In November, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network will hold its Annual General Meeting in Rioja and Bilbao
From November 8 through 12, Bilbao|Rioja will host the Network’s Annual General Meeting with a range of activities related to the world of wine. A novelty this year, on November 9 is a conference in Logroño with the theme “Wine Tourism – a Strategy for Everyone”. The two main areas of focus will be ‘Wine Tourism Strategy’and ‘Wine Tourism Success Stories’.
The objective of the Network is to enhance the economic, educational, touristic and cultural development o f each of these regions by creating relationships and synergies to promote cooperation in the wine tourism industry. The Network, created in 1999, is made up of eight important cities with strong ties to internationally prest igious wine regions: Bilbao|Rioja (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Cape Town|Cape Winelands (South Africa), Mainz|Rheinhessen (Germany), Mendoza (Argentina), Porto (Portugal), San Francisco|Napa Valley (USA) and Valparaiso|Casablanca Valley (Chile). Part of the Network is the Bilbao|Rioja Committee, made up of the Chambers of Commerce of Álava, Bilbao and La Rioja, the Bilbao City Hall and the Grupo Rioja.
Among the speakers will be representatives from leading wineries from the Napa Valley, the Western Cape in South Africa, Bordeaux, Catalunya, Jerez and Rioja. You are invited to participate in this singular event to learn from important speakers including José Luis Bonet (President of the Freixenet group), Wendy Darneal (Vice President for Hospitality and Cultural Affairs for Constellation Brands), and Beatriz Vergara Domecq (Wine Tourism Director for Tío Pepe from the González Byass group).
Apart from the activities relating to the Network, which include working sessions, technical seminars and visits to wineries and wine shops in Bilbao-Rioja, on 11 November an international wine tasting will be organised and on 12 November the International Best Of Wine Tourism Awards will be given at the Guggenheim Bilbao museum.
