Porto Celebrates Regional Excellence at Best Of Wine Tourism 2026 Awards

The Forte de São João Batista in Foz do Douro was the setting this Wednesday for the announcement of the Best Of Wine Tourism 2026 awards, recognizing leading wine tourism projects in the Porto, Douro, and Vinhos Verdes regions. The event, organized by the Porto City Council as part of the international Great Wine Capitals network, highlighted excellence and innovation across several categories, including sustainability, gastronomy, art, and tourism services.

This year marks the 24th edition of the Best Of Wine Tourism awards. The competition drew 83 applications from across the region. A local jury of nine experts selected seven regional winners and granted nine honorable mentions. The awards aim to honor organizations that offer authentic experiences and demonstrate a commitment to quality, tradition, and creativity in wine tourism.

The regional winners for 2026 include Quinta do Ameal for Accommodation; Casa do Santo Wine & Tourism for Architecture and Landscape; Quanta Terra Douro for Art and Culture; Pedro Lemos for Gastronomic Experiences; Vesúvio & Bomfim Experience for Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences; Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta for Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices; and Quinta da Torre, Anselmo Mendes for Wine Tourism Services. Honorable mentions were also given to several other estates and projects that stood out in their respective categories.

The Porto City Council has played a central role in promoting wine tourism as a strategic pillar for regional development. By supporting initiatives like these awards, the council aims to position Porto, Douro, and Vinhos Verdes as internationally recognized destinations. The city acts as a gateway to these regions, encouraging visitors to explore beyond urban areas and discover the diversity of local wine culture.

The Great Wine Capitals network was founded in 1999 and now includes 11 member cities and regions worldwide: Porto (Portugal), Adelaide (Australia), Bilbao-Rioja (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand), Lausanne (Switzerland), Mainz-Rheinhessen (Germany), Mendoza (Argentina), San Francisco-Napa Valley (USA), Valparaíso-Casablanca Valley (Chile), and Verona (Italy). The network promotes collaboration among cities with significant wine industries to foster economic growth through tourism.

Winners from each region will now advance to an international stage. Between November 2nd and 6th, a global jury will select an overall winner from among the regional honorees. This next phase is expected to further raise the profile of the Porto, Douro, and Vinhos Verdes regions on the world stage.

In addition to the awards themselves, Porto has launched the Best Of Club – Porto initiative. This program brings together past winners to encourage collaboration among wine tourism promoters. The goal is to reinforce excellence in the sector while increasing both national and international visibility for local producers and experiences.

Over time, these efforts have contributed to a more sustainable and balanced approach to tourism in northern Portugal. By recognizing both tradition and innovation, the Best Of Wine Tourism awards continue to shape how visitors experience one of Europe’s most storied wine regions.