Stories of the nominees

From the Northern tropic to the Southern tropic

Mexico/South Africa/Sweden/Cuba/Italy

By the fourth release of the award, the Wine Travel Awards team has analyzed the geography of the project and made a comforting conclusion: it covers 44 countries and, though it does not reach the extreme poles of the Earth, it extends from the Northern tropic to the Southern tropic.

This year, the bright star of the Northern Tropics zone is the Mexican winery Dos Búhos.

Dos Búhos

If you are heading to Mexico to explore its winemaking, this is definitely the place that you must visit! Dos Búhos is an organic family winery located in the highlands of Mexico, in the heart of San Miguel de Allende, at an altitude of 2,000 meters. In addition to traditional still wines, you should taste Pet Nat and Orange, created from grape varieties adapted to the high-altitude conditions with a cool climate. The main grape varieties include Tempranillo, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, as well as varieties which are less common in Mexico – such as Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. In addition to tasting very unique wines, tourists can also encounter art here: winemakers collaborate with local artists and offer creative exhibitions in the production facilities’ interiors.

Well, it should be emphasized that a dramatically different experience is offered to wine lovers by a country from the Southern Tropics – South Africa, which is nominated for the “Region of the Year” award by the South Africa Wine organization, with the support of Wines of South Africa. Thus, if you prefer South African wines, we suggest that you should vote for it.

South Africa’s wine tourism offers are as diverse and captivating as its landscapes. With 23 unique wine routes stretching from the historic Cape Winelands to the coastal and inland regions, wine tourists are treated to a wealth of experiences going beyond the glass of wine, albeit a great one. Each route offers a unique combination of world-class wines, scenic landscapes, and warm hospitality. Whether you are in the lush valleys of Stellenbosch, the rugged beauty of the Cederberg or the enchanting Hermanus Coast, there’s plenty to discover. In addition to wine, South Africa’s regional cuisine creates a magical culinary landscape. And meeting the San people – South Africa’s oldest representatives of indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures – is a truly unforgettable experience. The spirit of “ubuntu”, a philosophy of unity and generosity is evident everywhere, adding a unique charm to each experience. This philosophy has also been embraced by winemakers who practice environmentally friendly agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and a culture based on respect for all those who are growing vines and making wines.

South Africa

Located in the Cape Floral Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the vineyards are home to over 9,500 plant species, 70% of which are endemic. A wine tour to South Africa is one of the world’s best destinations.

Incidentally, the experienced guides in charge of this direction are Britt Karlsson & Per Karlsson from Sweden – owners of the travel agency, our nominee, which is also worthy of your support in the voting.

BKWine Tours

On the Home | BKWine Magazine | resource, run by these experienced travelers, you can find not only tour offers, but also many interesting articles about South African winemaking.

We should note that another wine writer from Sweden is participating in this year’s awards – Kari Brovall.

Kari Brovall

His specialization is marketing; so he develops unique stories for wine brands, having worked in the wine industry for almost 30 years. In particular, he has managed the commercial strategy of such global brands as Fondberg, Miguel Torres, Taittinger Champagne, La Rioja Alta, etc.

If we talk about the project’s geography and polarity of locations, then it would probably be appropriate to mention a newcomer to the community – influencer from Cuba Jenny Viant Gomez. She is nominated in two categories.

Jenny Viant Gomez

Jenny Viant Gomez is currently based in Italy; she emphasizes her recent trip to the Spanish region of Castilla y León as her latest achievement. Jenny’s vivid experience was demonstrated during the VinoInfluencers World Awards 2024, where 150 of the world’s best wine communicators gathered to explore, taste, and share the magic of Spanish wine culture. The adventure began in Madrid and took participants aboard a magnificent wine train, from which journalists admired the landscapes of Castilla y León and tasted the best examples of this region, which has 9 DOs – a significant heritage of excellent winemaking.

Read the posts of our nominees, travel with them online and in real life, taste and learn about the wines of our magical planet – and be happy! And because we don’t want you to be eaten up with guilt – don’t forget to vote for the Wine Travel Awards nominees))).

Stay connected with Wine Travel Awards: