Centre for Research, Environmental Sustainability and Advancement of Mountain Viticulture (CERVIM)

CERVIM — the Centre for Research, Environmental Sustainability and Advancement of Mountain Viticulture (Centro di Ricerca, Studi, Salvaguardia, Coordinamento e Valorizzazione per la Viticoltura Montana) — is an international organisation created in 1987 under the auspices of the OIV, the Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (today the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin). It is based in the Aosta Valley, Italy, and is regulated by Aosta Valley regional law no. 17 of 18 August 2004. Its mission is to protect, enhance, support and promote 'heroic viticulture' — grape growing in extreme conditions defined by slopes steeper than 30%, altitudes above 500 metres above sea level, terraced or stepped vineyard systems, and the viticulture of small islands. CERVIM operates as a membership network of regional and local authorities, interprofessional bodies, consortia and other organisations involved in mountain and steep-slope winegrowing. Its members include the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, the Veneto Region, Ersaf Lombardia, Arsial Lazio, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Diputación de Lugo and INCAVI in Spain, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region in France, the Canton of Valais in Switzerland, and many others. Through this network it carries out studies, research and conferences, represents mountain viticulture in institutional and sector forums, and runs international events. Among its best-known activities are the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes, an international wine competition for wines produced in extreme conditions, and Vins Extrêmes, an international salon dedicated to such wines. It also publishes the magazine Viticoltura Eroica and manages a collective trademark that identifies wines produced from 'Viticoltura Eroica'. In 2026 it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (PRC) and the Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, opening a new axis of Italy–China cooperation on research, sustainability and valorisation of the wine supply chain. Its associative network expanded in 2026 with the entry of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Canton of Valais (Switzerland).

CERVIM was created in 1987 under the auspices of the OIV, the Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (today the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin), as an international body with the specific task of promoting and safeguarding heroic viticulture. Its Italian name — Centro di Ricerca, Studi, Salvaguardia, Coordinamento e Valorizzazione per la Viticoltura Montana — reflects its mandate of research, study, safeguarding, coordination and valorisation of mountain viticulture. The Centre is regulated by Aosta Valley regional law no. 17 of 18 August 2004 and has its seat in the Aosta Valley, Italy. From its foundation, CERVIM has worked by promoting studies, research and conferences and by ensuring a presence in all institutional and sector forums where issues related to mountain and steep-slope viticulture are addressed, acting as guarantor of the interests of mountain viticulture. It defines heroic viticulture through identifying criteria: slopes steeper than 30%, altitudes above 500 metres above sea level, terraced or stepped vineyard systems, and the viticulture of small islands. The characteristics shared by the zones associated with CERVIM include orographic conditions that hinder mechanisation, small and often non-contiguous vineyards frequently with terracing, small farm sizes, a prevalence of part-time entrepreneurship, the need for large economic investments to modernise, climatic conditions that are not always optimal, differentiated grape varieties producing niche wines outside global models, and vineyards located in areas of high landscape and tourism value. Its activity also extends to the viticulture of small islands, characterised by structural difficulties such as salinity and the impossibility of mechanisation. CERVIM operates as a membership organisation. Category A members include regions, provinces and interprofessional bodies with more than 5,000 hectares of mountain viticulture, as well as similar entities from other states; Category B members include municipalities, mountain communities, interprofessional bodies with less than 5,000 hectares, local promotion bodies, regional instrumental entities and chambers of commerce or similar from other states. Members listed on the CERVIM website include the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley – Assessorato Agricoltura (Italy), Regione Veneto – Assessorato Agricoltura (Italy), Ersaf Lombardia (Italy), Diputación de Lugo (Galicia, Spain), Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (France), Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi (INCAVI, Catalonia, Spain), ICCA – Instituto Canario de Calidad Agroalimentaria (Canary Islands, Spain), Arsial Lazio (Italy), Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), État du Valais – Service de l'Agriculture (Switzerland), Syndicats des Vignobles de la Côte Vermeille (France), Landesweinbauverband Steiermark (Austria), Consorzio Tutela Vini Valtellina (Italy), Consell Regulador de la DOQ Priorat (Spain) and DLR Mosel (Germany), among others. Among its flagship activities, CERVIM organises the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes, an international wine competition for wines produced in extreme conditions, and Vins Extrêmes, an international salon dedicated to such wines. In 2025, Vins Extrêmes was held in the Aosta Valley, and Enovitis Extrême 2025 featured machine trials in heroic vineyards in Cembra (Trentino) on 8 July 2025; the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes and Extreme Spirits International Contest 2025 held tastings on 20 and 21 September in the Aosta Valley. CERVIM also publishes the magazine Viticoltura Eroica, which received a renewed graphic design and content aimed at valorising heroic viticulture as cultural and productive heritage in which the interaction between people and territory is central. It manages a collective trademark to identify wines produced from 'Viticoltura Eroica'. In 2026, CERVIM expanded its associative network with the entry of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Canton of Valais (Switzerland), and on 24 September 2026 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (PRC) and the Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, creating a new axis of cooperation between Italy and China to promote research, sustainability and valorisation of the wine supply chain.

• 2026

  Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Canton of Valais (Switzerland) join the CERVIM network.

• 2026

  MoU signed between Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (PRC), Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino and CERVIM on 24 September.

• 2025

  Vins Extrêmes 2025 held in the Aosta Valley; Enovitis Extrême 2025 machine trials in Cembra (Trentino) on 8 July; Mondial des Vins Extrêmes and Extreme Spirits International Contest 2025 tastings on 20–21 September in the Aosta Valley.

• 2004

  Regulated by Aosta Valley regional law no. 17 of 18 August 2004.

• 1987

  CERVIM founded under the auspices of the OIV.

International reference body for heroic mountain viticulture, operating under the auspices of the OIV and based in the Aosta Valley.

• Mondial des Vins Extrêmes

  International wine competition for wines produced in extreme conditions.

• Vins Extrêmes

  International salon dedicated to wines produced in extreme contexts.

• Viticoltura Eroica collective trademark

  Collective trademark to identify wines produced from 'Viticoltura Eroica'.

• Viticoltura Eroica magazine

  Magazine with renewed graphic design and content aimed at valorising heroic viticulture.

1. 1CERVIM official website homepagecervim.org
2. 2Chi siamocervim.org
3. 3Socicervim.org
4. 4Cervimcervim.org
5. 5Wikidatawikidata.org