Two McLaren Vale wineries have been recognised as among seven of the state’s best wine tourism operators and will go on to compete on the global stage.

Yangarra Estate Vineyard took out the Architecture and Landscape award and Gemtree Wines won the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices award.

The 2024 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards are part of an annual program offered through membership of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.

They celebrate innovation, sustainability and excellence in wine tourism across each of the world’s 12 Great Wine Capitals.

They are Adelaide (South Australia); Bilbao/Rioja (Spain); Bordeaux (France); Cape Town/Cape Winelands (South Africa); Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand); Lausanne (Switzerland); Mainz/Rheinhessen (Germany); Mendoza (Argentina); Porto (Portugal); San Francisco/Napa Valley (US); Valparaiso/Casablanca Valley (Chile); and Verona (Italy).

The SA winners, across the seven categories are:

• Accommodation – Alkina Wine Estate, Barossa – for creating extraordinary accommodation that feels like a home, has an outstanding connection to place and treads lightly on the landscape.
• Architecture and Landscape – Yangarra Estate Vineyard, McLaren Vale– the cellar door’s strong architectural statement features a striking sweeping roof: a visual treat with an interior that reflects the soil and environment.
• Art and culture – Grapes of Mirth, multi-regional – comedy events including DJs and dance parties, podcasts, wine masterclasses and cooking demonstrations that bring a new demographic to wineries and their respective regions.
• Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences – Sidewood Estate, Adelaide Hills – On the outskirts of Hahndorf providing a unique offering, from no and lo alcohol wines to an array of leisure activities plus educational experiences such as its Introduction to Wine Tasting that helps people interpret wine terminology to enhance the overall experience.
• Wine Tourism Restaurant – Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard, Adelaide Hills – with new menus, carefully curated each month in an outstanding, second-to-none setting that connects to the landscape and surrounding vineyards.
• Wine Tourism Services – Pindarie Wines, Barossa Valley – Previously 1850s stables and 1890s grain store, the cellar door and restaurant provide the complete wine, food and tourism experience on the western gateway to the Barossa Valley.
• Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices – Gemtree Wines, McLaren Vale – organic and biodynamic certified and the benchmark in South Australia for sustainable wine practices. Sustainability best practice is absolutely fundamental to Gemtree’s overall story and purpose.

They will all will now compete for a Global Best Of Wine Tourism Award, to be presented later this month as part of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network Annual Meeting and Conference in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Last year, Langhorne Creek entry Grapes for Good – started by Kimbolton Wines – was recognised on the international stage with a Global Best Of Wine Tourism Award. 

Grapes for Good is a partnership between six leading Langhorne Creek wine producers and Zoos SA, which aims to drive visitation across the region and support the conservation efforts underway at nearby Monarto Safari Park.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison says wine tourism plays an incredibly important role in driving visitors to regional South Australia. 

 “This is another terrific demonstration of the strength of South Australia’s wine tourism industry, as we celebrate an array of world-class operators across the regions. 

“We know our wine is a key tourism drawcard for South Australia, with one fifth of all interstate tourists visiting a winery during their trip in 2022 and more than one third of all international tourists prior to the pandemic.

“With innovative festivals in world-renowned wine regions, leading sustainability practices at well-established wineries, luxury accommodation in the vines, and top-notch restaurants serving local produce, it’s no wonder our wine tourism operators help put our state on the map.  

“Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners, and I wish them all the best as they go on to represent South Australia on the global stage.”  

Clare Scriven, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, says all category winners areworld class and offer genuine, authentic wine tourism experiences. 

“South Australia is clearly Australia’s leading premier wine state, producing more than 80 per cent of the nation’s premium wine from some of the oldest vines in the world. 

“The emphasis of these awards on the overall tourism experience acknowledges the many facets of the wine industry and its importance to the South Australian economy.”