“World’s Best Vineyards” 2019 is the first edition of the new competition focused on wine tourism launched in London by William Reed and sponsored by the historic IWC competition – International Wine Challenge.

Each country is represented by a Chair who has composed a group of 36 judges chosen among journalists, sommeliers, aficionados, educators and luxury travel correspondents who have expressed 7 preferences based on the tourist experience lived in wineries located in their own country as well as abroad. On the basis of all the votes, the best 50 companies in the world have been identified and rewarded on July, 8th in London. The goal is to promote wine tourism by encouraging wine companies to do better in this growing branch as well as encouraging visitors by providing them with an easy-to-consult source that, moreover, can become a useful tool for tracking global trends in wine tourism.

The absolute winner is the Argentine Zuccardi Valle de Uco. The visitor centre showcases the stunning views of the vineyards and mountains for winery tours and tastings. The Piedra Infinita Cocina restaurant, meanwhile, offers a refined four-course seasonal menu as well as recommended wines of pairing.

The so-called “new world” beats the traditional one, evidently focusing also on wine tourism to gain visibility; despite this, the pioneering Californian model seems to have been surpassed by that of South America, which has enjoyed great success with well two wineries from Argentina, two from Chile and one from Uruguay in the top 10. What’s more, Chile triumphed with eight companies amongst the top 50, beating traditional countries such as France with seven listings out of 50. Italy is elegantly represented by Antinori in the Chianti Classico (18th, here is the link).

In total, 17 countries were represented, including emerging wine producing countries such as the UK (Ridwine-producing, Lebanon (Chateau Heritage – 49th), and Canada (Mission Hill Winery – 50th).

Here is the complete ranking (Vineyard – Country – Continent winner):

 1 Zuccardi Valle de Uco – Argentina – South America

2 Bodega Garzón – Uruguay

3 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia, S.A. – Spain – Europe

4 Quinta do Crasto – Portugal

5 Catena Zapata – Argentina

=6 Montes – Chile

=6 Clos Apalta Winery – Chile

8 Rippon – New Zealand – Australasia

9 Marqués de Riscal – Spain

10 Weingut Dr. Loosen – Germany

11 Craggy Range – New Zealand

12 Robert Mondavi Winery – USA – North America

13 Penfolds Magill Estate – Australia

14 Viña VIK – Chile

15 Weingut Tement – Austria

16 Château Smith Haut Lafitte – France

17 Viña Errázuriz – Chile

18 Antinori nel Chianti Classico – Italy

=19 Opus One Winery – USA

=19 Domäne Wachau – Austria

21 Schloss Johannisberg – Germany

22 Château Margaux – France

23 Viu Manent SA – Chile

24 Vivanco. Bodega, Fundación, Experiencias Spain

25 Bodega Colomé – Argentina

=26 Viña Santa Rita – Chile

=26 Bodegas Salentein – Argentina

28 Familia Torres – Pacs del Penedès – Spain

29 d’Arenberg – Australia

=30 Viña Casas del Bosque – Chile

=30 Schloss Gobelsburg – Austria

32 Bodegas RE – Chile

33 Schloss Vollrads – Germany

34 Vergelegen Estate – South Africa – Africa

35 Domaine Sigalas – Greece

36 Ridgeview – UK

37 Quinta do Bomfim – Portugal

38 Veuve Clicquot – France

=39 Delaire Graff Estate – South Africa

=39 Château Mouton Rothschild – France

41 El Enemigo Wines – Argentina

42 E.Guigal – France

43 Domaine Henri Bourgeois – France

44 Bodega Bouza – Uruguay

45 Creation Wines – South Africa

46 Ruinart – France

47 Seppeltsfield Barossa – Australia

48 Kir-Yianni – Greece

49 Château Heritage – Lebanon – Asia

50 Mission Hill Family Estate – Canada

 

See you next year.