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
The results of the 2021 Great Wine Capitals’ Best of Wine Tourism Awards have just been announced, not only the best Winery per country, but also the winners in a number of categories in each of six countries in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. Creation Wines in the Hemel en Aarde Valley has done our country proud by winning the Country Award for South Africa. The wine estate also won the South African award in the Innovative Wine Experience category. 
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.