I’m honored and grateful to have been selected as the communications chair for the local steering committee of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. This opportunity brings me closer to the wine industry and allows me to help make a difference in ensuring that Napa Valley retains the distinction of the most important wine region in the United States. 

(NAPA, CA - September 23, 2008)  Great Wine Capitals Global Network is an alliance of eight major global cities in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which share a key economic and cultural asset – their internationally renowned wine regions.

The US steering committee for Great Wine Capitals is currently expanding its reach to take full advantage of the organization’s benefits. San Francisco-Napa Valley is one of only eight Great Wine Capitals globally and the sole representative as the premier wine region for the United States. Since becoming a member of the network in 2003, the program has been supported in large part by Napa Valley Vintners, St. Helena Chamber of Commerce, and the County of Napa.

“Napa Valley is recognized as a wine-growing region second to none in the world. We need to actively participate in respected global organizations like GWC,” said Rex Stults, committee member and industry relations director for Napa Valley Vintners. Great Wine Capitals aims to heighten the wine experience for everyone who visits these cities, and to help the cities themselves make the most of their extraordinary culture, heritage and geographical locations.

GWC is the only such network to encompass the so-called ‘Old’ and ‘New’ world of wine, and exists to encourage travel, education and business exchange between the internationally renowned centers of Bordeaux, France; Cape Town, South Africa; Florence, Italy; Mainz, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Porto, Portugal; Bilbao-Rioja, Spain and San Francisco-Napa Valley, USA.

Newly appointed to the committee are Kate King and Katherine Zimmer from the Napa Chamber of Commerce; Jeri Gill from the recently reorganized Napa Valley Conference and Visitor’s Bureau, Barry Wiss, VP of Communications and Trade Relations for Trinchero Family Estate/Sutter Home Winery, and Linda Viviani of Viviani Destination Management. Committee components include chair seats for business, communications, government, travel, education, and tourism.

“The importance of Napa Valley having a global presence in the world of wine and hospitality is undeniable. The Great Wine Capitals Global Network is a perfect avenue for connecting with other significant wine regions, learning from them, and ensuring our continued recognition as the US’s most prestigious wine region,” said Kate King, president and CEO of the Napa Chamber of Commerce. “Since the Napa Chamber is dedicated to supporting the local economy, it only makes sense for us to become more involved in the whole process.”

The expansion is timely to embrace the upcoming “BEST OF” International Wine Tourism competition and to positively position the delegates attending the Annual General Meeting this November in Cape Town, South Africa for complete immersion into what the organization has to offer.