"st.helier" > wrote:

> Until today, I had never heard of the designation "Great Wine
> Capital" of the World.
>
> Membership had comprised eight "capitals" - any country entitled
> to one only.
>
> Christchurch, New Zealand now joins Bordeaux, Capetown,
> Florence, Mainz, Mendoza, Porto, Bilbao - Rioja and San
> Francisco - Napa Valley.
>
> The Christchurch/Southern New Zealand wine region includes 295
> wineries, encompassing Marlborough some 300km by road to the
> north as far south as Central Otago, 400km south.
>
> I understand that Adelaide, South Australia will be "inducted"
> shortly.

Interesting.

Thus said, the only capital in the world with a serious wine
industry within its limits is Vienna, Austria, with some 700
hectares of vineyards.

M.