There is more to the life of a Nouvelle-Aquitaine vineyard than just wine. You can talk about it, welcome visitors to the facility, promote environmentally friendly winemaking practices, or offer discoveries and services that reveal an overall quality approach by professionals.
It is for this commitment that Château Mauvinon in Saint-Sulpice de Valeyrens (Gironde), like 22 other wine tourism destinations in the region, has been awarded the title of Best Of Wine Tourism 2024.
In Mauvinon, biological control, green fertilizers, secrets
biodynamics and tit boxes in the vineyard or sulphite-free winemaking in the cellars are practices carried out every morning. The rooftop terrace, called Le Nichoir de Mauvinon, perched above the vineyards is dedicated to birdwatching and allows you to participate in the Bird Protection League census.
Between tasting a glass of organic wine and observing through binoculars, the experience is unique. The Mauvinon lounge is also renowned for its sustainability, immersing itself in the world of second-hand goods and ecology, among recycled furniture, antique decorations, a reupholstered family sofa or a bar made from recycled materials.
No fewer than 23 wine tourism destinations in New Aquitaine have advanced to the Best of Wine Tourism 2024 ranking. The titles were awarded on Monday 9 October at the Bordeaux Gironde Chamber of Commerce in the presence of representatives from the other capitals of the Grands Vignobles (Porto, Verona and Bilbao) which they are also part of the Best of wine tourism approach. This recognition is based on original criteria such as an authentic welcome to visitors, innovative presentation of local heritage and quality service.
Seven of them won the Golden Best Of, which allows them to continue competing at international level and seek the International Best of or People’s choice award 2024 titles together with the winners of the other Grands Vignobles capitals (Adelaide in Australia, Bilbao in Spain, Cape Town in South Africa, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, Lausanne, Switzerland, Mainz, Germany, Mendoza, Argentina, Porto, Portugal, San Francisco, United States, Valparaíso, Chile, and Verona, Italy, selected at the Network’s annual general meeting on October 26 in Lausanne.
The Best Of d’Or from Bordeaux will also compete for the “People’s Choice Award 2024”, an award given by the general public who will vote online for their favorite site from October 30 to November 13.
Suffice it to see that the delay that Bordeaux vineyards fell in terms of wine production compared to other regions of the world and that motivated the creation of this network by Bordeaux resident Jean Larrieu in 1999 is now fulfilled. “This experience has enabled a high level of quality exchanges between these regions, discovering the quality of the terroir and the beauty of these regions,” emphasizes Jean Larrieu today, on the occasion of twenty years of Best of.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine 2024 winners
Architecture and landscape: Château Montlabert in Saint-Emilion (gold); Portets Castle in Portets; Château de Malherbes in Lastrennes; Château Desmirail in Margaux.
Arts and Culture: Château Castera in St-Germain-d’Esteuil (Or); Château La Fleur de Boüard in Néac; Château Siran in Labarde.
Discovery and Innovation: Château Rol Valentin in St-Etienne-de-Lisse (gold); Château Lamothe-Cissac in Cissac-Médoc; Flaning Béarn in Lacommande (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
Meals in the facility: Château Malartic-Lagravière in Léognan (Or); Château La Rose Pourret in Saint-Emilion.
Accommodation in the building: Château Fage in Arveyres (Or); Château Laffitte Carcasset in St-Estèphe; Château Tourteau Chollet in Arbanates.
Environmental practices: Château Mauvinon in St-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens (Or); Château Thieuley in La Sauve; Green bubbles in Bordeaux.
Wine tourism services: Château Giscours in Labarde (Or); Château de Rouillac in Canéjan; XO Madame in cognac; Maison du Vin de Blaye in Blaye.
Most popular jury: Arbo Castle in the Mountain.