Introduction and Overview

Who would have thought in 1990 what we have been able to achieve in 20 years? VDQS,1 the old French certification neglected by the wine authorities, has become the beacon for the Vineyard Data Quantification Society. It was founded by a group of academic researchers coming mainly from applied econometrics and members of the AEA (Applied Econometrics Association, founded in 1973) and was based on the challenge of developing contributions of knowledge on the economics of the wine and grape sector. After more than 20 international conferences, our initial challenge can be regarded as having been met largely successfully; each year, new studies, scientifically validated by a rigorous process, provide new elements of reflection (and action) to the decision makers of the wine world.