Benguela Cove Wins Innovative Wine Tourism Award

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate has won the Innovative Wine Tourism Experience of the Year in the Best of Wine Tourism Awards for 2024 for the Cape Winelands region. The Best Of Wine Tourism Awards recognise wineries in each of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network’s member cities for the excellence of their facilities, in seven different categories, from art and culture to sustainable wine tourism.

Located between the Bot River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, Benguela Cove offers visitors a world-class wine and hospitality experience. The estate's unique location provides ideal conditions for cultivating cool-climate grapes. Under winemaker Johann Fourie, Benguela Cove produces premium single-vineyard wines that showcase the terroir.

"We are delighted to be recognised for our innovative approach to wine tourism, and we thank the panel of judges," said estate owner Penny Streeter OBE. "From Hermanus whale-watching helicopter tours to eco-boat pontoon cruises, our latest introductions, we strive to create exceptional and memorable experiences for our guests."

Luxury holiday accommodation features architect-designed, oceanside villas, all with en-suite bedrooms, Wi-fi, swimming pools, indoor fireplaces and an outdoor braai.

The Innovative Wine Tourism award criteria focused on original activities that create a distinctive visitor experience. Benguela Cove's range of hospitality features stood out, including the on-site wine pairing at the Moody Lagoon restaurant and the Oyster and Seafood bar, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and fun activities for children, such as the adventure golf and Splash water park.

Benguela Cove also prioritises environmental sustainability, earning Conservation Champion status from the WWF. The estate practices eco-friendly farming and protects over 200 hectares of indigenous plants and wildlife.

The Hermanus wine farm ranks 53 in the top 100 of the World’s Best Vineyards 2023 and was the winner of Tim Atkin’s Cellar Door Experience of the Year Award. "This latest award celebrates our team's passion for innovation," said Streeter. "We look forward to continuing to pioneer new wine tourism experiences while protecting and showcasing our breathtaking natural setting."

A total of 81 wine estates across the Western Cape entered the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards 2024, all showcasing how they are elevating their wine tourism experiences for visitors, illustrating their region's rich culture, history, and wine heritage, and demonstrating their innovation and sustainability efforts. 

The judging entailed an in-depth review process, with applicants being evaluated and shortlisted based on their submitted application forms. The final decision was then made by a total of thirteen judges - a panel of seven wine tourism expert judges, three Wine Tourism Ambassador Award judges and three roving judges. 

To ensure a fair and thorough assessment, the expert judges conducted ghost site visits to all shortlisted wineries, allowing for an unbiased evaluation of the wine tourism experiences offered by each nominee. 

At the end of September, the panel of expert judges and roving judges convened to present their findings and determine the winners in each category. The process involved a careful consideration of various factors, including the quality of wine offerings, visitor experiences, sustainability initiatives, and overall excellence in wine tourism. 

Wine Awards

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, located in the Walker Bay region of South Africa, has earned numerous accolades for its premium wines in 2023. The estate won a gold medal at the prestigious Amorim Cap Classique Challenge for its Joie de Vivre 2019 Brut Méthode Cap Classique. This marks the third consecutive gold medal for Benguela Cove's Cap Classique wines.

Additionally, Benguela Cove wines received high ratings from renowned wine critic Tim Atkin MW in his 2023 South Africa report. Top-scoring wines included the Catalina Semillon 2021, Vinography Sauvignon Blanc 2022, and Syrah 2021.

The estate also earned double gold and gold medals across categories at the Michelangelo Wine and Spirits Competition. Other honours include national winner designations at the 2023 Terroir Awards, and a gold medal with a score of 97/100 for the Chardonnay 2022 at the Trophy Wine Show.  

For more information: www.benguelacove.co.za 

Ends

Editors notes

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, Hermanus, is a vineyard and wine tourism destination located in the Walker Bay region of South Africa. The Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group is owned by the Streeter family. The Benguela Collection includes Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens and Mannings Golf & Wine Estate in the UK.

It was founded by Penny Streeter OBE in 2013 when she acquired and developed the 543-acre Hermanus wine farm and residential estate at Benguela Cove, located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at the start of the Hermanus Wine Route.

The cellar-door wine hospitality experience includes luxury oceanside villa accommodation with every modern facility, including en suite bedrooms and a private swimming pool. There is also the ‘Moody Lagoon’ Hermanus restaurant, a seafood and oyster bar and a popular wine-tasting pontoon tour with beautiful views across the tranquil lagoon, protected by a sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean.

Guests can book cheese and chocolate pairings, winemaking experiences, and enjoy a programme of major art exhibitions, music and other year-round events, as well as children’s entertainment.

Cultivars are Sauvignon Blanc 45%, Shiraz 25% and others, to create some of the best South African wines.

Vineyard - Acquired in 2013; 170 acres; First vines planted in 2004; 350,000 bottles produced per year.