So, without not even a whimper from the South African wine industry bodies, South Africa has withdrawn from the Great Wine Capitals, an important global network of wine tourism institutions. No communication here from the usual organisations who have over the past few years have – quite rightly – made a huge hoopla about the importance of the countries wine tourism sector, one that is a major contribution to the country’s vinous image. Yet a fact confirmed by international diplomats. South Africa pulled-out of the Great Wine Capitals in June, slyly deciding not to inform the industry players and public at large.
South Africa’s withdrawal from Great Wine Capitals (GWC) network is a move as perplexing as it is damaging. On the surface, it may seem like a bureaucratic adjustment or a budgetary trimming. In truth, it represents a strategic blunder that will undermine one of the country’s most dynamic and globally resonant industries, namely wine tourism. Wine tourism is not just about providing international visitors with experiences in the diverse and majestically scened winelands. It is about creating a relationship with these visitors, one seeing them lifelong proponents and supports of South African wine once they have returned to Idaho or Liverpool and Antwerp, Hong Kong Denmark and Cologne. And support, memories and conviction resulting from a South African winelands experience leads to continued wine purchases and sales. An emotional take-out.
Since joining the GWC in 2014, Cape Town and the Cape Winelands have enjoyed membership among a league of the world’s most celebrated wine regions incljding Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Mendoza, Verona, and others. The alliance offered far more than prestige; it provided access to shared expertise, marketing reach, and global recognition. Through initiatives such as the Best of Wine Tourism Awards and international networking events, South African producers found themselves on a global platform that consistently translated into real economic gain.
To put it plainly, wine tourism is not an indulgence for South Africa, it is a lifeline. The Western Cape’s vineyards attract more than a million international visitors each year, injecting around R36 billion into the regional economy and sustaining tens of thousands of livelihoods. From cellar-door sales in Stellenbosch to boutique hotels in Franschhoek and farm-to-table restaurants in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, this ecosystem thrives on the world’s curiosity about South African wine. GWC membership amplified that curiosity; it connected the Cape’s producers to global conversations about sustainability, marketing, and consumer trends.
The decision to walk away severs those connections at a time when they are most needed. Around the world, the leading wine regions are doubling down on collaboration and shared learning — from climate adaptation to digital engagement with younger consumers. South Africa, by contrast, risks receding into isolation. Without access to the GWC’s global forums and data networks, the Cape’s producers lose not only visibility but also the collective intelligence that drives innovation and resilience.
The implications extend well beyond prestige. Wine tourism operates as a multiplier: for every visitor to a tasting room, there are hotel bookings, restaurant reservations, and local art and craft sales. The loss of even a modest percentage of international visitors could ripple through rural economies, eroding job security and community development. For small producers already contending with the pressures of climate volatility, rising input costs, and a fragile currency, the GWC connection offered a bridge to markets that value authenticity and quality over volume.
One struggles to see the rationale. Whether the decision stemmed from administrative friction or funding constraints, it is difficult to reconcile with the broader strategic goals of South African tourism and export promotion. In an era when partnerships and global storytelling define competitiveness, the withdrawal reads less like prudence and more like retreat.
There is still time to correct course. The industry’s key bodies such as Wines of South Africa, South African Wine, Wesgro, and the Cape Winelands District Municipality must work together to reopen dialogue with the GWC and pursue reinstatement before the 2026 conference cycle. South Africa’s wine narrative, grounded in resilience and renewal, deserves a place at the global table.
To withdraw now is to silence a voice the world has only recently learned to hear. A voice shaped by centuries of craft, adversity, and extraordinary landscape. The world’s great wine capitals are in conversation; South Africa cannot afford to stop speaking.
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Hoe klop dit met die volgende berig? :
Cape Winelands officially joins prestigious Great Wine Capitals global network
by Anton Pretorius | 28 May 2025 | News
Wesgro has announced that Cape Town and the Cape Winelands have officially joined the Great Wine Capitals (GWC) global network – a leading global club of major world city regions with internationally-renowned wine offerings.
Founded in 1999, the Great Wine Capitals global network is the only wine body encompassing the so-called ‘Old’ and ‘New Worlds’ of wine. It exists to encourage of best practice around travel and tourism, education and wine business between the regions of Adelaide (South Australia), Bilbao (Rioja), Bordeaux, Lausanne, Mainz (Rheinhessen), Mendoza, Porto, San Francisco (Napa Valley), Valparaiso (Casablanca Valley), Verona and now Cape Town’s Winelands in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier says: “The inclusion of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands as members of the Great Wine Capitals global network reinforces the fact that this region is world-class and is internationally comparable with the best in wine tourism and business. We will continue to work hard to maintain these standards and look forward to showcasing them to the world when we can once again open our doors to visitors.”
