Stellenbosch Shines: Celebrating the Cape’s Best Of Wine Tourism & Ambassador Award Winners for 2024!
In its silver jubilee year, the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards (BOWTA) unveiled its 2024 winners in a grand ceremony. These awards, now in their 25th edition, are a testament to the excellence of wineries across the member cities of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. Spanning seven diverse categories, from art and culture to sustainable wine tourism, BOWTA recognises the crème de la crème of the wine tourism industry.
Moreover, the Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards laud the ongoing transformation, innovative sustainable practices, and genuine experiences that define the South African wine tourism sector. Wesgro, the official agency promoting Tourism, Trade, and Investment for Cape Town and the Western Cape, proudly holds the mantle of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network membership, representing the wine tourism regions of the province.
Each year, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network extends an invitation to wine farms across the Western Cape to participate in the Best Of Wine Tourism & Ambassador Awards. This initiative celebrates the innovation and excellence that wine tourism in the Western Cape has to offer. For the 2024 edition, a staggering 81 wine estates threw their hats into the ring. Each of these estates showcased their unique approach to elevating wine tourism experiences, highlighting the region’s rich tapestry of culture, history, wine heritage, and their strides in innovation and sustainability.
The rigorous judging process involved a comprehensive review of each applicant, based on their submitted forms. The final verdict was delivered by a distinguished panel of thirteen judges, comprising seven wine tourism experts, three Wine Tourism Ambassador Award judges, and three roving judges. To ensure an unbiased and meticulous assessment, ghost site visits were conducted to all the shortlisted wineries.
By the end of September, the judges convened at the picturesque Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in Hermanus to deliberate and decide the winners. Their decision was based on a myriad of factors, including the quality of wine, visitor experiences, sustainability initiatives, and overall excellence in wine tourism.
It’s a moment of pride for Stellenbosch as three of its properties clinched awards in their respective categories:
– Jordan Wines emerged as the winner in the Wine Tourism Restaurants category.
– Ernie Els Wines bagged the top spot in the Art & Culture category.
– Delheim Wine Estate was honoured with the Conservation Pioneer Award.
Kudos to all the other winners who excelled in categories like Wine Tourism Services, Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices, Architecture & Landscape, and Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences.
Celebrating Excellence in Wine Tourism: The Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards, spotlighting excellence within the wine tourism sector, bear witness to the transformative and innovative approaches embodied by the South African wine tourism industry. Stellenbosch and the Western Cape’s wine tourism sector stands as a paragon of innovation, sustainability, and excellence, rendering it a coveted destination for global wine enthusiasts. Stellenbosch Wine Routes, heart of the Cape Winelands and, with its unrivalled beauty, lead the way in crafting internationally lauded wines, owing to their scenic landscapes, organic farming techniques, and steadfast dedication to environmental stewardship.
In conclusion, a hearty congratulations to all the 2024 winners for their remarkable efforts in offering unparalleled experiences to visitors and for setting the gold standard in wine production integrity.
For a closer look at the announcement and to meet the esteemed judges and winners, please [click here] to watch the video.
Link to accompanying video… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f1h6iSeOQI
