Stellenbosch has been long known and coveted for its picturesque green mountains and seemingly endless vineyard vistas. Whether your visiting friends are from as far as Greenland or only from Gauteng, you’ll point them in the direction of Helshoogte pass or Route 44 for a wining and dining experience like no other. Now, the folks at Drinks International wholeheartedly agree and confirm that the Stellenbosch wine route is indeed the Best Promotional Body when it comes to wine tourism across the world when they snagged the award at the International Wine Tourism Challenge.

By Jana du Plessis

There were seven awards to be won – including ones for the Most Innovative Experience and Best Food And Wine Matching – with wineries, wine routes and wine events from all over the globe standing a chance to walk away victorious. The Stellenbosch Wine Route won its accolade on its informative and educational characteristics as well as its ability to play the role of a generic body that represents the region in and around the town of Stellenbosch.

The motivation behind the launch of The Wine Tourism Challenge was the merriness and social gatherings that wine drinking elicits and how the process of producing wine reaches and affects the end customer. As one of the Drinks International judges mentioned, ‘it captures the South African mood,’ and stays on the pulse with what the people visiting are looking for.

Competing against wineries in New Zealand, Chile, Italy and more, it’s safe to say that the Stellenbosch wine route has comfortably established South Africa as a world-class tourist destination with plenty of wining and dining to make everyone feel more than welcome.

For a list of all the winners, visit Drinks International.

Photography: Courtesy images