A total of 22 SA wineries across six regions have been named as finalists in this year's SA Best of Wine Tourism Awards.
Nominees were announced by Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone at a recent visit to previous winner Kalleske Wines, located in the Barossa Valley.
The shortlisted wineries, from regions including the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the Riverland have been nominated for their pursuit of excellence in promoting the SA wine experience.
"It is fantastic to see a diverse list of wineries, wine tourism experiences and wine regions throughout the state nominated as part of these awards," Mr Whetstone said.
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"SA is Australia's wine state, producing 50 per cent of the nation's bottled wine and about 80 per cent of premium wine, with our $2.15 billion wine industry inextricably linked to the state's character and a wonderful tourism asset.
"At any one time we have almost one billion bottles of wine on tables and in cellars around the world with the state's name on them," he said.
Finalists include:
- Accommodation: Beresford House (McLaren Vale); Lanzerac Country Estate (Barossa); Woodstock Wines (McLaren Vale)
- Architecture & Landscape: Kimbolton (Langhorne Creek); Chapel Hill (McLaren Vale)
- Art & Culture: Coriole Vineyards (McLaren Vale); Bird in Hand (Adelaide Hills)
- Innovative Wine Tourism Experience - d'Arenberg (McLaren Vale); St Hugo (Barossa); Shaw + Smith (Adelaide Hills)
- Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices: Kalleske Wines (Barossa); 919 Wines (Riverland); Gemtree Wines (McLaren Vale); Jacob's Creek (Barossa)
- Wine Tourism Restaurants: Hentley Farm Restaurant (Barossa); Hollick Estates (Coonawarra); Maxwell Wines (McLaren Vale); Mallee Estate Wines (Riverland)
- Wine Tourism Services: Elderton (Barossa); Penfolds Magill Estate (Adelaide Hills); Pindarie Wines (Barossa); Yalumba Family Winemakers (Barossa)
Local winners for each of the seven categories will be announced in September, and will be in the running against nominees from nine other global wine capitals to win an International Best of Wine Tourism Award.
The international awards will be announced as part of the Great Wine Capitals Network Annual Conference in Bordeaux, France, held in November.
SA has competed well at these awards in the past, with previous winners of the international award including d'Arenberg, McLaren Vale, last year, Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley, in 2016 and Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Hills, in 2017.
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