You may have read about our intrepid adventures visiting wine farms on behalf of the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Competition.  We unfortunately could not visit all the farms that entered the competition during that weekend, but we did endeavour to have a look at as many as possible during the course of September and October.

We were starting to think that the whole competition was done, dusted and forgotten; then we received an invitation to the Awards Luncheon hosted at Steenberg Vineyards.

The winners were announced earlier this month in Christchurch, New Zealand.  So let’s get to the results:

Accommodation – Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa

Art and culture –  Grande Provence Heritage Estate

Architecture, parks & gardens – Steenberg Vineyards

Innovative wine tourism experiences –  Warwick Wine Estate

Wine Tourism restaurants – Rust en Vrede

Sustainable wine tourism practices – Waverley Hills

Wine tourism services – Steenberg Vineyards

As the global winner of the Wine Tourism Services category, Steenberg Vineyards can send one of its staff members abroad to learn from other wineries in Napa, California.  In a fairy tale announcement (with audible gasps from the winner) Zelda Petrus, who handles front-of house cellar door sales, will soon be flying to California to learn more about wine sales and marketing in the famous Napa Valley.

I say fairy tale because Zelda started working as a cleaner at Steenberg and has worked herself up through the ranks, enrolling in Wine Certificate courses along the way, to be part of Steenberg’s very capable front-of-house staff.

We have written various blog articles about Steenberg before and we cannot think of a more worthy winner: they are the complete package with excellent wine, impeccable service and two stellar restaurants on the premises.  We probably should also mention the 5 star hotel.

The awards luncheon did not disappoint.  Bistro 1682 served us their best! From starters of quail, sweet corn velouté and crab beignet to mains of sous vide warthog ribs; it was delicious and beautifully served.  Even the vegetarian option served looked infinitely edible.

Lunch was served with the wines of the category winners: we were spoilt for choice the whole day!  The Steenberg HMS Rattlesnake and the Warwick Three Cape Ladies got my undivided attention.

I started and ended my day with the Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay MCC; a fitting end to a true champagne celebration!