offered throughout the event. They were able to ask questions to the experts and contribute their opinions directly to the discussions. The chat was the lively link between the studio and the participants at home.
Thanks to the different settings in the studio, the connection of speakers from other universities and the live chat, the almost five-hour broadcast was not boring and tiring, but varied and interactive.
Admittedly: A year ago, this would hardly have been thought possible. But the successful collaboration between many players, universities and institutions proved what is possible.
