Monika Elias, The Klink Awards founder says, "South Africans are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do. We have among the best beaches in the world, hotels and restaurants that rival many Riviera's and food & wine that is unquestionably world-class. With so much option and quality on tap, this makes you - the wine lovers and intrepid travellers - the perfect judge to rate and review the wine industry's tourism endeavours."
Now in its third consecutive year, the awards works by encouraging locals to visit and review its 79 award nominees - pre-selected by a panel - across 16 categories between September and October 2014. "Then, using your one vote per person, per category, you can cast it on Klink's website or through its Facebook or Twitter feeds," explains Elias.
She goes on to say that Klink seeks to showcase the Winelands' hidden gems and off-the-beaten track adventures, as well as industry Grande Dames. "Our nominees range from the unknown to the well-known. This encourages voters to visit and vote for firm favourites like Waterkloof Wines as well as new-comers Cavalli and Silvermist," says Elias.
And just as the nominees vary, so too do the categories. There's the 'Comfort Zone' which awards casual dining on a wine farm, the 'Wild Card' for most unusual wine farm attraction or the "Tread Gently" for the greenest wine farm. "Vineyard trail runs or mountain bike events are now so popular that we've also added a Tracks & Trails category. It seeks to award the most memorable outdoors experience that requires wine lovers to expend some energy on a spectacularly scenic vineyard hike, a challenging wine farm bike trail or a spirited wine route horse ride."
And while a visit to the Winelands makes for a memorable day-trip or weekend getaway, Elias says that wine tourism plays a significant role in social development too.
"The industry, which creates 150 000 jobs, contributes over R5-billion to the local economy per year. Given driving domestic tourism is an important focus for the National Department of Tourism, as announced by Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom at the start of Tourism Month, increasing exposure of and participation in, wine tourism is paramount to its sustainability and growth."
Voting closes on 31 October 2014 so as to give Klink a few days to crunch the numbers and find out who its 16 winners are as well as the overall Supanova "aka the one wine-related experience that trumps all others with regards to its total votes, popularity, ingenuity and innovation!" explains Elias.
Last year new-comer, The Spice Route clinched the coveted consumer crown. "With their smorgasbord of things to do - from craft beer tasting, a chocolatier, fine-dining and glass-blowing studio, The Spice Route sets a high bar for the 2014 nominees to beat and is a shining example of the creativity and possibility that exists in the mushrooming wine tourism industry.
"Now it's up to you, their customers, to visit, review and vote for your 2014 favourites," concludes Elias.
All 17 Klink Awards winners will be revealed on 13th November at an event attended by the who's who in the wine and tourism industry.
For more, go to www.klinkawards.co.za.
