The Winelands is currently hosting representatives of the major wine tourism centers of the world. Co-hosted by the City of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands Municipality, the AGM of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network started on Sunday, reports BizCommunity.com.
Visiting members of the Global Network come from Bilbao, Bordeaux, Florence, Mainz, Mendoza, Porto, and San Fransisco-Napa, and will discuss the promotion of international wine tourism, as well as greater economic, academic and cultural links amongst each other.
The South African wine tourism industry is worth close to R 7 billion. Its future growth in terms of jobs, skills and turnover will be discussed. South Africa’s leadership in sustainable wine production has been recognised by the Global Network, and is on the agenda. “South Africa is a world leader in eco-sensitive wine production. Our Integrated Production of Wine is regarded as the most progressive production integrity programme of its kind and is one of only two in the world to be independently audited. Our system of production integrity is linked to the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative that seeks to conserve indigenous habitat in the Winelands. Both programmes serve as important models in sustainability for other wine-producing countries” says Clarence Johnson, Mayor of the Cape Winelands District Municipality and Vice President of the Global Network. Field trips will include Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Paarl.
The AGM will end off with a gala dinner at Vergelegen, the winner in 2006 and 2007 in the Art and Culture category of the Best of Wine Awards of the Global Network.
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