The ‘Great Wine Capitals Global Network’ is driving the best of wine tourism experiences in the world’s top wine producing countries

Why wine tourism is so important to many economies:

Wine tourism is a key growth sector - a booming area within the broader global tourism market and a sector of the wine industry which is also seeing exponential growth. 

A significant number of economies around the world depend highly on their wine industry and wine tourism represents an opportunity for wine countries and wine growing regions to develop new business opportunities beyond selling more wine.  

Wine tourism provides a way for wineries to engage with customers and to develop additional, related business streams, for example opening cellar doors to visitors for vineyard/cellar tours and wine tastings as well as offering accommodation and hospitality services. Wine tourism also enables other businesses to develop and prosper, serving and supporting a growing number of tourist visitors.

The world’s top wine regions are therefore looking at how they can further develop and enhance their wine tourism offerings and this is what prompted, back in 1999, the formation of the ‘Great Wine Capitals Global Network’ - a network of major global cities, that all share a unique economic and cultural asset - their famous wine regions.

The Great wine Capitals member cities and wine regions:

Today the Great Wine Capitals Network consists of the following:

• Adelaide | South Australia

• Bilbao | Rioja (Spain)

• Bordeaux (France)

• Cape Town | Cape Winelands (South Africa)

• Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand)

• Lausanne (Switzerland)

• Mainz | Rheinhessen (Germany)

• Mendoza (Argentina)

• Porto (Portugal)

• San Francisco | Napa Valley (USA)

• Valparaìso | Casablanca Valley (Chile)

• Verona (Italy)

The purpose of ‘Great Wine Capitals’:

The main purpose of ‘Great Wine Capitals’ is to achieve excellence in wine tourism, business services and education within the global alliance of its renowned wine regions.

Members are supported to help make the most of their extraordinary culture, heritage and geography and through the network’s information and knowledge sharing and business exchanges, the member cities and their respective wine regions benefit - but so do we as wine tourists! 

Best of Wine Tourism Awards:

Every year, ‘Best of Wine Tourism awards’ are held in each member city/region, rewarding and recognising organisations for excellence and innovation across 7 different categories, delivering the highest quality visitor experiences. These prestigious wine tourism awards of excellence are promoted globally and within each region and are celebrated across the network, as a mark of achievement. They also serve to help raise the standard of wine tourism across each region and the world.

The 7 categories include: Accommodation; Architecture & landscape; Art & culture; Culinary experiences; Innovative wine tourism experiences; Sustainable wine tourism; Wine tourism services.

You can search for the winners across each capital city/wine region and award category here.

How does the Great Wine Capitals Network benefit you?

It is our experience that people often seek to explore wine regions which are located close to major cities, or wish to visit a specific region because it’s so well known for its wines. So having this focus on ‘wine capitals’ around the world helps in planning wine tours, wine holidays and one day trips to experience a wine region - here’s how…

• Firstly, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network aims to heighten the wine experience for everyone who visits its regions and cities, through raising the standard and breadth of the wine tourism offering. Through the activities of the Network and the Best of Wine Tourism Awards, you can enjoy an increasingly greater choice and standard of wine experiences across the world’s top wine regions.

• Secondly, you have far more information and resources available as a result of this global network and the spotlight it shines on wine tourism in these top wine regions. This not only expands your knowledge and awareness of all of the amazing experiences you can enjoy but you have information at your fingertips to be sure you are selecting the highest quality service, in areas which interest you most - for example architecture, art or food and wine. 

• Thirdly, the infrastructure provided through the network means that wine travel advisors and specialists like Winekeller are better able to support you in planning the most amazing wine tours and wine experiences! We work closely with the wineries, tourism organisations, local tour companies, accommodation providers etc who form part of this extended Great Wine Capitals Network and we work with these contacts to ensure we can deliver the best tailored experience for you. 

Learn more about the Great Wine Capitals Global Network and hopefully it will inspire you to plan your next wine tour in one of the world’s global wine capitals and best wine regions!