RResponsible
Responsible with the natural environment that wine landscapes depend on — soil, water, biodiversity and heritage.
About the organization
The global home of responsible enotourism.
GWTO — together with GWTO Academy — is a worldwide network where entities and independent professionals from the public, private and academic sectors work toward a single shared goal: advancing responsible, sustainable and satisfying wine tourism in every producing region.
The Framework
Three letters that define every GWTO destination.
R
SSustainable
Sustainable over time — economically viable for growers, villages and regional operators, not just a seasonal trend.
SSatisfying
Satisfying for both visitors and local residents — experiences that welcome guests without hollowing out the community.
Together: Responsible RSS EnoTourism® — the shared commitment every member signs up to.
Mission
Socio-economic development of wine-producing regions.
Objective
Wine regions, transitioned into responsible destinations.
The Strategic Plan
Five interlocking pillars.
Each pillar carries one line of action — together they turn the RSS framework into tangible impact for destinations, operators and travellers.
IGWTO Academy
Research & Education.
A comprehensive training programme on Responsible RSS Wine & Food Tourism Management — co-built with leading universities, delivered locally by partner institutions across three continents.
- Modular curriculum for wineries, destinations and guides
- Active campuses in China, Mexico and Argentina
- Research feeds directly into GWTO governance
IIGWTO MICE
International Promotion.
Summits, forums and festivals that surface regional heritage on the world stage. Three Global Summits and counting — Uruguay 2024, China 2025, Portugal 2026 — with 2027 already in candidate review.
- Annual GWTO Global Summit on Responsible Enotourism
- Wine Islands EnoTourism Festivals
- Bidding open for 2027, 2028 and 2029 host destinations
IIIBiosphere® Certificate
Recognition.
International certification for destinations and establishments meeting the twelve criteria of Responsible RSS Wine & Food Tourism — the visible mark of credibility for travellers and stakeholders.
- 12 measurable, auditable criteria
- Yantai certified · Alentejo and Ningxia in progress
- Four-stage process from self-assessment to gold
IVEnoTourismClub — More Than Tourism®
Commercialization.
Biosphere-certified Wine & Food tourism experiences featured on EnoTourismClub, GWTO's global booking platform connecting certified operators directly with travellers.
- Certified-only listings
- Direct connection to travellers worldwide
- Supports Biosphere-recognised regions
VGWTO Economic Monitor
Business Intelligence.
The Global Wine & Food Tourism Economic Monitor® — destinations and operators contribute data to a shared evidence base for policymakers, investors and regional planners.
- Reference framework for wine-tourism analytics
- Aggregates regional contributions worldwide
- Powers strategic decisions for governments and operators
Structure
GWTO Corporate Chart.
Governance, management, regional leadership and operational divisions in a single view — from the Governing Board down to MICE, Booking and Research.
GWTOCorporate Chart
Advisory Body
Governing BoardPresident
Administration
Legal
Management BodyCEO
GWTO AcademyRegional Directors
IIRR Development
Marketing
Communication
GWTORegional Directors
Country Delegates
Country Delegates
Research
Education
Branding
Data
Int'l Certificate
Papers
Training
MICE
Product
Booking
Leadership
A team spanning five continents.
Regional directors coordinate activities across LatAm, Eastern Asia, EurAsia, Africa, Western Europe, Oceania and North America.
JV
José Antonio Vidal
Founder President · CEO
RA
Rafael Ansón
President of Honor
CH
Coralie Haller
GWTO Academy Director
PS
Pablo Singerman
Regional Director·LatAm
MC
Margaret Chen
Regional Director·Eastern Asia
MN
Marieah Nieuwoudt
Regional Director·Africa
EW
Erik Wolf
Regional Director·Western Europe
RS
Robin Shaw
Regional Director·Oceania
DF
David Furer
Regional Director·North America
Why Join Us
Whoever you are, there's a way in.
International recognition
Earn the GWTO–Biosphere® Certificate — a credibility mark recognised by travellers, investors and partners.
Global stage
Place your destination on the Wine & Food Tourism world map across summits, members and the booking platform.
Coo-petition
Compete while collaborating — every member's success raises the standard for the wider region.
Pillar III · Biosphere®
A certificate the landscape earns first.
The Certification Pathway
The Biosphere® Certificate.
The international certification that distinguishes destinations and establishments committed to Responsible, Sustainable and Satisfying Wine & Food Tourism — measured against twelve criteria across service quality, environmental impact, accessibility, local economy and cultural identity.
Four-stage process · green to gold
Certification Process
From plan to Biosphere®.
A continuous journey: self-assessment, audit eligibility, verification and international recognition.
1
Step 01
Sustainable Responsibility Plan
On-line access to the GWTO Biosphere® methodology and know-how for the identification of good practices across the entity.
2
Step 02
Unlock the Audit Service
Provide the respective evidence against each criterion. Once audit eligibility is confirmed, the process is scheduled — taking up to 20 working days.
3
Step 03
Biosphere® Audit Process
Documentation review, gap assessment, areas requiring improvement, recommendations — completed with a face-to-face verification visit.
4
Step 04
Biosphere® Certificate
On successfully passing the audit and fulfilling the criteria, the International GWTO Biosphere® Certificate is officially awarded.
- 1
Step 01
Sustainable Responsibility Plan
On-line access to the GWTO Biosphere® methodology and know-how for the identification of good practices across the entity.
- 2
Step 02
Unlock the Audit Service
Provide the respective evidence against each criterion. Once audit eligibility is confirmed, the process is scheduled — taking up to 20 working days.
- 3
Step 03
Biosphere® Audit Process
Documentation review, gap assessment, areas requiring improvement, recommendations — completed with a face-to-face verification visit.
- 4
Step 04
Biosphere® Certificate
On successfully passing the audit and fulfilling the criteria, the International GWTO Biosphere® Certificate is officially awarded.
What earns the Biosphere®
Twelve criteria. One certificate.
Every certified destination and establishment is audited against these twelve criteria — grouped under three pillars.
IPillar I
Service Quality
How visitors are met.
03 criteria
- 01
Transparent Communication
Pricing, allergens and route info shared before arrival.
- 02
Training
Staff trained in RSS principles and local heritage.
- 03
Metrics
Visitor satisfaction and impact data captured year-round.
IIPillar II
Facilities & Environment
Where the experience happens.
06 criteria
- 04
Security & Emergency
Evacuation plans, first aid and vineyard safety in place.
- 05
Equipment & Maintenance
Tasting rooms, restrooms and signage in working order.
- 06
Identity, History & Culture
Story of place told accurately and respectfully.
- 07
Local Impact
Visitor flow respects residents' daily life.
- 08
Education & Awareness
Programmes that teach responsible wine tourism.
- 09
Environmental Impact
Active water, waste, energy and biodiversity policies.
IIIPillar III
Activities Offered
What guests do.
03 criteria
- 10
Local Economy
Procurement and hiring from the surrounding region.
- 11
Accessibility & Inclusion
Physical, sensory and language accessibility.
- 12
Responsible Production
Sustainable viticulture and winery practices.
Host a Future Summit
Put your region on the global enotourism map.
Expressions of interest are open from candidate host destinations for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 editions of the GWTO Global Summit on Responsible Wine & Food Tourism.