The Mainz|Rheinhessen 2014 Best Of Wine Tourism awards ceremony took place on October 23 at the Atrium Hotel in Mainz. Over 70 guests attended.
The winners were:
Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences
Wine Estate Eppelmann
In April 2013 the Eppelmann Estate set up the multi-media wine hike in Stadecken-Elsheim. Along various hiking paths through the vineyards visitors can use their smartphone and internet video clips to learn more about grape varieties, the terroir and grape processing right in the respective individual vineyard sites. Not only are the guests welcome at the Vinothek and estate, but they are especially invited to embrace the wine as a whole with its origin in the vineyard to the pleasure of finally tasting it.
Art & Culture
Oliver de Luca
Oliver de Luca is known in Mainz not only for its program “Wine & Magic” in cooperation with Gebert’s Weinstuben, Best of Wine Tourism Award winner in the category of Wine Tourism Restaurants in 2009. His idea of enchanting guests as a wizardly host, by combining magic moments, food and wine and thus creating a holistic and sensous experience, inspires his audience again and again.
Wine Tourism Services
Herrgottsgarten
Lovingly and individually created events and trips: the heart of the old town of Mainz is home to the two owners of the Herrgottsgarten and the place where they arrange premium events of sophisticated wine pleasure. They always make sure to convince with a perfect combination of beautiful scenery, excellent wines and great ideas such as a wine tasting at full moon, a hike ending with a traditional roast duck dinner, or a torch hike with mulled wine.
http://www.herrgottsgarten.de/
Architecture & Landscape
Wine Estates Willems & Hofmann
While on the outside clear and simple lines dominate, integrating rather subtly, minimalist and quite technically into the surroundings, inside the building the tasting room inspires with large glass surfaces that allow extensive views of the production area and the barrique cellar. This visual linking of not only production and tasting but also the surrounding hilly Rheinhessen landscape offers visitors a deep insight into the world of wines.
http://www.schiefer-trifft-muschelkalk.de/
Accommodation
Weingut Dohlmühle
The Dohlmühle, one of the oldest mills on the little river Wiesbach, was first made mention of in 1346. Today, the traditional estate can be counted amongst the pioneers of the region. The Dohlmühle Estate impresses with its comprehensive offering including accommodation, a spa, a restaurant as well as a vaulted cellar, and truly pampers visitors with wine and food tastings, covered wagon tours through the vineyards, readings, and other events.
Wine Tourism Restaurants
Wine Estate Hildegardishof
Modern but also committed to tradition, the Hildegardishof wine restaurant can accommodate more than 300 guests in several rooms and serves authentic local cuisine and excellent wines from Rheinhessen. Naturally, with over 30 different grape varieties that are currently cultivated, a wide range of wine tastings is available.
http://www.weingut-hildegardishof.de/
The Mainz|Rheinhessen winners will compete for an international Best Of Wine Tourism award at the annual general meeting of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network in Napa, California on November 7.
About the Great Wine Capitals Global Network
Founded in 1999, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network is an alliance of ten internationally renowned wine regions – Bordeaux, France; Cape Town|Cape Winelands, South Africa; Christchurch|South Island, New Zealand; Florence, Italy; Mainz|Rheinhessen, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Porto, Portugal; Bilbao|Rioja, Spain; San Francisco|Napa Valley, USA and Valparaiso|Casablanca Valley, Chile.
The Best Of Wine Tourism awards serve as an industry benchmark for excellence and recognize leading wineries and wine-tourism related businesses within each Great Wine Capital that have distinguished themselves in areas such as innovation, service and sustainable practices. For more information visit http://www.greatwinecapitals.com.
Written by Decanter
