Qualmark is proud to announce Kinross, located in Gibbston, Otago, has been named the first-ever recipient of the 2024 Qualmark New Zealand Wine Tourism Award. The prestigious award that recognises the significant role that wine tourism plays in New Zealand’s visitor economy, was presented at the Altogether Unique 2024 Industry Celebration dinner in Wellington.
“Qualmark would like to extend a huge congratulations to Nicky Sygrove and the Kinross team for taking out this award. This award celebrates wineries that offer excellent visitors experiences and Kinross is a fantastic example of this” says Qualmark General Manager Steven Dixon.
The award gives special attention to vineyards that offer sustainable tourism experiences, consider their impact on the environment and people.
The judges were particularly impressed by the specific ways Kinross has improved its tourism and hospitality offerings, including engaging cultural advisors to craft tailored experiences that cater to a range of diverse markets, including Asian and American guests. They have ensured that all visitors can fully enjoy the facilities by providing comprehensive disabled access across all venues, including accommodation rooms. They have adopted Destination Queenstown’s 2030 carbon zero goal to support their sustainability commitments and their dedication to staff wellbeing was clear through providing free staff lunches, leadership development and a life skills training programme.
The competition was fierce, with The Landing Wine from the Bay of Islands and Wrights Vineyard and Winery from Gisborne also making it to the final round. Each finalist impressed the judges with their commitment to hospitality, sustainability initiatives, and care for their communities and staff. However, as judge Stephanie Holmes, Lifestyle and Travel Editor for New Zealand Herald noted, “Our three finalists all demonstrated excellence across our judging criteria, making it a very tough call to narrow it down to a winner. Ultimately, Kinross came out on top, thanks to their comprehensive entry that painted a clear picture of their business, its values, and how they are put into practice. Kinross offers a world-class experience while still retaining a unique 'only in New Zealand' wow-factor.”
“New Zealand is home to world-class wine producers, wineries and cellar doors. Many travelers visit wineries during their time here, creating enthusiastic ambassadors who spread the word about our wine experiences when they return home. Qualmark remains committed to supporting New Zealand’s wine story and wine tourism which contributes to New Zealand’s appeal as a unique and remarkable destination for international visitors,” says Mr Dixon.
Charlotte Read, GM Brand of New Zealand Winegrowers, stressed the significance of this award in the current landscape, saying, “It's an exciting time for wine tourism here in New Zealand. With modernised legislation recently passed that now allows more wineries to offer the wine tourism experiences our guests expect, the future is bright. New Zealand Winegrowers and Qualmark share a strong alignment in celebrating excellence and supporting continuous improvement in wine tourism. We are thrilled that Qualmark hosted their inaugural Wine Tourism Award at the annual New Zealand Winegrowers Industry Celebration held at Te Papa last night. Congratulations to Kinross – an excellent example of how the wine tourism sector adds value and builds year-round appeal for New Zealand as a premium visitor destination.”
As part of their award, Kinross will receive a complimentary one-year Qualmark membership, a Tourism New Zealand press media kit featuring their profile to be shared with all Tourism New Zealand offshore markets, and a feature post on Tourism New Zealand's social media channels, highlighting their food and wine offerings.
“Thank you to all the wineries across New Zealand who entered this award, we were impressed by your enthusiasm and commitment to delivering excellent visitor experiences. We look forward to building on our strong partnership with New Zealand Winegrowers by highlighting the many exceptional wineries and cellar doors. This event marks the beginning of a new chapter in celebrating excellence in New Zealand’s wine tourism sector, and we eagerly anticipate the 2025 edition,” concludes Mr Dixon.