In 2018, the City of Lausanne joined the international Great Wine Capitals (GWC) network, which brings together major cities renowned for the quality of their wine regions and their wine tourism development: Adelaide, Bilbao (Rioja), Bordeaux, Cape Town, Lausanne, Mainz (Rheinhessen), Mendoza, Porto, San Francisco (Napa Valley), Valparaiso (Casablanca Valley) and Verona.
The GWC is the only network encompassing both the new and old wine worlds. It has developed and sustained a number of initiatives, including the ‘Best Of Wine Tourism’ awards, a prestigious distinction for individuals working in the wine industry in each of the major wine capitals and who stand out in terms of innovation, hospitality and sustainable development. There are seven award categories: architecture/landscape, art/culture, discovery/innovation, environment, catering/hospitality, services/organization and crafts.
This year, the Swiss jury received more than forty applications from more than twelve cantons. This year even broke the record for applications received from German-speaking Switzerland. “We are delighted to see wine tourism offers developing throughout Switzerland,” commented Nicolas Joss, Director of Swiss Wine Promotion. “As well as increasing in numbers, they are also increasing in quality! ” he continued. The President of the Jury, Robert Cramer, is delighted to discover innovative new offers involving cross-sectoral and cross-regional potential every year.
The winners will be announced on Thursday 26 October at the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards Ceremony. During the evening, the ‘Global Best Of Wine Tourism’ will also be revealed. These are rewards for the best international projects presented by member cities. “We are proud to present the wine tourism treasures of our countries to professionals from internationally renowned destinations in the field,” enthused Steeve Pasche, Director of Lausanne Tourism and responsible for the organisation of this general meeting of the network. “Another great opportunity to place Switzerland on the world map of prestigious wine and wine tourism destinations”.
The nominees for the “Regional Best Of Wine Tourism” 2024 competition are:
Valais
- Castel de Daval – Sierre (VS) http://www.collinededaval.ch/
- Domaine Mont d’Or – Sion (VS) http://www.montdor.ch/
- Fernand Cina – Salgesch (VS) http://www.fernand-cina.ch/
- Valais Wine Tours – Lens (VS) http://www.valaiswinetours.com/
- Visite notre cave en famille – Sion (VS) https://gilliard.ch/fr/vins/activites/visite-de-cave-en-famille/
- Wine Bus Grand Cru – Ville de Sion (VS) https://www.sionwine.ch/
Vaud
- BAM La Voie des Sens – Morges (VD) https://www.lavoiedessens.ch/
- Happy Wine Flon – Lausanne (VD) https://www.flon.ch
- Hummus & Wine – Lausanne (VD) http://www.hummusandwine.ch
German-speaking Switzerland
- Kunst & Wein am Iselisberg – Uesslingen (TG) https://kunstundwein-iselisberg.ch/
- Tapas Wein & Sein – Schafis am Bielersee (BE) http://www.andreyschafis.ch/
- Thurgauer Gourmetwanderung – Schlatt (TG) http://www.thurgau-bodensee.ch/gourmetwanderung
- Wine Tours Switzerland – Maienfeld (GR) http://www.wine-tours.ch/
- Winzerfest Dottingen (AG) https://www.winzerfest.ch/groesstes-winzerfest-in-der-deutschschweiz
Ticino
- Vino, Cultura & dolce vita Ticinese – Giornico (TI) https://www.settemaggio.ch/
Three-Lakes Region
- Cave Couronne 1669 – Morat (FR) https://murtenhof.ch/
- Train du Terroir – La Chaux de Fonds (NE) https://www.neuchatel-vins-terroir.ch/
The jury members for the Swiss Prize/Best Of Wine Tourism are:
- Robert Cramer (Chair)
- Hélène Noirjean (Director of the Swiss Federation of Winegrowers)
- Alexandre Edelmann (Director of Présence Suisse)
- Niklaus Notter (Project Manager at Suisse Tourisme)
- Sibilla Quadri (Director of the Ticino Agri-Food Skills Centre)
- Josef Zisyadis (Director of the Swiss Semaine du Goût)
- Cindy Guignard (Director of Terre & Nature)
- Gilles Meystre (GastroSuisse committee member)
- Dominique Fumeaux (Director of HES SO)
- Francesca Martini (Secretary General of Pays Romand, Pays Gourmand)
Contact and information:
Yann Stucki, coordinator – 079 413 42 91 yann.stucki@swissoeno.ch
Nicolas Joss, Director of Swiss Wine Promotion, +41 31 398 52 20, nicolas.joss@swisswine.ch
Further information on www.swissœno.ch
©Hummus and Wine