More than 200 guests at the Sheraton Hotel Mendoza met the winners of the International Best Of Wine Tourism 2009 Contest. Around 40 wineries, restaurants and tour operators from Mendoza competed for this important prize and aspire to win the major prize against the other 7 cities of the Great Wine Capitals Network.
Graced with the presence of important authorities and businesspeople of Mendoza, for the fourth consecutive year and a record participation of the local wine sector, took place the Great Wine Capitals’ Best Of Wine Tourism awards ceremony. The Network’s local Committee announced the local wineries, restaurants and tour operators that won the gold, silver and bronze prizes in each one of the 7 categories of this year’s competition.
The jury, formed by 24 people that are a reference in the assessed fields, had a hard task choosing Mendoza’s winners, who competed in up to 2 of the 7 categories proposed this year: architecture, parks and gardens; art and culture; accommodation; innovative wine tourism experiences; sustainable wine tourism practices; wine tourism restaurants and wine tourism services.
The evaluation highlighted the most original and innovative elements, while the general basis was: services quality, originality in the tourism offer, customer service and commitment in the development of wine tourism.
The contestants competed for the gold, silver and bronze. The gold winners will participate in a second stage, the International Best Of Wine Tourism Awards, where they will compete against the winners of the other 7 wine capitals. This contest will take place within the GWC Annual General Meeting in Cape Town, from the next 9th to 14th of November.
It is important to highlight that the local Best Of winners will have the chance to compete for the international prize, increase their worldwide acknowledgement and participate in events related to wine tourism in the member cities.
It is also worth noting that the presented prizes were made by the local artist Cecilia Bavarri, who created them using typical viticulture materials. The wood she used comes from casks that once transferred their scents to the wines that rested inside them, and after became exquisite representatives of Mendoza.
2009 Gold Winners per category
ACCOMMODATION
Park Hyatt Mendoza – www.mendoza.park.hyatt.com
WINE TOURISM RESTAURANTS
O. Fournier – www.ofournier.com
ARCHITECTURE, PARKS AND GARDENS
Finca Decero – www.decero.com
ART AND CULTURE
Killka Museum – Salentein – www.killkasalentein.com
INNOVATIVE WINE TOURISM EXPERIENCES
Tempus Alba – www.tempusalba.com
WINE TOURISM SERVICES
Wine Map – www.josefinarosner.com.ar
SUSTAINABLE WINE TOURISM PRACTICES
Familia Zuccardi – www.familiazuccardi.com
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