Raise a glass for SA wine tourism excellence
South Australia’s wine tourism operators and wine producers will vie for the chance to gain global recognition as nominations open for the 2027 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards.
A major showcase event in the global wine industry calendar, the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards shine a spotlight on the best wine tourism operators and wine producers from the Great Wine Capital Global Network’s (GWCGN) 11 member regions.
South Australia is celebrating 10 years as a member of the GWCGN, having cemented our state’s reputation on the world stage and secured international recognition that our premium wine regions are up there with the likes of fellow member regions Bordeaux and Napa Valley.
The 2027 Best of Wine Tourism Awards will celebrate outstanding hospitality, service and creativity across seven award categories:
- Accommodation
- Architecture and landscape
- Art and culture
- Culinary experiences
- Innovative wine tourism experiences
- Wine tourism services
- Sustainable wine tourism practices
All members of the Great Wine Capital Global Network run parallel awards, with local category winners going on to compete in the 2027 Global Best Of Wine Tourism Awards in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, which will be judged by an international jury.
Last year, McLaren Vale’s Maxwell Wines took home the global award for culinary experiences, in recognition of fine dining food and wine offerings made accessible through an elegant cellar door snack menu.
Applications have also opened for the next round of the Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program, which supports local wine industry professionals, researchers and academics to travel to other Great Wine Capitals and learn directly from international experts in their field.
The bursary program aims to enable local industry to gain experience and expertise in their chosen field and share their learnings upon their return to South Australia.
An additional bursary, supported by the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference (AWITC), provides South Australian wine industry professionals opportunities to explore technical innovations in the grape and wine industry in other Great Wine Capitals.
The South Australian Best Of Wine Tourism Awards and Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program are coordinated by the Great Wine Capitals’ South Australian steering committee, which includes representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), South Australian Tourism Commission, South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA), and Adelaide University.
South Australia’s Best Of Wine Tourism Awards will be presented in partnership with DrinkWise, an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works with the South Australian Government, industry and community organisations to promote responsible alcohol consumption.
For more information and to enter the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards or apply for the Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program, visit adelaidegreatwinecapital.com.au
Entries for the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards close on 10 July 2026, while applications for the Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program close on 3 July 2026.
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said, “We know that South Australian wine and wine tourism experiences are world-class, and the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards are one of the ways we can celebrate and share those experiences with the rest of the world.”
“Every year our wine tourism operators rub shoulders with the best of the best around the globe, helping to spread the word South Australia is a must-visit destination and attracting visitors to our state.”
“I look forward to once again seeing South Australian wine tourism shine on the world stage.”
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said South Australia is home to some of the world’s most outstanding wine regions and experiences.
“These awards are a fantastic opportunity for our wine tourism operators to showcase their innovation, passion and excellence on the global stage,” she said.
“I encourage our many fantastic wineries, tourism operators and businesses to take part in the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards and share the unique experiences that make South Australia a world-leading wine and tourism destination.”
“The Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursary Program also provides an invaluable opportunity for South Australian wine professionals to connect with international industry leaders, gain new insights and bring fresh ideas back to strengthen our local wine industry.”
“These events and opportunities are of particular importance for the wine industry at a time when it continues to diversify and seek new business and trade opportunities.”
DrinkWise CEO Simon Strahan said, “DrinkWise is proud to partner with the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards to recognise operators who are helping showcase South Australia’s world-class wine regions but also demonstrating responsible hospitality practices.
“Wine tourism is about more than what is in the glass. It is about the quality of the entire experience, the care shown to visitors and the memories people take away from a region.”
“Through the ‘Stay tasteful while tasting’ initiative, DrinkWise is helping cellar doors educate visitors and encourage moderate consumption in a way that is simple, practical and easy to embed into cellar doors.”
Jeremy Maxwell, general manager of Maxwell Wines said Winning the Great Wine Capitals Global Best Of Wine Tourism Award was a wonderful recognition of his team’s vision to make Maxwell not just a winery, but one of South Australia’s most compelling food and wine destinations.
“By bringing the creativity of our restaurant into the cellar door, we’re able to offer guests an experience that’s both accessible and world-class,” he said.
“The awards program provides an opportunity to be recognised for creative wine tourism initiatives and, as a category winner, to represent your country on an international stage at the Global Best Of Wine Tourism Awards.”
Dr Mark Krstic, Chair of the AWITC Executive Committee and Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute said, “The Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference is proud to support one of the Great Wine Capitals Outbound Knowledge Exchange Bursaries, helping a member of the South Australian wine industry travel overseas to learn about new wine industry innovations and share this knowledge with the broader industry on their return.”