Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco has been named the top winery in the world for the second successive year by the aptly named World’s Best Vineyards, which this week unveiled its Top 50 wine tourism destinations.
Coming in second was Bodega Garzon in Uruguay, also repeating its 2019 result, followed by Domäne Wachau in Austria which surged to third after placing 16th last year.
They were among 18 countries in this year’s Top 50 picks, which also included first-time winners from India (KRSMA Estates), Bulgaria (Wine Cellar Villa Melnik) and Japan (Château Mercian Mariko Winery). There were also 17 new destinations featured in the list.
The 2020 event was the first time organisers had conducted the awards virtually.
The World’s Best Vineyards list aims to raise the profile of wine tourism and despite the difficult circumstances that the travel industry has faced this year, the organiser William Reed and 2020 host partner Sonoma County Winegrowers wanted to recognise the efforts of wineries around the globe.
The announcement of the Top 50 hopes to drive travel to these destinations as cellar doors begin to open again to visitors. Founder Andrew Reed applauded the wine industry for its quick adaptability to current restrictions on travel: “It is testament to this amazing community of winemakers and wineries that your flexibility and speed of response has allowed you to adapt your business model to survive, and even thrive!”
On a local front, there were three Australian vineyards on the list, all in South Australia – Penfolds Magill Estate (24th), Henschke (25th) and d’Arenberg (34th). There were two New Zealand vineyards in the mix – Rippon (13th) in the Wanaka region on the South Island and Craggy Range (17th), south of Napier on the North Island.
The complete list is below:
Position
Vineyard name
Country
2019 position
1
Zuccardi Valle de Uco
Argentina
1
2
Bodega Garzón
Uruguay
2
3
Domäne Wachau
Austria
19
4
Montes
Chile
6
5
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
Rippon
New Zealand
8
14
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
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
More at worldsbestvineyards.com/Lead image: KRSMA Estates, India – the first vineyard in India to make the listWant to be in the luxury travel know? Subscribe to our free eNewsletter here to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.