Wesgro has announced that Cape Town and the Cape Winelands have officially joined the Great Wine Capitals (GWC) global network - a leading global club of major world city regions with internationally-renowned wine offerings.

Founded in 1999, the Great Wine Capitals global network is the only wine body encompassing the so-called ‘Old’ and ‘New Worlds’ of wine. It exists to encourage of best practice around travel and tourism, education and wine business between the regions of Adelaide (South Australia), Bilbao (Rioja), Bordeaux, Lausanne, Mainz (Rheinhessen), Mendoza, Porto, San Francisco (Napa Valley), Valparaiso (Casablanca Valley), Verona and now Cape Town’s Winelands in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier says: “The inclusion of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands as members of the Great Wine Capitals global network reinforces the fact that this region is world-class and is internationally comparable with the best in wine tourism and business. We will continue to work hard to maintain these standards and look forward to showcasing them to the world when we can once again open our doors to visitors.”

The value of being a member of the GWC include:

  • Being a member of the only global wine tourism organisation
  • Getting ranked on the top ten wine regions in the world
  • Building out our wine tourism offer by networking with other international wine tourism organisations and regions
  • Sharing expertise and know-how with other countries and wine regions
  • Participating in international programs such as the Best of Wine Tourism contest

“Our province is one of the top wine producers in the world, and we welcome relationships that will assist us in increasing the global footprint of our quality wines. Furthermore, there are a breadth and depth of unique wine experiences to be enjoyed across the Western Cape once travel resumes. We look forward to featuring alongside the world’s leading wine regions as a must-visit destination,” commented Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris.

The GWC network also links universities and business schools in member regions to strengthen intelligence and data practices. Wesgro will work the broader set of wine industry stakeholders in the Cape - including Vinpro and WOSA - to leverage these, and other, benefits as a region.

Jacques Faurens, president of Great Wine Capital, announced from Bordeaux: “I’m more than happy to welcome back the beautiful City of Cape Town and the wine regions of the Western Cape in our Network.

Their wine, history and wine tourism industry are world-class, and we will all benefit from the knowledge-sharing that will result from their membership.