The value of being a member of the GWC include:
Being a member of the only global wine tourism organisation
Getting ranked on the top ten wine regions in the world
Building out our wine tourism offer by networking with other international wine tourism organisations and regions
Sharing expertise and know-how with other countries and wine regions
Participating in international programs such as the Best of Wine Tourism contest
“Our province is one of the top wine producers in the world, and we welcome relationships that will assist us in increasing the global footprint of our quality wines. Furthermore, there are a breadth and depth of unique wine experiences to be enjoyed across the Western Cape once travel resumes. We look forward to featuring alongside the world’s leading wine regions as a must-visit destination,” commented Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris.
The GWC network also links universities and business schools in member regions to strengthen intelligence and data practices. Wesgro will work the broader set of wine industry stakeholders in the Cape – including Vinpro and WOSA – to leverage these, and other, benefits as a region.
Jacques Faurens, president of Great Wine Capital, announced from Bordeaux: “I’m more than happy to welcome back the beautiful City of Cape Town and the wine regions of the Western Cape in our Network.
Their wine, history and wine tourism industry are world-class, and we will all benefit from the knowledge-sharing that will result from their membership.
Ek dink daai is stokou berig , Tim Harris is járe gelede weg by Wesgro…..
And Maynier is the MEC for education and has been for the past few years.
Dear Niel,
The press release that you shared here is out of date. It refers to Cape Town and the Cape Winelands joining the Great Wine Capitals, and was originally published in May 2020.
Who made the decision to withdraw? You are right – it is critical that we keep these international platforms/channels open. I trust you have escalated this stupidity to the right people Emile.
The mind boggles!
The industry has a long history with the GWC initiative. After a break in 2016 , the partnership was revived in 2020 through Wesgro, with participation from Wineland Municipality, the City of Cape Town, and the broader wine industry.
Despite tight budgets, we committed annual funding, attended international meetings, and contributed to working groups. An additional major consideration was the obligation for South Africa to host the AGM within five years of joining, which would require a substantial financial investment.
Our South Africa Wine growth strategy for wine tourism includes both B2B (like GWC) but most certainly B to C opportunities where we have other partnerships. A good example is the announcement of 6 South African wineries in World’s Best Vineyards Top 100 competition (announced earlier today in Australia). This competition has a massive reach re global media. We furthermore work very close with the various partners including Wesgro, SAT, SATSA and various others to ensure targeted interventions that can benefit all 23 wine routes and the larger sector.
Over the past five years, we have again seen the strength of our South African world-class tourism offering. While GWC and its competition do provide promotional and networking value, the return on investment remained unclear for all parties. After extensive discussions with Wesgro, Minister Ivan Meyer, Winelands Municipality, and South Africa Wine representatives, and following a full strategic review, we concluded that the overall impact did not justify continued participation.
This led to the decision to terminate the partnership.
Emile I am happy to discuss this further by phone should you need more context.
Thanks Rico. I was not aware that SA Wine was the commentator for our industry’s involvement with Great Wine Capitals.
Firstly, communication on our exit was – as usual – very poor from the Cape wine industry’s side.
Why was it not proactively announced? I got the news from the ambassador of a European country expressing concern at SA’ exit from great wine capitals. The industry SA bodies should have pre-empted this and communicated accordingly.
Now, the above pales to the pathetic comment stating that we pulled out of the Great Wine Capitals because the SA wine industry could not afford to host a Great Wine Capitals annual meeting
The implication of this is, SA was for years wined and dined and hosted by Great Wine Capital members countries, but now that it is the Cape wine industry’s time to host, we exit from the organisation.
Because, despite enjoying from the largesse, we bail when it is our turn to foot the bill. Cheapskate, embarrassing and exploitive.
Since news of the exit from Great Wine Capitals, various producers, foreign investors and corporates have asked me how the membership fron Wine Capitals can be revisited. But after 2 exits, it is all too late.
In this case, we will reap what we so by choosing to not be of the international wine tourism conversation.
The Great Wine Capitals Global Network is an alliance of the top wine regions around the world, that work together in the spirit of collaboration to uplift the wine tourism industry globally. Our strength lies in being able to share knowledge and exchange expertise so that in the face of global challenges the industry can continue to strive for excellence around the world.
South Africa is such an important player in wine production and tourism on the global stage. And we acknowledge the significant contributions the Cape Winelands region has made to the Network over the years.
We would welcome their application to re-join the Network at any time. At a time when the wine industry is facing challenges on a number of fronts right across the world, it is important to find ways to cooperate so that the industry evolves and is strengthened for all.
Catherine Leparmentier, on behalf of Great Wine Capitals.