Local Winners Announced in Great Wine Capitals BEST OF Competition
Best Of Wine Tourism winners chosen for Mainz - RheinHessen
Just under 20 applications were submitted for the first conferment of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards. Mainz & Rheinhessen were thus well placed right away at the premiere of the competition in their own country compared with the other Great Wine Capitals. The Great Wine Capitals “Best Of” Wine Tourism award winners for the San Francisco – Napa Valley region have been announced:
The coveted prize was awarded in all seven categories. The Mayor of Mainz, Jens Beutel, is highly satisfied with the choice of the “Best of Wine Tourism Awards 2009”, which was made from the numerous applications by an independent specialist jury. “The results are an expression of the innovation and capability of producers and institutions in Rheinhessen”, observed Ernst Walter Görisch, District Chief Executive of the District of Alzey-Worms.
“We were always aware of the high quality and diversity of our wine tourist selection. Now it is essential to spread this awareness throughout the world”, commented District Chief Executive Claus Schick of the District of Mainz-Bingen, on the results of the competition. A unanimous verdict was given by the jurors in the Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences category on the Interessensgemeinschaft “Urlaub beim Rheinhessenwinzer” [Joint venture “Holidays with Rheinhessen Winegrowers].
Fifty wine estates, which are certified in accordance with the guidelines of the German Tourism Association (DTV) have joined together in this organisation. “With its credo 'Acting jointly is better', it has succeeded in establishing wine tourism in Rheinhessen in an exemplary manner”, states the jury's summing up, which the international jury in Cape Town also endorsed.
http://www.rheinhessen.de/ig_urlaub_rheinhessenwinzer.html
In the Wine Tourism Services section, the jury's also unanimous vote was given to the “Kultur- und Weinbotschaftern Rheinhessens e.V.” [Rheinhessen's Cultural and Wine Ambassadors] for a pioneering project “that has brought Rheinhessen decisively to the fore and has made an impressive achievement.”
All the members of the initiative have undergone a sound training at the Rural Area Service Centre (DLR) in Oppenheim. The Organisation's objective is “to bring the people of the Rheinhessen region and Rheinhessen wines closer together.”
http://www.rheinhessen.de/kultur_und_weinbotschafter.html
Gebert' Weinstube [Gebert' Wine Tavern] in Mainz received the “Best of Wine Tourism Award 2009” in the Wine Tourism Restaurants division for its excellent, typical regional cuisine, its extensive wine list, focussing on Rhineland-Palatinate and its attractive ambience. The traditional 'Mainz living room' has long since developed into a top-ranking gastronomy address.
http://www.geberts-weinstuben.de/index.htm
The Visitors' Centre of the Sektkellerei Kupferberg has fascinated guests from all over the world for decades with its unique presentation from cultural history, art, craft work and wine cellar romanticism. Numerous special cultural events with readings, satirical cabaret shows and live music combine enjoyment, art and culture in an impressive manner. The undertaking received the award of best in the Art and Culture category for this achievement.
http://www.kupferbergterrasse.de/
A harmony of colours, furniture and light design awaits the traveller in the Gästehaus Ressler in Harxheim. The wine grower's house was the first guesthouse in Rheinhessen to receive a 5 star classification from the German Tourism Association. The Best of Wine Tourism Award jury gave its vote to this Harxheim establishment for the year 2009.
http://www.weingut-ressler.de/gaesteh.htm
The old manor house and Restaurant des Weinguts der Stadt Mainz [Wine Estate of the City of Mainz] in Harxheim received the award as “Complete Work of Art” in the Architecture, Parks and Gardens section. The tenants present a culinary symbiosis of refined cuisine and excellent wines in the old mansion dating from 1725. Local products with game and poultry are just as much the focus of attention as the typical regional wine specialities from Weingut Fleischer.
http://www.weingut-mainz.de/
Weingut und Gästehaus Lorenz received the Best award in the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices category. Work in the vineyard and cellar is carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the EU eco directive, utilising regenerable energies. Guests of the restaurant can gain an insight into agricultural work routines, and are integrated in a special manner. Oenophile relaxation supplements the overall concept of “gentle tourism”.
http://www.bioweingut-lorenz.de/
