Isaac Muga, honoured at the 7th Wine Tourism Awards of the Spanish Wine Routes

Isaac Muga, honoured at the 7th Wine Tourism Awards of the Spanish Wine Routes
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On 15 November, the winners of the 7th Wine Tourism Awards of the Wine Routes of Spain were presented with their prizes at a ceremony held at the Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Centre (Madrid). The gala closed with the special award for Merit in Wine Tourism, which recognises the work and career of a person involved in wine tourism and who has made a special contribution to its development. This year’s award went to Isaac Muga Caño, from Bodegas Muga, on the Rioja Alta Wine Route. Several members of the Muga family came to present Isaac Muga to collect the award, including Isaac Muga Palacín, technical director and oenologist at Bodegas Muga, who thanked the audience for the award on behalf of his father, who could not be present, and praised his father’s pioneering work in the construction of one of the first wine tourism offers in the country: ‘I remember that we opened the winery without knowing whether or not anyone was going to come’.

Inmaculada Aguado-Muñoz, head of the support unit of the General Directorate of Tourism Policies of the Secretary of State for Tourism and representatives of the 37 Wine Routes of Spain were present along with the winners of this edition, hosted by journalist Ana Blanco. During the tribute, the wine tourism projects of establishments and initiatives belonging to the Wine Routes of Alicante, Arribes, Campo de Cariñena, La Garnacha, Madrid, Marco de Jerez, Montilla-Moriles, Penedés, Rías Baixas, Ribera del Duero, Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta, Rueda, Somontano and Zamora were recognised.

Inmaculada Aguado-Muñoz, head of the support unit of the Directorate General for Tourism Policies of the Secretary of State for Tourism, who came on behalf of one of the national bodies working with ACEVIN and the Wine Routes of Spain, conveyed to the audience ‘the deep pride of supporting the Wine Routes of Spain from the Secretary of State of Government’, a tourism product club ‘pioneer and that highlights the richness and diversity of our country and positions us on the international map as a destination of quality, sustainable and inclusive experiences’, he said. ‘It is especially gratifying to see how the efforts of this product club translate into job creation and opportunities for economic and social development in multiple municipalities, promoting cohesion and territorial structuring’.

For her part, Rosa Melchor, president of ACEVIN, who opened the gala by asking for applause for all those affected by the DANA, highlighted the work carried out over the years in all the Wine Routes of Spain, ‘taking quality as the basis for everything we undertake’. ‘This is what has allowed us to continue to grow and to be increasingly valued,’ he said. He also underlined the ‘powerful projects in which we are immersed thanks to the NextGenerationUE funds, which will allow us to be even more competent in terms of digitalisation, training and communication’.

The protagonists of the gala, the award winners in this 7th edition, competed among a total of 123 proposals submitted, from nominations from 27 of the 37 Wine Routes that currently make up the Wine Routes of Spain brand. The awards were given to:

  • Best Wine Tourism Initiative: ENOTURISMO A PEDALES (Rías Baixas Wine Route)
  • Best Promotional Action: ROAD TRIP FOR SOULS FOODIES (Montilla-Moriles Wine Route)
  • Best Sustainable and Responsible Wine Tourism Destination: GREEN FLAG (La Garnacha Wine Route)
  • Best Wine Tourism Municipality: PEÑAFIEL (Ribera del Duero Wine Route)
  • Best Winery Open to Tourism: BODEGA ENATE (Somontano Wine Route)
  • Best Wine Tourism Accommodation: CASA GRAN 1771 BOUTIQUE WINERY HOTEL DE BODEGA MONTRUBÍ (Penedès Wine Route)
  • est Gastronomic Offer: GASTROBODEGA MARTÍN BERASATEGUI (Rueda Wine Route)
  • Best Wine Tourism Establishment: POSADA REAL CASTILLO DEL BUEN AMOR (Zamora Wine Route)
  • Best Wine Tourism Experience: NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS. TORRES FAMILY (Penedès Wine Route)
  • Best Wine Tourism Spot or Landscape: BODEGAS FILLABOA (Rías Baixas Wine Route)
  • Commitment to Sustainability: ‘12 MONTHS, 12 WINES, 12 CAUSES. THE CAUSES OF VITORINO EGUREN’ BODEGAS EGUREN UGARTE (Rioja Alavesa Wine Route)
  • Promotion of Inclusive Wine Tourism: MUSEUM OF AROMAS (Ribera del Duero Wine Route)
  • Protection and Enhancement of Heritage: PANADERÍA LUIS ÁNGEL (Campo de Cariñena Wine Route)

Along with the prizes, the jury of these VII Wine Tourism Awards Wine Routes of Spain also awarded a series of Special Mentions:

  • Best Wine Tourism Municipality: ENOTURISMO PARA TOD@S (Wine and Brandy del Marco de Jerez Wine Route) and SINGULAR TASTINGS IN UNIQUE PLACES (Rueda Wine Route).
  • Best Wine Tourism Establishment: VINSEUM (Penedès Wine Route)
  • Best Wine Tourism Site: TIERRA CALMA (Madrid Wine Route. Madrid Enoturismo)
  • Commitment to Sustainability: PEPE MENDOZA CASA AGRÍCOLA (Alicante Wine Route)
  • Protection and Enhancement of Heritage: LA TANGUILLA (Ribera del Duero Wine Route) and EL HATO Y EL GARABATO (Arribes Wine Route)

 

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