About OEVE
The development of the new European Union structures required the creation of non-governmental organisations to ensure intra-Community socio-cultural links.
At the same time, the transmission of multi-millennial wine-growing traditions as a cultural component of European identity is a duty to be honoured.
These are the elements which, together with the promotion of fundamental European values – human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, peace, friendship – were the premises for the creation of the Ordo Equestris Vini Europae (OEVE).
OEVE is an international private law organisation, present in 27 countries, with more than 5,000 members, personalities of European cultural, economic and social life.
Persons from among the Knights of equal status, bound by an oath – Hospes/Hospita, Consiliarius/Dame, Iudex/Weindame and Eques/Ordensdame – serve through the confession of their adherence to the knighthood, through concrete duties and activities in the private and professional fields, to achieve the noble aims of the Order.
The Brotherhood claims its tradition from the medieval chivalric orders, in particular the Order of St. George of 1273, 1308 and 1468 respectively, taking from them the basic principles of chivalry, namely honour, honour, dignity and Christian morality.
The Knightly Senate, headed by two consuls, is the governing committee of the entire knightly caste and is based at the Order’s place of foundation in the free town of Eisenstadt in Austria.
The national structures are organised in consulates, headed by proconsuls, with the legates and knightly seats as subdivisions.
The Ordo Equestris Vini Europae does not neglect charitable works or patronage in the arts either, guiding its work according to the concept: