Cape to host global wine network
24 July 2007
The City of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands District Municipality have won their bid to host the 2008 annual general meeting of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.
It is the second time that Cape Town will host the prestigious event, which will take place at various venues across the city and the Winelands in November 2008.
The Great Wines Capitals Global Network is an international body encompassing eight economic hubs, centred around the capitals of the world's major grape growing and wine making regions.
The cities that make up the network are Cape Town, Melbourne in Australia, Bordeaux in France, Napa Valley, San Francisco in the US, Porto in Portugal, Bilboa-Rioja in Spain, Florence in Italy, and Mendoza in Argentina.
The network encourage development in each of the cities through exchanges and joint projects in wine tourism.
Cape Town and the Cape Winelands District Municipality signed a partnership agreement in August 2004 to enhance the city's participation in the network.
"We value this agreement, as the Cape Winelands is a key part of Cape Town's tourism trade," Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille said in a statement earlier this month. "In addition, all wines produced for export in this region are transported through the city's harbours."
Zille said the network's 2008 AGM would bring wine experts from all the participating regions to Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Worcester and Robertson, "offer a platform to showcase the local wine industry and promote the Cape Metropole and surrounding Winelands."
Cape Winelands District Mayor Clarence Johnson said that Cape Town and the Cape Winelands were rated as leaders in the field of wine tourism.
"Our joint hosting of the event will further enhance our international stature and promote further interest in our region as a preferred wine producing and wine tourism destination."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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