More than 80 guests and 16 international journalists attended the Porto Best Of Wine Tourism Awards 2014 Ceremony, including Manuel de Sampaio Pimentel who represented the Porto City Council. The gala dinner took place on Friday, 28th February at 8pm at the Restaurant Vinum at Graham's, within the event "Essência do Vinho".
The winners of the excellence awards Best Of Wine Tourism 2014 are:
The Yeatman – www.the-yeatman-hotel.com
International Best Of Wine Tourism 2014, in the category of “Accommodation”
The Yeatman is a luxury wine hotel and spa and offers the very best of Portugal: from gastronomy and wine to the art of good hospitality. It is a member of the highly respected chain Relais & Châteaux, with 82 bedrooms and suites overlooking Porto and the Douro River.
The Yeatman restaurant has one Michelin star restaurant and is led by Chef Ricardo Costa and its cellars offer the largest collection of Portuguese wines in the world.
The hotel has a Vinothérapie® Spa by Caudalie, 11 meetings and events rooms and is set within 7 acres of land and gardens in the historic Port wine lodge district.
Espaço Porto Cruz – www.myportocruz.com
Regional Winner Best of Wine Tourism 2014, in the category of “Innovative Experiences in Wine Tourism”
With its stunning interior design, the Espaço Porto Cruz is a place for learning, display and relaxation, offering new sensory experiences based around Port Wine: interactive multitouch tables, short educational films, wine shop, exhibitions, tasting room, food and wine pairing in the DeCastro Gaia restaurant led by chef Miguel Castro Silva, and finishing on the Terrace Lounge 360° with Port Wine cocktails whilst enjoying the magnificent panorama of the old city of Oporto.
Morgadio da Calçada – www.morgadiodacalcada.com
Regional Winner Best of Wine Tourism 2014, in the category “Architecture and Landscape”
Property of 5 hectares of vineyards where Morgadio da Calçada wines are produced, in association with Oenologist Dirk Niepoort. This big XVIIth century Manor House with painted ceilings, époque furniture. 8 contemporary rooms, which result from the recovery of agricultural facilities. Wine tasting is provided in the old cellars, which are home of 2 magnificent Douro barrels. The property is located in the wine village of Provesende, the most monumental of the entire region. There is a dining room in the main building for 40 guests, with candle light dinners and a meeting rooms’ capacity in the main building for 40 people.
Quinta do Tedo – www.quintadotedo.com
Regional Winner Best of Wine Tourism 2014, in the category “Best Wine Tourism services”
Vincent and Kay Bouchard have restored and modernized an estate from the 18th century that produces internationally praised Douro and Port Wines, as well as high quality olive oil. They provide guided visits in the estate, including vineyards, wine making facilities and ageing cellars, followed by wine, Port Wine and olive oil tasting. Their facilities are available for private groups, and can be booked to host a varied kind of events. Visitors will find them in the very heart of the Douro region.
Vinum at Graham’s – www.vinumatgrahams.com
Regional Winner Best of Wine Tourism 2014, in the category “Best Wine Restaurants”
Vinum Restaurant & Wine Bar was created from a passion for wine and a deep attachment to the beautiful Douro vineyards. The concept of this restaurant has been born out of a wish to reflect the specific terroir of the wines, combined with the international and cosmopolitan flavor of their cuisine. At Vinum they only use the finest ingredients from the heart of the country, combined with a selection of the freshest fish. Their cuisine is cosmopolitan, with a profound respect for the natural flavors of the ingredients and is the perfect companion for their exceptional wines.
The Awards Best Of Wine Tourism, delivered since 2003 and promoted by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, in which the Porto City Council represents the wine regions of Port and Douro and of Vinhos Verdes, distinguish the Best Of Wine Tourism of ten wine capitals from countries with an important wine tradition which make up the network.
For further information on the Great Wine Capitals and on the Best Of Wine Tourism awards: http://www.greatwinecapitals.com
Written by John Abbott
