The World’s Best Vineyards Revealed
Cuppeth runneth over
Fancy yourself as palate player when it comes to wine? Or perhaps you’re less sip-sip, more travel-travel?
Either way, this is sure to impress both wine lovers and globetrotters alike! The 2020 World’s Best Vineyards has revealed the top 50 best wine tourism destinations across the globe in a virtual awards ceremony and some of the destinations may surprise you! Spanning across 18 countries and including first-time winners from India, Japan and Bulgaria, the list is interesting to say the least.
Your mind may wander to the hills of Tuscany, Napa Valley or southern France when it comes to the perfect drop, however the results show we could be overlooking the best wine regions on offer.
And what about our Barossa, Margaret River and Hunter Valley headliners? Have a look how they stacked up amongst the world’s best!
*Drum roll and glass of wine at-the-ready please*
The winner of the 2020 World’s Best Vineyards is Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco, taking out the title for the second year running! The vineyard started from the first seeds planted in 1963 by Zuccardi’s grandfather and the fruits of his labour have flourished ever since. The vineyard is what architectural dreams are made of with natural materials, stones from the land and cement, both outside and in. The landscape surrounding the vineyard is just as breathtaking as the winery itself, with their wines obviously just as renowned.
Coming in at second place, Uruguay’s Bodega Garzon. The vineyard and winery is just as spectacular at Zuccardi’s so it must’ve been a close call! With innovation, sustainability and history the foundation of the company, it’s a destination that certainly deserves a spot on everyone’s travel bucket list whether you like wine or not!
Now a little north, third place was Austria’s Domäne Wachau which jumped 16 places ahead from the 2019 rankings. This vineyard and winery may closer resemble the visions you have of a traditional landscape featuring a dry stone walled cellar door and mountainous landscapes.
So, how did our Aussie vineyards stack up? Adelaide’s Penfolds Magill Estate came in at number 24, followed by Henschke at number 25 and d’Arenberg at number 34.
See the full list, below.
|
Position |
Vineyard name |
Country |
2019 position |
|
1 The World’s Best Vineyard & The Best Vineyard in South America |
Zuccardi Valle de Uco |
Argentina |
1 |
|
2 |
Bodega Garzón |
Uruguay |
2 |
|
3 & The Best Vineyard in Europe |
Domäne Wachau |
Austria |
=19 |
|
4 |
Montes |
Chile |
=6 |
|
5 & The Best Vineyard in North America |
Robert Mondavi Winery |
United States |
12 |
|
6 |
Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal |
Spain |
9 |
|
7 |
Château Smith Haut Lafitte |
France |
16 |
|
8 |
Quinta do Crasto |
Portugal |
4 |
|
9 |
Antinori nel Chianti Classico |
Italy |
18 |
|
10 |
VIK Winery |
Chile |
14 |
|
11 |
Catena Zapata |
Argentina |
5 |
|
12 |
Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg’sche Domäne Schloss Johannisberg |
Germany |
21 |
|
13 & The Best Vineyard in Australasia |
Rippon |
New Zealand |
8 |
|
14 & The Best Vineyard in Africa |
Delaire Graff Estate |
South Africa |
=39 |
|
15 |
Weingut Dr. Loosen |
Germany |
10 |
|
16 |
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello |
United States |
NEW |
|
17 |
Craggy Range |
New Zealand |
11 |
|
18 |
González Byass – Bodega Tio Pepe |
Spain |
NEW |
|
19 |
Château Pichon Baron |
France |
NEW |
|
20 |
Opus One Winery |
United States |
=19 |
|
21 |
Ceretto |
Italy |
NEW |
|
22 |
CHÂTEAU MARGAUX |
France |
22 |
|
23 |
Bodegas Salentein |
Argentina |
=26 |
|
24 |
Penfolds Magill Estate |
Australia |
13 |
|
25 |
Henschke |
Australia |
NEW |
|
26 |
Bodega Bouza |
Uruguay |
44 |
|
27 |
Clos Apalta |
Chile |
=6 |
|
28 |
Champagne Taittinger |
France |
NEW |
|
29 |
Champagne Billecart-Salmon |
France |
NEW |
|
30 & The Best Vineyard in Asia |
Château Mercian Mariko Winery |
Japan |
NEW |
|
31 |
Château d’Yquem |
France |
NEW |
|
32 |
Bodegas RE |
Chile |
32 |
|
33 |
Château Mouton Rothschild |
France |
=39 |
|
34 |
d’Arenberg |
Australia |
29 |
|
35 |
Viña Errázuriz |
Chile |
17 |
|
36 |
GAJA |
Italy |
NEW |
|
37 |
DOMAINE SIGALAS SA |
Greece |
35 |
|
38 |
Château Oumsiyat |
Lebanon |
NEW |
|
39 |
Wine Cellar Villa Melnik |
Bulgaria |
NEW |
|
40 |
Viña Casas del Bosque |
Chile |
=30 |
|
41 |
BODEGAS VIVANCO |
Spain |
24 |
|
42 |
Familia Torres |
Spain |
28 |
|
43 |
VIU MANENT |
Chile |
23 |
|
44 |
Maison Ruinart |
France |
46 |
|
45 |
Domaine Marcel Deiss |
France |
NEW |
|
46 |
KRSMA Estates |
India |
NEW |
|
47 |
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars |
United States |
NEW |
|
48 |
Château Heritage |
Lebanon |
49 |
|
49 |
Quinta do Noval |
Portugal |
NEW |
|
50 |
Trapiche |
Argentina |
NEW |
Notes regarding the voting process:
The list is based on nominations from a voting academy, made up of over 500 leading wine experts, sommeliers and travel correspondents from across the 18 defined geographical regions. For more information see here.
