Global network highlights from Chile

Global network highlights from Chile

13 November, 2017

13 South Australian wine industry representatives recently participated in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network 18th Annual General Meeting in Valparaiso and the Casablanca Valley in Chile – providing an opportunity to learn more about the famous wine region and their wine tourism offerings.

75 delegates from across the 9 Great Wine Capitals and their respective wine and tourism regions attended the AGM, the program of which incorporated meetings and committee sessions, technical tours within the wine and tourism industries.

While in Chile delegates gained valuable insights into the diversity of wineries in Chile, from boutique properties and organic businesses to family-owned estates.

The program also included:

  • Jo Collins, Executive Director of Agriculture Food and Wine at PIRSA and Jeremy Blanks, President of the SA Wine Industry Association also had an audience with the President of the Republic of Chile, Ms Michelle Bachelet, and Mayors of Valparaiso and Casablanca Valley
  • During the AGM the Network launched an Internship Exchange Portal, which will match students and wine business across the 9 Great Wine Capitals, an initiative led by the Adelaide, South Australia delegation.
  • The international winner of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards was also announced - with Penfolds Magill Estate as the South Australian winner.
  • The delegation also launched the opening of the AGM for 2018 which will be held in Adelaide, inviting Network members from across the world to experience the very best that South Australian wine tourism has to offer.
  • Working sessions on how the network can collaborate in wine tourism and a symposium, which demonstrated the measures taken by Chile to foster greater environmental sustainability in the wine industry.

Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) Executive Director Agriculture, Food and Wine Jo Collins said the Great Wine Capitals AGM presented an opportunity to strengthen the state’s wine networks and learn from international wine region colleagues.

“Chile and South Australia have a number of key similarities in wine such as a cool climate for producing wine and a diversity in soils,” she said.

“South Australia will be hosting the Great Wine Capitals AGM next year – and we are perfectly placed to host delegates from each of the eight international Great Wine Capital regions to show them our world class wine regions.”

Led by PIRSA, the business delegation included representatives from Brand South Australia, the South Australian Tourism Commission, the South Australian Wine Industry Association, The University of Adelaide, Regional Development Australia Barossa, Barossa Grape and Wine Association, The Louise and Hutton Vale Farm.