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The official ceremony was held during the Essência do Vinho event at the Feitoria Inglesa in Porto and was attended by the Porto city councillor responsible for trade and tourism, Mr. Manuel Aranha, who presented the winners with their awards.
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In the most internationally-oriented edition ever, more than 20,000 people visited the 13th Essência do Vinho, of which 5,000 were foreigners, during the four days it was held at the Palácio da Bolsa, venue for what is one of the major annual wine events in Portugal. Also of note was the presence of fifty wine experts, above all journalists, critics, bloggers, sommeliers and a small group of importers.
The winners of the excellence awards Best Of Wine Tourism 2016 are:
Monverde Wine Experience Hotel – www.monverde.pt
International Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2016, in the category “Architecture and Landscapes”
Located in Amarante, covering an estate of 30 ha, 22 of which dedicated to grapes production for Quinta da Lixa’s green and sparkling wines, this pioneering wine hotel has added a passion for eno and eco-tourism. The architects, FCC Arquitetura, have preserved the building’s heritage, cultural inheritance and value given to nature, and sought inspiration in the way the terroir influences the wines. The surroundings, climate and traditions provoke, define and promote the interior design. At Monverde “the essence, the tranquility, inspires us to live, contemplate and value what is around us”.
Boeira Portugal in a bottle – www.boeiraportugalinabottle.com
Regional Best Of Wine Tourism 2016, in the category “Art and Culture”
Quinta da Boeira is an early-20th century stately home. Over the years, the events’ area has been adapted to fit the changing needs of social and business events. A restaurant was established within the main building, a glazed hall with a room for over 200 guests was built in the former stables, an exhibitions’ hall for over 300 people was created within the former port wine warehouse and, most recently, a tasting room for Portuguese wines – the Biggest Bottle in the world. This experience allows visitors to discover Portugal’s different wine regions and their regional cuisines.
Carmo’s Boutique Hotel – www.carmosboutiquehotel.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2016, in the category “Accommodation”
Carmo is a romantic and exclusive boutique hotel placed in a rural setting. Located in Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in the heart of the region of Porto and northern Portugal, it is surrounded by verdant nature, where the vineyard, symbol of people who have risen above a life of simple farming, took root. Its modern design was inspired by the architect Carvalho Araújo, whose use of concrete interacts lovingly with the Portuguese rosewood carpentry, old church pieces and Lalique crystal. In a context of organized chaos, every detail has been carefully designed.
Oporto & Douro Moments – www.oportoanddouromoments.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2016, in the category “Wine Tourism Services”
The cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia have always been intimately linked to the Douro region and that is why various special moments in these excellent tourist destinations are offered: from the more classical, revealing the region’s various icons, to the more alternative. Public is also given the chance to custom design their very own personal and exclusive Moment. This way, every journey is tailored to suit the visitors’ particular needs and interests.
Quinta da Pacheca – www.quintadapacheca.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2016, in the category “Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences”
On a 51-hectare estate of vines, stretching all the way to Douro, Quinta da Pacheca is a property with an essence and tradition whose history and innovative and sophisticated style will surprise you. The main building is a traditional 18th-century house which was restored and now houses the 15 rooms and a restaurant. The facilities, such as the traditional wine presses, port wine ageing cellar, museum, gardens, vineyards and wine shop, can be visited all year long. There are various tasting options and myriad wine and vineyard-related activities to choose from.
Quinta do Vallado – Casa do Rio – www.quintadovallado.com
Regional Winner Best Of Wine Tourism 2016, in the category “Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices”
Casa do Rio, located in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, is part of the property acquired by Quinta do Vallado in 2009, covering around 40 ha, 20 of which are dedicated to an organic vineyard. Guests can enjoy several land-based activities (organic farming and cooking workshops; themed meals; picnics amid the vines; wine tasting and blending; tours by 4WD and donkey; foraging walks; outdoor massage and yoga by the river; cultural visits to the region; hiking tours) and River-based activities (boat and kayak tours; fishing; paddle boarding and windsurfing; picnics by the river; visits to beauty spots.
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 more information visit http://www.greatwinecapitals.com.
