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| International Best of Wine Tourism Competition |
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Great Wine Capitals Global Network awards the Best Of the wine tourism sector The Best of Wine Tourism competition is organized every year by the Network to award the businesses most involved in the enhancement of the wine-tourism couple, who distinguished for the quality and the innovation of the services offered.
In a first phase of the contest, a local panel, composed by experts of tourism and communication sectors, elects the winner companies of our territory. In a second phase, during the Annual General Meeting of the network, which is held each year in a different one of the eight capitals, the winners are presented to an international panel.
The international winners are officially presented during a special award ceremony.
Besides being promoted in a special section of the GWC website www.greatwinecapitals.com, the winners will be sponsored through the most important means of tourism promotion: local and international tour operators, generic and specialized press, exhibitions, fairs and guide books distributed at local level in hotels, travel agencies and tourism boards.
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| E-Mail: info@florencewine.it |
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| The Italian winners of this edition are... |
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The panel, composed by experts of the food and wine tourism world, has chosen the most deserving companies in regard to quality and innovation of the services offered, openness and disposal in welcoming new requests and in satisfying particular demands of the clients. Moreover, the bounds wiht the territory and with the tradition, the enhancement of local culture and history, has been also fundamental criteria for the choice. Wine Tourism Restaurants
International winner – Castello del Trebbio – La Sosta del Gusto
Essential ingredients such as creativity, quality, style and simplicity are the keys to promote the pleasure of food. They excel in the research of products which are connected to the territory and which tell us about its story, including the wines.
www.vinoturismo.it
Accommodation (two ex aequo)
Castello di Gabbiano
The charming ambience of the rooms settled in the medieval castle completes the elegance of the apartments located the country house dating back to the 16th century. The eleven rooms, each of them with its unique décor, and careful touch for detail, create together a perfect symphony and are managed by a very professional staff.
www.castellogabbiano.it
Castello di Vicchiomaggio
The variety of the offers comprehends apartments in the medieval castle and rooms in the restored building of Canonica, all are nicely furnished and they are set in a beautiful surrounding, which is ideal to promote the wine and grape culture.
www.vicchiomaggio.it
Architecture, Parks and Gardens
Castello di Verrazzano
The castle is an historical building and it is the most likely birthplace of Giovanni da Verrazzano. They propose the tour of the ancient cellar, as well as the opportunity to get to know better the character of this important ancestor. The reception is well organized and different kinds of visits are offered.
www.verrazzano.com
Art and Culture
Castello di Brolio – Barone Ricasoli
The permanent collection inside the Brolio Castle tells the story of one of the most ancient Italian families, amongst whose members Bettino Ricasoli stands out, as the founder of the modern history of the Chianti Classico wine.
www.ricasoli.it
Innovative Wine Tourism Experience
Villa di Petriolo
They invented the project We wine: they come to your house or to your holiday resort near their farm and they organize there a professional wine tasting, sharing the deep knowledge of the wine and of the culture of the territory.
www.villapetriolo.com
Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices
Casina di Cornia
They grow organic grapes since 1983 and they give great attention to the peculiarity of the different years, according to the seasonal changes. They offer an interesting mix of wine tasting, accommodation, ceramics workshop.
www.casinadicornia.com
Special Jury award – Architecture, parks and garden
Poggio Torselli
A national monument, privately owned and restored, with a beautiful garden. The award is an encouragement to enhance the wine tourism promotion and the wine tasting in the original carriage hall.
www.poggiotorselli.it
Special Jury award - Accomodation
Salvadonica – Borgo del Chianti
The sympathy of the female owners who care for little details and put great effort in the communication activities, showing a will to be constantly up to date, even after many years of activity.
www.salvadonica.com
More information about Florence Best of Winners on www.greatwinecapitals.com
To find out the winners of the previous editions, check the section on the official website.
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| The international excellence! |
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During the gala night of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards 2010, held on November 5th in the prestigious Chateaux Giscours, situated in the medoc wine producing region, near Bordeaux, the eight international winners have been selected, to represent the wine tourism excellence. Restaurants: Castello del Trebbio – La Sosta del Gusto – Firenze
The large outside terrace makes for a perfect setting for this lovely restaurant, located in the Trebbio Castle. The castle was built as a small fortress in 1184 by the Pazzi Family, and passed into the hands of the present owners in 1968. Extensive renovations were carried out, and a restaurant, La Sosta del Gusto was opened in 2006. Run by a Maitre-Sommelier, it is renowned for its excellent seasonal menus, and its extensive, imaginative wine list.
"We welcomed with enormous pleasure proud and satisfaction - said Alberto Peroni, tourism manager of Castello del Trebbio - the news about the International Great Wine Capitals Award won by our company Castello del Trebbio, thanks to its restaurant LA SOSTA DEL GUSTO.
