Recently World’s Best Vineyards announced its 50 top vineyard destinations from around the world. The organization's academy of 600 global experts in wine and travel highlight both established and emerging wine tourism locations in their selections. The wineries on the list reflected the importance of the winery as both a producer of fine wines but also as a destination itself.
“Wine tourism is hugely important to the global economy and local economies, creating jobs directly at the wineries but also encouraging visitors to the area and the associated revenue which that generates,” Andrew Reed, Managing Director Wine and Exhibitions at William Reed, said in a statement announcing the winners. “This is more important than ever with the recent global situation, and we know that by shining the light on wine tourism as we do with the World’s Best Vineyards the message gets out to more people to come and discover the uniqueness of wine and where it is made.”
Included on this year’s list were new entries from countries as far away as Lebanon and Russia. Two U.S. wineries, both from California, made the top 50, and another three cracked the top 100. You can check out the entire list and follow the World’s Best Vineyards on Instagram (@worldsbestvineyards), but we’ve collected the top five from around the world, along with the top five from the U.S, below.
1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco - Argentina
Topping the list is Zuccardi Valle de Uco in Mendoza, Argentina. The family-run winery in the Uco Valley is known for its award-winning Malbec. (@zuccardivalledeuco)
2. Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal - Spain
Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in Rioja, Spain, took second place. Their wines are created in a Frank Gehry masterpiece. (@marquesderiscal)
3. Château Margaux - France
Château Margaux in Bordeaux, France, placed third on the list of top wineries. It’s known locally as the “Versailles of the Médoc.” (@chateaumargaux)
4. Bodega Garzón - Uruguay
Taking fourth place on the list is Bodega Garzón in Maldonado, Uruguay. Sustainability and eco-harmony is a key element for the winery, as evidenced by their cooling roof garden. (@bodegagarzon)
5. Montes - Chile
Montes in Colchagua Valley, Chile, rounds out the top five, and the pioneer of high-end Chilean wines is particularly famed for its Syrah. (@MontesWines)
40. Robert Mondavi Winery - California
Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, California, is the top domestic winery on the list, coming in at number 40. (@robertmondavi)
47. Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello - California
Ridge Vineyards – Monte Bello in the Santa Cruz Mountain of California was one of the original winners in the famed 1976 “Judgement of Paris” blind tastings that placed California wineries on the industry’s map. It placed 47, the last U.S. winery in the top 50. (@ridgevineyards)
54. Opus One Winery - California
Opus One Winery in Oakville, California, was founded as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. It placed a more-than-respectable 54 on the list. (@opusonewinery)
57. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars - California
57. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Alexander Valley, California, was originally founded in 1893 until Prohibition put them out of business for several decades. They placed 57th. (@stagsleapwinecellars)
92. Jordan Vineyard & Winery - California
92. Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, California, is a certified sustainable winery. They are the last U.S. winery in the top 100, coming in at 92. (@jordanwinery)
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