(Decanter) - A new project to preserve, protect and promote the original grape varieties of the Mediterranean will kick off in Porto later this year.

Wine Mosaic, founded by Jean-Luc Etievent and Arnaud Daphy, will be starting with a symposium held in Porto in July, to contribute thoughts and ideas to help facilitate the goal of highlighting original varieties, developing practical measures to ensure their preservation, increasing the quality of production as well as raise awareness and consumption of wines made from these original varieties, organisers say.

The campaign is looking to create a network of viticulture experts, wine producers, oenologists, researchers, journalists, distributors and sommeliers, and help them find the necessary tools and assistance to make, sell and promote wines made from endangered, indigenous and historic or traditional grape varieties.

Speaking to Decanter.com at this year’s Vinexpo fair in Bordeaux, co-founder Arnaud Daphy emphasised the cause of ‘fighting for vino-diversity’.