The Christchurch/Southern New Zealand region will officially accept the invitation from the organisation that promotes wine tourism and business links between the world's great wine regions at its annual general meeting in Bordeaux in the first week of November.
While the bid to become a Great Wine Capital was driven by NZ South Island's largest region, Marlborough, its membership also takes in Christchurch, Canterbury, Waipara Valley and Central Otago.
Mayor of Marlborough Alistair Sowman commented: "Marlborough is already recognised amongst the elite wine regions of the world, but there is much to be gained from working in tandem with our southern neighbours to raise the profile of the South Island as a destination for wine lovers."
Great Wine Capitals Global Network currently has eight members: Bordeaux, Cape Town, Florence, Mainz-Rheinhessen, Mendoza, Porto, Bilbao-Rioja and San Francisco-Napa Valley.
