Muriel Wines' Fundación MAGA Wins International Best Of Wine Tourism Award 2027

The solidarity-driven wine tourism project at Conde de los Andes has been recognised by Great Wine Capitals in the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices category, an award celebrating outstanding initiatives from the world's leading wine regions.

Muriel Wines' Fundación MAGA has received the Best Of Wine Tourism Global Award 2027, one of the most prestigious international distinctions in the wine tourism industry, presented by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. The award recognises the solidarity-driven wine tourism project developed by the Foundation at Conde de los Andes, in Ollauri (La Rioja, Spain), where wine heritage and international cooperation come together to support communities in Cambodia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The award was announced during the 26th Annual Conference of Great Wine Capitals, held in Hawke's Bay (New Zealand), just a few weeks after Fundación MAGA received the Best Of Wine Tourism Bilbao-Rioja 2027 award in the same category on 8 October. This double recognition is a source of immense pride for the Murúa Gangutia family and the entire Muriel Wines team, as it brings international recognition to a project born from a family commitment that continues to grow more than 16 years later.

The Social Impact of Wine Tourism Recognised Internationally

Each year, the Best Of Wine Tourism Global Awards honour outstanding projects from the eleven leading wine regions that make up the Great Wine Capitals network, including Bordeaux, Porto, Mendoza, Napa Valley and Bilbao-Rioja. This year, the international jury particularly valued Fundación MAGA's ability to integrate the social dimension of sustainability into the wine tourism experience, demonstrating how wine tourism can also become a powerful tool for cooperation and development.

Within the historic underground cellars of Conde de los Andes, whose origins date back to the 16th century, Fundación MAGA has a dedicated space where visitors can discover its work through photographs, videos and real stories from the communities it supports. The experience offers visitors an opportunity to explore not only the winery's heritage and wines, but also the educational and social projects that the Foundation has been developing since 2009.

This philosophy is brought to life through solidarity wine tours held on the first Saturday of every month, combining heritage, wine, gastronomy and social commitment. Alongside these experiences, the Foundation produces and sells charity wines, including Poipet, named after the Cambodian town where its work first began. 100% of the proceeds from these visits and charity wines go directly towards funding the Foundation's cooperation projects, turning every visit and every bottle into an opportunity to make a difference.

Over 16 Years of Commitment and International Cooperation

Fundación MAGA was established in 2009 by the Murúa Gangutia family in memory of their mother, with the aim of improving the lives of children and young people in developing countries. What began as a family initiative has grown into an international cooperation project focused primarily on education and vocational training, with activities in Cambodia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Its initiatives include the construction and improvement of schools, water wells and sanitation facilities, alongside educational and vocational training programmes designed to improve living conditions in local communities. Among these is Casa Leone, a hospitality training project in Sierra Leone whose first group of students graduated in May 2026. Through these initiatives, Fundación MAGA seeks to create opportunities that not only transform the lives of children and young people but also have a positive impact on their families and the wider communities to which they belong.

An Award That Strengthens Fundación MAGA's Commitment

For the Murúa Gangutia family, this award holds particular emotional significance. It recognises not only a distinctive approach to wine tourism but also more than 16 years of dedication during which solidarity has become an increasingly important part of Muriel Wines' identity. Receiving this recognition alongside projects from some of the world's leading wine regions is a source of great pride and an opportunity to raise international awareness of Fundación MAGA's work.

Muriel Wines and Fundación MAGA wish to share this achievement with all the individuals, organisations and partners who have supported the Foundation over the years, as well as everyone who contributes to its projects through the solidarity wine tours and charity wines. Both organisations also extend their gratitude to Great Wine Capitals for recognising an initiative that demonstrates how wine heritage, wine culture and solidarity can come together within a single project.

This award provides renewed motivation to continue working with the same conviction that inspired the creation of Fundación MAGA: that education and opportunity can transform lives, and that the world of wine can also play a meaningful role in making that possible.