Last
Friday, we were off to Marlenique in Simondium,
a conference and wedding venue which was new to us, for the celebration of the
awards in these two competitions. The Best Of Wine Tourism awards celebrate
innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the eight greatest wine
regions in the world. These were the awards for the Cape Winelands, which were
announced in November. The CWDM Mayoral Tourism Awards celebrate the
achievements of tourism businesses in the Cape Winelands tourism industry,
showcasing outstanding performers, products and service excellence. The full lists of the awards and the winners are at the end of our story
The venue is in a large converted
warehouse building on a busy fruit farm
Talented musicians played on the
terrace
Inside Marlenique
Lunch was served 'family style' with
many salads arranged on each table for us to serve ourselves during the awards.
This was a summer chicken salad
This was a biltong and dried cranberry
salad
The menu
Andre Morgenthal of Wines of South
Africa
His honour the Executive Mayor of the
Cape Winelands District Municipality Cornelius de Bruyn
The presentation of the awards begins
The assembled throng
Claude Schroeder Executive Director CD
& PS Cape Winelands District Municipality announced the Mayoral Tourism
Awards
and the Executive Mayor, Cornelius de
Bruyn, presented them
There was Villiera Tradition MCC to enjoy
pre lunch
Delaire Graff Estate was named South
Africa’s overall winner at the Great Wine Capitals Global Network 2016 Best of
Wine Tourism Awards, having taken first place in both the Art & Culture and
Wine Tourism Restaurant categories. Here General Manager of the Estate Johann
Laubser accepts the award
Almost everyone at our table won an
award! Jenny Prinsloo, Khail van Niekerk, Berrington Msuneko, Jacques Jantjies, Gert Lubbe, Zukiswa Matiwane
The Mayor presented some herb awards
to the organisers
and a large bouquet to Andre Morgenthal of WOSA
Dagmar Jungbauer and Zukiswa Matiwane of Spier with Philip Engelen
The Creation team with their awards:
Marketing Manager Dieter Odendaal, Owner Carolyn Martin and Sales manager Khail
van Niekerk
Simon Grier and Cathy Brewer with Villiera's award
The Delaire Graff team with their
awards
Alex Hughes of Waterford Estate with
his award
All the winners together
The Mayor with Zukiswa Matiwane of
Spier hotel
Andre Morgenthal and Judy Lain of
Wesgro saying goodbye to a guest
One of the good wines we drank with
lunch, Unfortunately, it had stood a long time on a warm table and was too warm to show well. The staff were very good at standing against the wall watching proceedings
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2015
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The Cape Winelands District Municipality Mayoral Tourism Awards:
Adventure, Outdoor and/or Ecotourism business of the year, Winner: African Game Lodge
Adventure, Outdoor and/or Ecotourism business of the year, Runner Up: Protea Farm
Tourism Business of the Year, Winner: Montagu Country Hotel
Tourism Business of the Year, Runner Up: Robertson Wine Valley
New Tourism Business of the Year, Winner: Rambling Rose
New Tourism Business of the Year, Runner Up: In Abundance Guest House
Wine Tourism Destination of the year, Winner : Leopard's Leap Family Vineyards
Wine Tourism Destination of the year, Runner Up: La Motte Wine estate
Tourism-related event / Festival of the year: Robertson Wine Valley's Wacky Wine Weekend, Winner
Tourism –related event/ Festival of the year, Runner Up: Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival
Community Based Initiatives: Public, Winner: Dance for All School of Dance
Community Based Initiatives: Public, Runner Up: Wamakersvallei Training Centre
Community Based Initiatives: Private, Winner: Bosman Family Vineyards
Community Based Initiatives: Private, Runner Up: Stellenbosch 360
Visitors Information Services (LTA) Excellence: SERVICE , Winner: Franschhoek Wine Valley
Visitors Information Services (LTA) Excellence: SERVICE , Runner Up: Stellenbosch 360
Visitors Information Services (LTA) Excellence: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, Winner: Montagu-Ashton Tourism
Visitors Information Services (LTA) Excellence: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, Runner Up: Stellenbosch 360
The Great Wine Capitals 2016 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards
Judges Commendation Awards for outstanding service in the wine tourism industry:
Portia Festus, KWV
Roxanne Waldick, Delaire Graff
Jacques Jantjies, Rhebokskloof
Zukiswa Matiwane, Spier
Johandri Ras, Indochine, Delaire Graff
Khail Van Niekerk, Creation
Alex Hughes, Waterford
Bennetina Lewis Spier
Berrington Msuneko, Delaire Graff
The Great Wine Capitals 2016 Best of Wine Tourism Awards
Regional Category Winner: Architecture & Landscapes: Cavalli Wine & Stud Farm
Regional Category Winner: Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences: Creation Wines
Regional Category Winner: Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices: Villiera Wines
Regional Category Winner: Wine Tourism Service: La Motte Estate
Regional Category Winner: Art and Culture: Delaire Graff
Regional Category Winner: Wine Tourism Restaurant: Delaire Graff
Overall South African Winner: Delaire Graff Estate
