The Great Wine Capitals Global Network was established in 1999 in Bordeaux, aiming to “sustain the health and prosperity of their wine-related industries, communities and tourism in their capitals”. It brings together eleven major cities worldwide, capitals of eleven vine-growing and wine-making areas of excellence, recognised for the prestige of the wine production and the notoriety of their products that enjoy international success: Adelaide (Australia), Bilbao (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Cape City (South Africa), Lausanne (Switzerland), Mainz (Germany), Mendoza (Argentina), Porto (Portugal), San Francisco (USA), Valparaíso (Chile) and Verona (Italy). The international context that the prestigious capital city associates represent “brings together the historic nature of European wine with the fresher oenology of the New World, effectively bringing together all the countries most involved in wine-making through the symbols of each territory, represented by the culture of the product, the production, research and promotional structures and tourist attractions”.
