[Press release]
The Great Wine Capitals Global Network has unanimously chosen Valparaiso | Casablanca Valley in Chile as the tenth region in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, joining Bilbao | Rioja, Bordeaux, Cape Town | Cape Winelands, Christchurch | South Island, Firenze, Mainz | Rheinhessen, Mendoza, Porto and San Francisco | Napa Valley.
The Valparaiso | Casablanca Valley Initiative has brought together the city halls of Valparaiso and Casablanca as well as the Casablanca Valley Wine Association, and the leading economic, wine-linked, tourism, education and research, environmental sustainability and international development organizations in the region.
The team of the VCV Initiative stated, “We are proud to be accepted as a Great Wine Capital and look forward to being an active and energetic member, and we believe this important international award will not only be to the benefit of the Valparaiso | Casablanca Valley region, but also to Chile and all its people.”
About Valparaiso
A vibrant city of 275,000, founded in 1536, Valparaiso is a bustling port city linking the wines and fresh fruits of Chile to the rest of the world, an important cruise line destination, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the cultural capital of Chile. The city is an important education and research centre. The area is a major tourism centre, including wine tourism, with Valparaiso historically and economically linked to the nearby wine region of Casablanca Valley.
About the Casablanca Valley
The charming town of Casablanca, clean, vibrant and fast growing, is surrounded by the beautiful valleys, vineyards, wineries and close to the Pacific Ocean. The Casablanca Valley is the most important cool climate grape growing and wine producing region in Chile. Its 14,790 acres under vine produce chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, pinot noir and syrah. The Casablanca Wine route, open 365 days a year, allows wine tourists to enjoy the Mediterranean style climate as well as visits to the many wineries and restaurants. Other outdoor activities such as hiking and horseback riding are available.
About the Great Wine Capitals Global Network
The Great Wine Capitals (GWC) is a Network of now ten major global cities in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which share a key economic and cultural asset: their internationally renowned wine regions. It is the only Network encompassing the so-called “Old” and “New” worlds of wine, and exists to encourage travel, education and business exchanges between the internationally renowned cities of Bilbao | Rioja, Bordeaux, Cape Town | Cape Winelands, Christchurch | South Island, Florence, Mainz | Rheinhessen, Mendoza, Porto and San Francisco | Napa Valley and its new member: Valparaiso |Casablanca Valley.