Our family has been working hard with great passion since 1968 to keep traditions and to maintain a 900 year old castle full of history and tradition. We won the National Great Wine Capitals Award in 2006 for the "cellar door experience" in our winery and again in 2007 for the "Architecture" of the Castle (built in 1184); After producing wine, extra virgin olive oil and pure saffron for many years, we decided 3 years ago that it was time to open our own small place to create meals able to enhance the quality of our wines and oils...something with the culture of good taste in the middle of the scenery....not a place to eat and drink, but a theater where to enjoy the symphony of wine nectar and excellent Tuscan food; we started producing "monovarietal oils" to combine with the different types of food, and re-discovered the production of pure saffron, already produced in Florence in the middle age. The chef Claudio Vignali "married" our philosophy and is managing successfully the restaurant since 2008.
The opening of the restaurant 3 years ago also gave us the possibility to offer an extra service to the many people coming every year from all over the world to visit our private castle and to make a holiday in our farm houses surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
We hope that this will not be the last award that we win in the competition "Best Of Wine Tourism" of the Great Wine Capitals.
Thanks again to the jury for this prize."
http://www.vinoturismo.it
Rust en Vrede Restaurant – Cape Town
The first South African estate to specialise in the exclusive production of red wine, Rust en Vrede is now also famous for its welcoming, top quality restaurant. Located in the foodie-destination of Stellenbosch, the restaurant is located in what was once the wine cellar and is now a National Monument. The kitchen is in full view of diners, creating a relaxed but exciting atmosphere. Diners can also choose an intimate side area for private dinners.
http://www.rustenvrede.com
Accommodation: Algodon Wine Estates – Mendoza
Algodon Wine Estates is a stunning 2.050 acre estate at the base of the Andes that has a range of peaceful lodges and villas for guests. Developed by renowned vineyard architect Bormida & Yanzon, together with designer Gerhard Heusch, the estate also offers golf, wine-making and several excellent restaurants. Eco-friendly concepts such as natural fertilizers and organic crops, solar energy and clean power are in place, and the estate plans to develop its own cattle and dairy farm.
http://www.algodonwineestates.com
BArchitecture, Parks & Gardens: Quinta do Seixo - Porto
Located in the Cima-Corga region near Pinhão in the heart of the historic Douro winelands, this is a wonderful place to see the traditional planting of vines in this region. Vineyards are on terraces with small stone walls between each one, as well as more modern planting styles. Because of its diversity, Quinta do Seixo has an excellent visitors’ centre explaining these dramatic, and often breathtaking, methods of production, and offers excellent wine tasting opportunities.
http://eng.sograpevinhos.eu/douro
Art & Culture: Clos Pegase – San Francisco | Napa Valley
Owners Jan and Mitsuko Shrem created Clos Pegase to be a temple to art and wine, sharing not only their wine, but their personal art collection with their customers. A visit here is an enlightening and enjoyable experience, with figures from Greek and Roman mythology – from Pegasus to Bacchus and Gaia – making continual appearances in the art and architecture of the winery, and the cave theatre.
“The integration of art and culture with the creation of outstanding wines is a lifelong passion for the owners of Clos Pegase,” said Bill Dodd, Napa County Supervisor and chair of the regional GWCGN committee. “Their contribution to what makes Napa Valley legendary is highly regarded.”
http://www.clospegase.com
Innovative Experiences and Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices: Bodegas Muga – Bilbao | Rioja
Bodegas Muga was one of the first wineries in Rioja to open its doors to tourists. The attractive stone and wood building dates back two centuries, and provides visitors with a quality learning experience about wine, and the wider context in which it is made. The cellars also contain their own cooperage, allowing visitors to learn about the process of barrel making, so central to the Muga style.
http://bodegasmuga.com/eng/home_eng.html
BSustainable wine tourism practices: Weingut Hemmes – Mainz
The Hemmes family, innovative owners of a wine estate in Bingen-Kempten, has extended the idea of sustainablity from vineyards to the local environment. They have restored a former schoolhouse, a listed historic building in the heart of the village, and converted it into a wine school with tasting rooms, a professional kitchen, and areas for presentations, readings or celebrations. Not only has this preserved a key piece of history, but energy is supplied to the building by geothermal heat.
http://www.weingut-hemmes.de
Wine Tourism Services: Château Pape Clément - Bordeaux
One of the best known châteaux of the Pessac-Leognan appellation, owner Bernard Magrez has invested heavily not only in the winemaking, but also in restoring the château and winery. The Orangerie, the Barrel Cellar, and the Pavillon du Prelat offer spaces for the staging of both personal and professional events, with a team fully on hand to organise everything from catering to logistics. Luxury wine tastings are also on offer, as are tours around Magrez’s other Bordeaux vineyards.
http://www.pape-clement.com
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| Link: More info on the official website! |
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