The Best of Wine Tourism Award of the Great Wine Capitals is an annual award presented by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. Once a year, wine producers, companies from tourism, gastronomy and the hotel industry from the member regions take part in the competition. First, the best are determined in a preliminary decision at national level, after which the winners face an international comparison. In various categories - from „art and culture“ and „hosts“ to „sustainable wine tourism“ - committed players are recognized for their outstanding achievements every year.
In four episodes, we will introduce you to the establishments that stand out this year with their special wine tourism offers.
Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2026 in the „Sustainability in Wine Tourism“ category: K. & K. Dautermann Winery
The K.&K. Dautermann Winery is a typical Rhine-Hessian family-owned winery that produces excellent red wines in Ingelheim, the “red wine town.” Perhaps not quite so typical after all: Klaus Dautermann, the son, was born with Down syndrome—which is why the issue of inclusion plays a major role at the winery.
But how do you communicate this important topic? How do you talk about the „big white elephant“ in the room? The best way is to tell a story using a striking symbol.
When winemaker Kristian Dautermann introduced his winery to wine distribution expert Axel Gesser, Gesser was very impressed by the concept of inclusion in viticulture.
Sometimes all it takes is a spark, and suddenly a great idea is born. By chance, a few days after meeting Kristian Dautermann, Axel Gesser runs into the Artist and „Blauschäfer“ Rainer Bonk, who, under the patronage of the European Parliament, created the performance art project „The Blue Sheep Peace Flock“ to promote mutual understanding and tolerance. The unmistakable symbol has been found!
The project will launch in 2022 „Blue Sheep Wine“: The first „integration wines“ are being bottled with Blauschaf labels. Dautermann is offering four wines in this special edition: a Pinot Noir red wine, a Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir, a Chardonnay-Pinot Blanc white wine cuvée, and a Pinot Blanc sparkling wine. „The response to our project has been overwhelming: both private and corporate customers are reacting extremely positively!“ say Kristian Dautermann and Axel Gesser.
Authentic Terroir: The grapes come from the Ingelheimer Kirchenstück monopole—a historic, top-tier vineyard.
„I’m the older one!“ Klaus Dautermann emphasizes when he shows visitors around the winery. Inclusion is evident here: Several times a year, people with disabilities from „in.Betrieb“ help out at the winery with work in the vineyard and enjoy working outdoors. „Mutual respect—that’s our ‚message in a bottle!‘“ emphasizes farm manager Kristian Dautermann. Sam, a former employee of „in operation“, is now a permanent employee at the winery.
The work involved in running a winery is particularly well-suited for people with disabilities—and there are several examples of this in the international wine world.
The project is not intended as a marketing tool—the integration team delivers genuine quality and tells an authentic story. The Dautermann Winery donates a portion of the proceeds from the Blauschafwein project to the inclusive workplace „in.Betrieb“ in Ingelheim. A winery as a „best practice“ example of inclusion—this project is also of interest to companies: many support the Blauschaf project. Once a year, the partner companies meet at the winery for the „Social Days.“.
Sustainability is a recurring theme at Dautermanns—from the work in the vineyard to how they treat people: Kristian’s mother, Karin, is a wonderful hostess; she welcomes guests and looks after them the guesthouse.
And let’s not forget: This family-owned winery, with a tradition spanning more than 125 years, produces highly acclaimed red and white wines—primarily Burgundy varieties—on approximately 17 hectares. The quality of the wines forms the foundation for sustainability.
The K.&K. Dautermann Winery has been awarded the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2026 in the „Sustainability in Wine Tourism“ category. The expert jury recognized the winery for its „genuine inclusion of people with disabilities.“.
