Santorini Aims to Join the Great Wine Capitals Network

Santorini, along with the Aegean islands, aspires to join the global network of the Great Wine Capitals. This initiative has been undertaken by the Greek National Tourism Organization and the South Aegean Region, under the guidance of Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis. According to Petros Vamvakousis, President of the Santorini Winemakers Association (SWA), preparations for the application began late last year, with strong support from both the SWA and the Association of Aegean Island Winemakers and Vinegrowers.

The Great Wine Capitals Global Network (GWCGN), established in 1999, is a collaboration among the world’s most famous and recognized wine regions, aiming to promote wine tourism, sustainability, and business development. The network provides a platform for the exchange of best practices, ideas, and experiences among its members, fostering shared growth and innovation in the wine sector.

Headquartered in Paris, GWCGN promotes cities and regions with shared economic and cultural interests. Currently, it connects 12 leading wine capitals, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences, as well as collaboration on common challenges and opportunities.

With Santorini in the spotlight, the Aegean islands boast the quality, experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm to dynamically contribute to the global wine community. This initiative highlights their commitment to continuous development, offering a positive outlook for wine tourism and business in the region, while also confirming the impressive progress Greece has made in the wine industry in recent years.

Through this initiative, Santorini aims to establish itself as a wine capital alongside legendary wine regions such as Bordeaux, Rioja, and Napa Valley. The benefits for Santorini and the Aegean islands, as a member of GWCGN, are expected to be numerous, primarily through the exchange of best practices and experiences with other top wine-producing regions worldwide, as well as through the creation of new business opportunities and innovations. Consequently, the entire Greek wine industry stands to gain from this significant development.