Waipara Valley Rejoices in Bid Win

12 October 2009.

Waipara Valley Rejoices in Bid Win

Waipara Valley is celebrating the resounding success of the Christchurch / Southern New Zealand wine regions being invited into the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.

The Christchurch City-led initiative to win selection into the prestigious network was based on the wine growing regions of the Waipara Valley, Canterbury, Marlborough and Central Otago.

“We are very pleased to share the success of this selection, following an intensive inspection by a team visiting from the US-based network,” said Mr Peter Parish, President of Waipara Valley Winegrowers.

“The Southern Region was confident that we had established very high quality wine tourism experiences and it is great to receive confirmation through this selection that we are presenting excellent programmes for visitors to the South Island along with our world class wines.”

Mr Parish said “there was outstanding competition from Hawke’s Bay for this honour and the Southern Region’s success showed that Southern wine regions can work together to showcase our great products and our enthusiasm.”

“Waipara Valley Winegrowers represents 50 vineyards together with nine cellar door operators who are open to visitors and we would expect significant marketing opportunities to flow from our inclusion into the network along with the other three Southern regions.

It is estimated that wine tourism adds more than $3million dollars annually to the Hurunui Region. The Waipara Valley is the fourth fastest growing wine region in NZ and has a glowing list of wine accolades which reinforces that this region is showing outstanding possibilities. As Bob Campbell MW wrote in the February 2009 issue of Decanter, “Forget Marlborough, with excellent growing conditions and an influx of producers, Waipara is stepping out of New Zealand’s shadows straight into the spotlight”.

Mr Parish said the Great Wine Capitals Global Network aims to develop travel between the member regions with destination specialists in each member city handling travel requirements between the Great Wine Capitals.

“They aim to heighten the wine experience for everyone who visits these cities and to help the member cities to make the most of their exceptional culture, heritage and geography.”

The Great Wine Capitals Global Network is the only network to encompass the soc-called ‘old” and “new” worlds of wine and has spurred travel and business exchange between the acclaimed regions of Bordeaux, Cape Town, Florence, Mainz, Mendoza, Bilbao-Rioja and San Francisco- Napa Valley.

“For the Southern Region to join such celebrated centres in the network is a magnificent achievement,” said Mr Parish.

“The network has been looking for a member area from New Zealand and the Christchurch City Council has co-ordinated an outstanding bid to win that for our wider Southern Region based on Christchurch as the major centre.”

Garry Jackson, the Mayor of Hurunui District Council in which Waipara Valley is situated, said, “Waipara Valley and our other local wine growers represent New Zealand’s fastest growing wine area producing distinctive high quality labels. This recognition will take us to new heights.”

Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch, said “This is a great example of South Island regional partners working together to achieve top results.

“The wine regions of Christchurch/Southern New Zealand are already world-renowned; securing membership of this prestigious global network will help us to build on our good reputation, promote our sustainability credentials and attract even more interest in our region.

“Christchurch is the international gateway to the superb wine growing regions of Canterbury, Waipara Valley, Marlborough and Central Otago. All of these destinations are within a few hours of the city and promoting the South island wine region as one entity means we can attract more international visitors than we could do individually,” said Mr Parker.

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