The winners of the South African leg of the 2022 Great Wine Capitals have just been announced by Wesgro. Two wine estates won in two categories each.
Added to the local Awards are Tourism Ambassador Awards, not an official category in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network annual awards, but added to the South African awards only.
South Africa is one of 11 wine-producing regions of the Great Wine Capitals network. The regions are Adelaide in Australia, Bilbao and Rioja in Spain, Bordeaux in France, Cape Town and Cape Winelands in South Africa, Lausanne in Switzerland, Mainz and Rheinhessen in Germany, Mendoza in Argentina, Porto in Portugal, San Francisco and Napa Valley in the USA, Valparaiso and Casablanca Valley in Chile, and Verona in Italy. Awards are presented annually in a number of categories pertaining to Best of Wine Tourism.
The 2022 winners of the South African Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards are the following:
# Accommodation: Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch – the accommodation offers opulence, views of the Banhoek Valley, a relaxing stay, a private patio, and a pillow menu.
#. Wine Tourism Restaurants : Creation in Hermanus – wine is paired to food, instead of the other way around at Creation, its latest pairing being a Canapé Pairing Menu. It also offers a Brunch Pairing, a Wine and Chocolate Pairing as well as an aromatic tea and food pairing.
#. Architecture & Landscape: Vergelegen in Somerset West – recognised for its Octagonal
Garden, the Camphor Forest, the Reflection Garden, the Sundial Garden, and the Fynbos Garden.
#. Arts & Culture : La Motte in Franschhoek – recognised for its history and curated art shows, and Cape Dutch architecture.
# Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences : Babylonstoren in Franschhoek – recognised for its wine tasting offered to visitors arriving with the Franschhoek Wine Tram, going on a cellar tour, and visit the new wine tunnel, representing centuries of wine making and storage.
#. Wine Tourism Services : Creation in Hermanus – recognised for their Voormanhuis accommodation, local art, commitment to sustainability, and sourcing locally.
# Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices : Vergelegen in Somerset West – recognised for the 20 year journey of its commitment to sustainability and rehabilitation, presented as an Environmental Tour to visitors. It is self-sufficient in water, and the meat and seafood used in its restaurants are locally sourced and ethically raised.
# Ambassador Awards, celebrating ongoing Transformation: AA Badenhorst, Paardenkloof Estate, and Dewetshof Estate.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide
Tuesday 24 November 2020, Day 65 of Level 1, Day 244 of Lockdown 😷
Whilst I was travelling in Argentina last year, I discovered that one of the Wine Estates that I visited in Mendoza, Zuccardi Piedra Infinita in the Uco Valley, was named the Number One Vineyard in the World, an inaugural ranking of the World’s 50 Best Vineyards, a similar ranking competition as the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and organised by the same publishing company William Reed in the UK. I am even more delighted to see that Zuccardi has been named the Number one Vineyard in the world yet again, in the 2020 ranking, and that Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch has been named the 14th Best Vineyard in the World, and the Best in Africa, as well as the Highest Climber, having been ranked at Number 39 last year. 
JAN the JOURNAL has published its second volume of 2018, just before the year closed. It has taken me almost two months to look at it after buying a copy at Woolworths, the 297 page manuscript of The Jan Hendrik Group (PTY) Limited being more than intimidating in thickness, and time required to do it justice in reading it. Despite having an editor for the publication, one wonders how Chef Jan-Hendrik manages to find the time to collate such a heavy-weight Journal in his role as Editor-in-Chief, given his commitment as chef to his one Michelin star restaurant JAN in Nice, and his regular trips to Cape Town and SA. 
Despite a hugely challenging year for the wine industry due to the drought, CapeWine 2018 is an impressive showcase of optimism, friendliness, and proudly South Africaness, running at the Cape Town International Convention Centre until tomorrow. I attended yesterday, with my Parisian friend Aurelié Jullien, and we were both impressed with the magnitude and professionalism of the exhibition, held every three years, and attended by the local and international wine trade. 
On Tuesday Winemag.co.za awarded 25 Cape Bordeaux Red Blends top scores of 90 and higher, out of 100, the third year that Editor and chairman of the judging committee Christian Eedes has compiled a Report on this wine category. I was unable to attend the function, as I was attending another wine event at the same time, but received the media release, with the results.