Punting on the Avon, Christchurch - Courtesy of Christchurch Canterbury Tourism.
Punting on the Avon, Christchurch - Courtesy of Christchurch Canterbury Tourism.
Top of a Vineyard, Kaikoura - Courtesy of Kaikoura District Council.
Vineyard, Central Otago - Courtesy of Central Otago Pinot Noir Limited.
Aoraki - Mt Cook, Canterbury - Courtesy of Christchurch Canterbury Tourism.
Couple in Vineyard, Nelson - Courtesy of Nelson Wine Art.
Vineyard in Autumn, Marlborough - Courtesy of Destination Marlborough.

Awards 2012

The annual 'Christchurch | South Island Best of Wine Tourism Awards' provides an opportunity for the South Island wine regions to showcase their unique programmes and experiences that attract and entertain international tourists.

Applications for the Christchurch | South Island Best of Wine Tourism Awards 2012, are coordinated by Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism. 

These awards honour outstanding wineries and wine tourism-related businesses in the Christchurch | South Island group.

The awards have been designed to encourage creativity, launch new initiatives, raise standards and promote the efforts of individual wineries.

Christchurch/South Island regional category winners will be judged by one chief judge and one local judge.  The winners in each section will be put forward to the International Jury selection process at the AGM in Mainz Germany.  The global winners will be announced at the Great Wine Capitals Gala Dinner in Mainz, Germany in October.

The category winners will be announced along with any international winners at the Christchurch/South Island Wine festival & Best of Awards brunch being held in Christchurch on December 3rd 2011.

This is a real opportunity to improve brand image within the international wine and wine tourism sector, and a great promotional tool through the noticeable media attention. The international wine and tourism media regularly publishes engaging articles about the award winners.

Best Of Wine Tourism 2012 contest application form [PDF 432KB]
Guide to completing Best Of Wine Tourism 2012 contest application form [PDF 316KB]

Award categories

Wine Tourism Restaurants
This category is for wineries that operate restaurant facilities at the winery and who provide a quality wine and food experience, using local or regional produce. The category is also open to regional restaurants that display a significant involvement in regional wine tourism. The non-winery restaurant must be able to demonstrate its association and strong involvement in regional winery tourism. (For example, does it offer a comprehensive range of regional wines on its wine list, does it participate in regional winery tourism promotions, does the business offer specific links with the regional wineries, such as regional winemakers’ dinners, does it advertise in regional wine tourism publications; etc.)

Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences
This category is relevant for wineries that offer special and innovative, educational and/or other leisure activities and experiences for individuals and groups at the winery. This may involve an innovative approach to the cellar door experience (for example, the approach to tasting or educating visitors about the winery’s practices), or through other experiences offered at the winery (such as winery or vineyard tours). This category could also include wineries which stage on-site wine and food or other cultural events or exhibitions on a regular basis (preferably once a month).

Wine Tourism Services
This category is primarily for businesses and tourism operators whose businesses have a focus on providing a significant service to the wine tourism industry (for example, winery tour operators, wine tourism/wine trail organisations).  In general, a winery would not apply in this category unless there were clear indications that their involvement in wine tourism did not fit into one of the previous categories (for example, offering conference facilities).

Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices
This category is appropriate for wineries that have implemented sustainable practices, both in the vineyards (with organic farming practices for example) and in the winery (with reduced energy consumption for example). This primarily includes environmentally sustainable practices, but social, cultural and economically sustainable aspects of the operation should not be overlooked.  Given this is a wine tourism award, it is important to clearly explain how your sustainability principles and practices are communicated to the wine tourist and integrated into the winery visitor’s experience.

Category prizes

Each category winner receives a 'Best of Wine Tourism' trophy and will be entered into the annual 'International Best of Wine Tourism Awards'.

Winners will be profiled on the global Great Wine Capitals website; receive a presence in our 'Best of' advertisements and press promotion in local and international media.

Winners will feature in a guide distributed to major local and international wine and tourism exhibitions; be invited to participate in educational events and wine tourism conferences, and receive additional marketing and promotional support.

View the winners of the 2011 International Best of Tourism awards.