Vergelegen Wine Estate is South Africa’s winner of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards for the second year in succession. The winner was announced at a gala event in Oporto, Portugal, this week, adding to Cape Town’s globally acclaimed wine tourism experience accolades.
Vergelegen’s outstanding wine mixed with its rich arts and culture offerings, meticulously maintained 18th century gardens, historic buildings, library and archival assets, presented to visitors from all over the world through its innovative visitor programmes, made it an easy choice for the judges. Last year, Vergelegen won in the arts and culture and architecture categories.
As the new national winner, the celebrated Cape Town East winery joined the company of some of the world’s leading wineries also recognised for their achievements in promoting wine tourism. Amongst the other overall winners in the eight-member network were Spain’s Marques de Riscal, located in the heart of the Rioja region, for its now famous Frank Gehry-designed hotel; Portugal’s renowned port producer House of Sandeman in the Douro Valley; and iconic Californian producer of biodynamic and organic wines, Grgich Hills Estate.
Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, commenting on the significance of the achievement said: “Cape Town Tourism is incredibly proud of Cape Town’s wine experiences; they rate under the best in the world. It is heart warming for one of our wine estates to be singled out, reaffirming that Cape Town does indeed boast some of the world’s most remarkable wine tourism industries. We need to continually benchmark ourselves against the global tourism industry, understand that the visitor’s choice is vast and that we have to be truly exceptional to capture the hearts of the world. Cape Town’s world-class tourism industry and the powerful partnership established between the private and public sector is an incredible asset that helps to position our destination under the top ten places to visit in the world. We acknowledge the contribution made by Vergelegen and the rest of our wine experience industry and applaud them.”
Don Tooth, CEO of Vergelegen, added: “To be a flagship for the wine tourism industry of South Africa is enormously satisfying. The real interest for us is not only external recognition but the chance to measure ourselves against international wine properties.”
Past national winners of the Great Wine Capital Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards are Nederburg, Spier and Waterford.
Cape Town Tourism’s new Wine and Food Experience Maps will be available at any Cape Town Visitor Centre from the beginning of December.
Contact: Cape Town Tourism ”PROMOTING TOURISM EXCELLENCE IN CAPE TOWN” THE PINNACLE BUILDING, CNR BURG & CASTLE STREETS CAPE TOWN 8000 P O BOX 1403, CAPE TOWN 8001 TEL: (021) 487 6800 FAX: (021) 487 6899 CELL:(083) 225 5955 EMAIL: mariette@tourismcapetown.co.za WEB: www.tourismcapetown.co.za BLOG: www.talkingtourism.co.za