More than 80 guests and 17 international journalists attended the Porto Best Of Wine Tourism Awards 2015 Ceremony, including Manuel de Sampaio Pimentel representing the Porto City Council.
The gala dinner took place on 27 February, Friday at 20:00, at the Restaurant Vinum at Graham’s, within the event “Essência do Vinho “.
The winners of the excellence awards Best Of Wine Tourism 2015 are:
Museu do Douro – museudodouro.pt
International Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Art and Culture”
The Douro Museum – a land museum aims at representing the Douro Demarcated Region’s natural and cultural heritage, designated World Heritage by UNESCO. The main building is located in Peso da Régua, settled in one of the most iconic buildings in the eighteenth century – Casa da Companhia, inaugurated in 2008. It presents itself as a space for the collective memory and identity of the wine region, investing in a regular dialogue with the present, as well as an instrument for appraising activities related to wine production, cultural tourism and wine tourism.
Adega Quinta da Faísca – secretspotwines.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Architecture and Landscapes”
Adega Quinta da Faísca is located in the Douro Demarcated Region, namely the Favaios upland, from where you can admire a wide landscape of vineyards and olive trees. The architecture of the Adega is part of the landscape, respecting the Douro architecture of schist and granite, combined with noble materials, such as wood and glass, offering comfort and hospitality. You can enjoy a visit to the vineyards, the cellar and the barrel warehouse displaying graffiti drawings, followed by Secret Spot Wines wine tasting. You can also book your meal here.
BOEIRA Portugal in a bottle – boeiraportugalinabottle.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Significant Wine Tourism Experience”
BOEIRA Portugal in a bottle, theme park, offers visitors an experience of Portuguese culture and products. The cultural park Boeira Portugal in a bottle is settled in the middle of a 3 acre-garden, near the urban centre of Gaia, and five minutes away from the Historical Centre of Porto. Situated in the surroundings of centennial trees and beautiful gardens, the mansion from the early twentieth century was restored according to its original architecture and it´s classified as a city heritage. Its tiles refer to a city linked to wines, with the presence of elements such as grapes and Rabelo boats. The park offers visitors the opportunity to experience the world’s largest Bottle, 32 meters long and 9,5 meters diameter!
Conceitus Winery Restaurant – quintanova.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Wine Tourism Restaurants”
The 120 hectares of Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, in the heart of the Douro Region, tell its 250 year old wine production history (1764). Through this awarded and renowned Wine Tourism project, visitors are welcomed at the Hotel and have access to a Winery Restaurant, cellar and wine warehouse, wine programmes and technical visits, wine and olive oil tasting, a shop, a wine bar, a museum and magnificent spaces, pedestrian tours and swimming pool surrounded by vineyards. Granting all comfort, any spot can be considered the ideal one to enjoy the wine to the most, tasting the best nectars and gourmet products, always paired with the best regional food and admiring the astonishing landscape.
Graham’s 1890 Lodge – symington.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Wine Tourism Services”
Graham’s Port Wine cellars were built in 1890 and still remain in their original setting. Located in Vila Nova de Gaia, they offer a magnificent view over Porto’s historical zone, the Douro River and the iconic Luís I bridge, benefiting from the sea climate, ideal for ageing Port Wine. The cellar now comprises around 3200 oak barrels, 40 Port Wine casks and an extraordinary set of bottled Vintage Port. Open for 20 years, it has become an inevitable destination for Port Wine lovers, where visitors get to explore Graham’s wines.
Quinta das Escomoeiras – http://quintadasescomoeiras.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices”
Quinta das Escomoeiras is a Rural Tourism unit strongly dedicated to wine tourism. The 10,5 ha estate, comprising 3 ha of vineyards and 6,5 ha of forest, is located by the right bank of the Tâmega river. All activities are biologically developed. It is a member of the Vinhos Verdes Route and provides guided visits to the vineyards, pedestrian tours, commented visit to the Cellar and wine tasting. It gives special attention to the local grape qualities of the Basto Sub-Region. It also produces fruit and herbs jam. All products are available in the Estate’s shop.
The Wine House Hotel – Quinta da Pacheca – quintadapacheca.com/
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2015, in the category “Accommodation”
Located in a 51 hectare estate covered by vineyards up to the Douro River, the The Wine House Hotel is an intense hotel, with character, that surprises you with its history combined with an innovative and sophisticated style. The main building is a typical house from the 17th century, renewed considering its traditional architecture and original assets. Common spaces and its fifteen different rooms now display a modern and avant-garde layout with a sober and elegant design.
About the Great Wine Capitals Global Network
Founded in 1999, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network is an alliance of eight internationally renowned wine regions – Bordeaux, France; Cape Town, South Africa; Mainz|Rheinhessen, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Porto, Portugal; Bilbao|Rioja, Spain, San Francisco|Napa Valley, USA and Valparaiso|Casablanca Valley in 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 further information about the Great Wine Capitals and the ‘Best Of Wine Tourism’ awards visit greatwinecapitals.com.
Written by eleanor douglas
