Over the last 4 years Lamothe-Abiet has established a policy of quality and traceability. We were amongst the first, in oenology, to routinely use barcode management. Quality implies fundamental change, as much in terms of organisation as in terms of mentality; and the "return on investment" is not immediate. Nevertheless we confronted this challenge with determination and I would go so far as to say courage. I fundamentally believe that we owe the industry total compliance with standards, but I also believe that respect for the consumer obliges us to be attentive and disciplined participants in food safety issues. The ISO 22000 standard (http://www.norme-iso22000.info/) issued in 2000 had the advantage of grouping together the parameters from the 9001 standard by adding on those from the HACCP. Taking on this type of certification was an unprecedented challenge, which we accomplished with no fear! Our efforts were rewarded with success: this summer, we obtained the ISO 22000 certification and I believe that we are the first in the trade to do so. What will our clients gain from this? Firstly, the certainty of working with a partner who respects the highest level of food safety criteria. Secondly, doing business with a supplier who has evolved in the right direction thanks to the quality approach. Today we are better organized, more coherent, more meticulous and just as responsive.

A few words on the situation based on encounters and readings over the summer.
The harvest will be average in Europe with increased production in Italy, but I cannot find any precise figures. In Spain the yield is revised downwards with 37 million hL and a very low harvest in France at 46 million hL. I have received very bad news from Slovenia where summer storms have destroyed a large part of the grapes. To date California is announcing -3% compared to last year. What seems to me to be more significant is the importance of the prices. When I started out in the Bordeaux trade I often heard: "wine isn't sold, it is bought". I subsequently lived through the fantastic explosion of oenological techniques which, thanks to well-trained, discerning oenologists, generated what I will call "mass quality". Prices were in proportion, at least for wines with geographical indication. It appears that those days are over now for two reasons: quality is excellent (almost) everywhere even if it is not always adapted to consumer criteria and consumer tastes are becoming standardised, leaving little room for profitable niches. Stricter management, detailed cost follow-up and cost/quality arbitration must be implemented at production. The oenological product has a role (important) to play here as when it is well-chosen and suitably implemented, it acts as a determining factor of economy and productivity. Our technical department is proof of this.

In this issue you will find an interesting article on China, where Luc Chenard spent a good deal of time. In a small number of words he explains a lot.
Happy harvesting.