South Australia's wine tourism operators and wine producers will vie for the chance to gain global recognition as nominations open for the 2027 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards.
A major showcase event in the global wine industry calendar, the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards shine a spotlight on the best wine tourism operators and wine producers from the Great Wine Capital Global Network's (GWCGN) 11 member regions.
South Australia is celebrating 10 years as a member of the GWCGN, having cemented our state's reputation on the world stage and secured international recognition that our premium wine regions are up there with the likes of fellow member regions Bordeaux and Napa Valley.
The 2027 Best of Wine Tourism Awards will celebrate outstanding hospitality, service and creativity across seven award categories:
· Accommodation
· Architecture and landscape
· Art and culture
· Culinary experiences
· Innovative wine tourism experiences
· Wine tourism services
· Sustainable wine tourism practices
All members of the Great Wine Capital Global Network run parallel awards, with local category winners going on to compete in the 2027 Global Best Of Wine Tourism Awards in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, which will be judged by an international jury.
Last year, McLaren Vale's Maxwell Wines took home the global award for culinary experiences, in recognition of fine dining food and wine offerings made accessible through an elegant cellar door snack menu.
Applications have also opened for the next round of the Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program, which supports local wine industry professionals, researchers and academics to travel to other Great Wine Capitals and learn directly from international experts in their field.
The bursary program aims to enable local industry to gain experience and expertise in their chosen field and share their learnings upon their return to South Australia.
An additional bursary, supported by the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference (AWITC), provides South Australian wine industry professionals opportunities to explore technical innovations in the grape and wine industry in other Great Wine Capitals.
The South Australian Best Of Wine Tourism Awards and Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program are coordinated by the Great Wine Capitals' South Australian steering committee, which includes representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), South Australian Tourism Commission, South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA), and Adelaide University.
South Australia's Best Of Wine Tourism Awards will be presented in partnership with DrinkWise, an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works with the South Australian Government, industry and community organisations to promote responsible alcohol consumption.
