The meeting will include an international wine tourism fórum: ‘Wine Tourism: a Strategy for Everyone
In November, the Bilbao-Rioja partnership will host an important meeting that will facilitate the exchange of experiences and business contacts among the regions that make up the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.
From November 8 to 12, a number of activities will take place including the thematic committee meetings of the eight member regions, the Business Delegation made up of companies from several countries and the Travel Network of travel agencies from each member of the network.
The Great Wine Capitals Global Network was founded in 1999 for the purpose of promoting cooperation among its member regions, with special emphasis on wine tourism. The members of the network are Bilbao|Rioja (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Cape Town|Cape Winelands (South Africa), Mainz|Rheinhessen (Alemania), Mendoza (Argentina), Porto (Portugal), San Francisco|Napa Valley (USA) and Valparaiso|CasablancaValley (Chile). The Bilbao|Rioja partnership is made up of the Chambers of Commerce of Álava, Bilbao, and La Rioja; the Bilbao City Hall and the Grupo Rioja.
Representatives of these regions will learn firsthand about wine tourism offerings in the Rioja wine district and Bilbao on their arrival in Logroño on November 8 when they will attend a welcome reception at the Center of Rioja Wine Culture.
On November 9 in Logroño, representatives of wineries will have the opportunity to discover Spanish and international wine tourism experiences at the wine tourism conference titled Wine Tourism: a Strategy for Everyone, that includes a reception at Bodegas Marqués de Riscal.
On November 10, attendees can choose between one of four technical tours set up by the Bilbao-Rioja partners: Culture and Nobility that will visit Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta, Finca de los Arandinos and Bodegas Campo Viejo; Tradition and Family, with visits to Vivanco Wine Culture, Bodegas Remelluri and Bodegas López de Heredia; Architecture and Patrimony, including Bodegas Finca Valpiedra, the historic center and underground cellars of the village of Laguardia, Bodegas Casa Primicia and Bodegas Campillo; and Innovation and Experiences which will visit Bodegas Viña Real, Bodegas Valdelana, Bodegas Pago de Leza and Bodegas Luis Cañas.
On the 11th, members of the Travel Network will visit wineries, hotels and restaurants throughout the Rioja wine district while the members of the Business Delegation will attend a meeting at the Rioja Regulatory Council.
The Great Wine Capitals Global Network will add a splendid finishing touch to the annual meeting in Bilbao with an international wine tasting on the 11th and a Gala Dinner on the 12th, marking the end of the assembly. The international wine tasting will take place at the Azkuna Zentroa-Alhóndiga Bilbao at 8pm where a selection of wines from the Great Wine Capitals regions will be on offer, as well as a show cooking exhibition by chefs from restaurants that have won a Best Of Wine Tourism award and Michelin-starred restaurants.
November 12 will be intense for attendees, including thematic committee meetings and the closing session of the general assembly, while the Business Delegation will visit Bodega Urbana and the Enoteca Manu Martín in Bilbao, followed by a lunch at Restaurante Boroa in Amorebieta-Zornotza.
In the evening, the International Best Of Wine Tourism awards ceremony will take place at the Gala Dinner at the Guggenheim Museum.
