ExperienciasyMas, a Spanish publishing house that focuses on creating awareness and circulating information on luxury and charming hotels across the globe, has announced winners of the 2009 Wine Hotel Awards, given to the ten best wine hotels and wine cellar hotels in southern Europe.

Hotels nestled among vineyards, castles in viticultural areas, wine tastings and visits to cellars, winetheraphy treatments or a first class gastronomical offer were taken into account when nominating and awarding these hotels. Winners are, of course, located in stunning, unrivalled landscapes.

Among the hotels awarded in this 2009 edition we can find four hotels located in Spain, three in France, two in Portugal and one in Italy. Those situated in the Spanish peninsula include Marques de Riscal in the Rioja region, the Peralada Wine Spa & Golf  Hotel in the Catalan region of Emporda, the Hacienda Zorita in the thriving Arribes del Duero area and the Read’s Hotel in Mallorca.

This year additional points were given to those participants who were contributing to the development of quality in the hotel industry, their efforts to create oenotourism awareness and for attention to detail in their oenogastronomical offer and levels of excellence.

All nominated hotels were scrutinized and awarded points by the portal’s users as well as travel experts from www.experienciasymas.com. Online users could send in comments and value the hotels’ level of service and facilities.

Portugal’s contribution includes the Aquapura Hotel in the Valle del Douro and the Casa da Calcada in the Oporto region. On the French side, their characteristic chateaux among vineyards are represented by the Chateau de Bagnols, the Chateau de Berne and Les Sources de Caudalie. Finally Italy and its magnificent Hotel L’Andana in the region of Tuscany situated in a unique landscape of olive trees and vines. The hotel boasts an excellent gastronomical offer, featuring renowned chef Alain Duccase.