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 list
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