SA's premium wine destinations highlighted in awards
12 October, 2020
Nineteen wineries from across South Australia's premium wine destinations have today been announced as finalists in the South Australian Best of Wine Tourism Awards.
The finalists are in the running to be crowned at the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Each category winner will then go before an international jury as part of the Great Wine Capitals Network Annual Conference, held virtually this year due to COVID-19, where an international award winner will be crowned.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham congratulated all of the finalists and praised the resilience shown by our wine companies.
"It is fantastic to see a strong list of wineries, wine tourism experiences and wine regions throughout the state nominated as part of these awards," said Minister Basham.
"It has been a challenging year across the sector but the resilience shown by these wineries will set them up for continued growth as the world emerges from COVID-19 market shutdowns.
"The work of the wine industry in each region to collaborate in providing destination experiences is shining through in the list of finalists.
"Almost half the finalists hail from the McLaren Vale where there has been a concerted effort to build on quality wine with fine dining, accommodation and a new wine culture.
"The Clare Valley is making a name for fantastic restaurant experiences and Barossa winemakers are building on the region's international reputation through sustainable practices and settings in keeping with the local environment.
"The Adelaide Hills is continuing to innovate utilising its beautiful surrounds to create wine accommodation experiences.
"Wine is central to South Australia's story, part of our culture and a source of immense local pride.
"We are indisputably Australia's wine state, producing 50 per cent of the nation's bottled wine and about 80 per cent of premium wine, with our $2.3 billion wine industry a wonderful tourism asset.
"At any one time we have almost one billion bottles of wine on tables and in cellars around the world with the state's name on them."
The finalists in each category are:
- Accommodation – Simon Tolley Lodge (Adelaide Hills), Beresford House (McLaren Vale), Longview Vineyard (Adelaide Hills).
- Architecture and Landscape – Yalumba Family Winemakers (Barossa), Dowie Doole (McLaren Vale), Torbreck Vintners (Barossa).
- Art and Culture – d'Arenberg (McLaren Vale)
- Innovation – Elderton Wines (Barossa), Alpha Box & Dice (McLaren Vale), Unico Zelo (Adelaide Hills).
- Sustainability – Kalleske Wines (Barossa), Tscharke Wines (Barossa) Battle of Bosworth (McLaren Vale).
- Restaurants – Slate / Pikes Wines (Clare Valley), Coriole (McLaren Vale), Paulett Wines (Clare Valley).
- Tourism Services – Kilikanoon Wines (Clare Valley), Wirra Wirra Vineyards (McLaren Vale), Chalk Hill Wines (McLaren Vale).
The judging panel are: Helen Edwards, Chairperson, Adelaide Hills Tourism; Nick Ryan, Wine Judge and Journalist; and Tony Love, Wine Writer and Journalist.
The Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in wine tourism and provide an opportunity to gain exposure and recognition for their commitment to providing leading wine tourism experiences.
Adelaide, South Australia's membership to the great Wine Capitals Global network is a partnership between the Marshall Liberal Government, the South Australian Wine Industry Association, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.
Further information is available at www.adelaidegreatwinecapital.com.au