BEST OF WINE TOURISM AWARDS

Last week the winners of the prestigious Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards (BOWTA) 2023 for Cape Town and the Cape Winelands were announced at Weltevrede, Bonnievale in the Cape Winelands. Judges and representatives from the winning estates gathered over a glass of bubbles and delicious lunch at Kapokbos restaurant to applaud the deserving winners.

THE BEST OF THE BEST

Having been a judge for the Best of Wine Tourism Restaurant category for three years, I realise how much goes into the deliberation during judging. In this category we are not looking purely for the best winelands restaurant, but for one that authentically showcases the wine, terroir, culture, local produce, service excellence and many other vital factors. It begins creating a short list of worthy estates that shine brightly in the standard criteria, with marketing locally and internationally being an integral part. In-depth reviewing and site visits follow. Seven expert judges and three Wine Tourism Ambassador Award judges conducted ‘ghost visits’ to the wineries within each of their assigned categories.

A short list of contenders was presented at an adjudication session recently – and we deliberated long and hard! How privileged we are to have so many wonderful wine estates working hard at impressing visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape. This year saw a record 119 entries overall.

INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE

Celebrating innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the eleven greatest wine regions of the world, the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards (BOWTA) are designed to reward the wineries in each of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network’s member cities for their excellence in seven different categories. The winners of the 2023 Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards are:

• Accommodation – Babylonstoren
• Wine Tourism Restaurants plus Art and Culture – Creation Wines
• Wine Tourism Services – Vergelegen
• Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices – Bosman Hermanus
• Architecture and Landscape plus Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences and the overall winner – Weltevrede

To celebrate ongoing transformation in the wine tourism industry, South Africa’s unique history demands that there should be additional awards – Wine Tourism Diversity Award, WWF Pioneer Award and Authentic South African Experience Award. These all celebrate culture and heritage, as well as those leaders making innovative efforts to ensure sustainability and conservation in the field. The WWF Conservation Award is sponsored by WWF South Africa with funding provided by Pamela and Neville Isdell.

THE AMBASSADOR AWARD WINNERS FOR 2023 ARE:

• The Wine Tourism Diversity Award – Paardenkloof Wines
• The Authentic South African Experience Award – Klein Goederust
• WWF Conservation Pioneer Award – Tanagra

Congrats one and all – thank you for making the Western Cape so proud. If you wish to hear some of the judges and winners being interviewed on Fine Music Radio, tune in every Thursday at 17h30 to FMR Fine Food.  Cheers!

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Brought to you by Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape.