The Westin Verasa, Napa And La Toque Earn Prestigious National

The Westin Verasa, Napa and La Toque restaurant have won two national "Best of Wine Tourism" awards from the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, a cooperative platform comprised of members from the leading wine regions from countries around the world. The Westin Verasa came out ahead in the category of "Best Accommodations" while the Global Wine Network chose La Toque as "Best Restaurant."

A jury chose the winners, which were announced on September 9, 2010 at a ceremony at Clos Pegase Winery in Calistoga, based upon the quality and innovativeness displayed in welcoming visitors. As a national winner, The Westin Verasa, Napa and La Toque will now move on to the global competition with winners announced at the Great Wine Capitals Annual General Meeting & International Wine Conference 2010 in New Zealand in early November.

"This award is a great honor for us as it represents recognition by the peers in our industry and the wine community," said Don Shindle, General Manager of The Westin Verasa, Napa. "The award is a benchmark for industry excellence and is a testament to the fact the lodging and amenities offered at The Westin Verasa, Napa are at the top of their class and complement the Napa Valley lifestyle visitors know and love."

"La Toque has always been known for an excellent wine selection and has been recognized by The Wine Spectator as one of the Best Restaurants in America," said Executive Chef Ken Frank. "Winning the national Best of Wine Tourism Restaurant award confirms that we are committed to wine pairing as much as we are to providing a superior dining experience as befitting Napa Valley."

The Great Wine Capitals Global Network (GWCGN) created the "Best of Tourism" awards in 2004 to recognize excellence and encourage wider participation in wine tourism initiatives in the cities and wine regions of the network. GWCGN is a cooperative platform established to forge special relationships, undertake exchanges, and develop common projects to promote the sustainable development and the competitiveness of member wine regions and their products. GWCGN has nine members, all sharing a common geographical advantage: they are all the leading wine region in their country along with being the urban cultural center in their region with prominent wine-related influences on their history, economy and culture. In addition to Napa Valley, other member regions include Bordeaux, France, Cape Town, South Africa, Christchurch/South Island, New Zealand, Florence, Italy, and Mainz, Germany.

The Westin Verasa, Napa is known for The Westin trademark touches, such as Unwind, which is an evening ritual that encourages guests to reflect and rejuvenate as they make their journey from day to night. It is an opportunity for guests to enjoy food and wine in a relaxed setting where the hotel brings in different and unique wineries to help promote wine and food education. Other signature touches include the Westin Heavenly Bed, 24-hour Westin WORKOUT fitness center, the Westin Heavenly Bath, Westin Service Express allowing guests to request every imaginable hotel service with one call, and the Westin Heavenly Dog program. Other amenities designed to provide the ultimate getaway include an outdoor saltwater pool and hot tub, up to 12,000 feet of conference and event space, two bocce courts, and easy access to river walking paths.

The Westin Verasa, Napa is located approximately two blocks east of Downtown Napa and is conveniently located near all of Napa Valley's attractions, including the wine train, wineries, and the Oxbow Public Market. For more information, visit www.WestinNapa.com.

Named one of the "Best Restaurants in America" by The Wine Spectator, La Toque features a warm and luxurious atmosphere highlighted by a show kitchen. La Toque is internationally recognized