World’s Best Vineyards is the international competition organized by William Reed in London which rewards the best 50 wine tourism destinations in the world. The 2020 one is the second edition and the Top 50 has been revealed through a virtual ceremony hold on Monday, 13 July.

Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco takes the top spot for the second year running winning also as Best Vineyard in South America. Bodega Garzón in Uruguay came in 2^nd place for a consecutive year and Domäne Wachau in Austria jumped 16 places to take the 3^rd spot thus winning as Best Vineyard in Europe too.

Italy got well 3 recognitions with 3 wineries well-known at international level: Gaja (Piemonte) at the 36^th place, Ceretto (Piemonte) at the 21^st and Antinori nel Chianti Classico (Toscana) in the top10: at the 9^th place. Three prestigious wineries that, once again, carry Italy brand all over.

The 2020 Top 50 vineyards represented 18 countries and included first-time winners from India, Bulgaria and Japan.

Some other important rewards are: Château Mercian Mariko Winery marked a first-time entry for Japan coming in at number 30 and Best Vineyard in Asia. Domäne Wachau in the Wachau region of Austria (3rd and Best Vineyard in Europe); Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, California (5th and Best Vineyard in North America); Rippon in New Zealand (13th and Best Vineyard in Australasia); Delaire Graff Estate in South Africa (14th and Best Vineyard in Africa).

The 2020 edition has been organized in partnership with Sonoma County Winegrowers. During the online announcement both Andrew Reed, the founder, and the president of Sonoma County Winegrowers, Karissa Kruse, has underlined “the flexibility and speed of response of this amazing community of winemakers and wineries to adapt their business model to survive in such a difficult period”.

As Italy Academy Chair I am happy to underline the prestige of such a contest with the aim to furtherly enhance the diversity that each country and each single company is able to develop also thanks to the international exchange. In this hard time, such a competition aims at supporting and stimulating the wine tourism even more.

 

Here is the complete list:

1 The World’s Best Vineyard & The Best Vineyard in South America: Zuccardi Valle de Uco (Argentina)          

2 Bodega Garzón (Uruguay)

3 & The Best Vineyard in Europe: Domäne Wachau (Austria)

4 Montes (Chile)

5 & The Best Vineyard in North America: Robert Mondavi Winery (United States)

6 Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal (Spain)

7 Château Smith Haut Lafitte (France)

8 Quinta do Crasto (Portugal)

9 Antinori nel Chianti Classico   (Italy)

10 VIK Winery (Chile)

11 Catena Zapata (Argentina)

12 Fürst von Metternich- Winneburg’sche Domäne Schloss Johannisberg (Germany)

13 & The Best Vineyard in Australasia: Rippon (New Zealand)

14 & The Best Vineyard in Africa: Delaire Graff Estate (South Africa)

15 Weingut Dr. Loosen  (Germany)

16 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello (United States)

17 Craggy Range (New Zealand)

18 González Byass – Bodega Tio Pepe (Spain)

19 Château Pichon Baron (France)

20 Opus One Winery (United States)

21 Ceretto (Italy)

22 CHÂTEAU MARGAUX (France)

23 Bodegas Salentein (Argentina)

24 Penfolds Magill Estate (Australia)

25 Henschke (Australia)

26 Bodega Bouza (Uruguay)

27 Clos Apalta (Chile)

28 Champagne Taittinger (France)

29 Champagne Billecart-Salmon (France)

30 & The Best Vineyard in Asia: Château Mercian Mariko Winery (Japan)

31 Château d’Yquem (France)

32 Bodegas RE (Chile)

33 Château Mouton Rothschild (France)

34 d’Arenberg   Australia

35 Viña Errázuriz (Chile)

36 GAJA (Italy)

37 DOMAINE SIGALAS SA (Greece)

38 Château Oumsiyat (Lebanon)

39 Wine Cellar Villa Melnik (Bulgaria)

40 Viña Casas del Bosque (Chile)

41 BODEGAS VIVANCO (Spain)

42 Familia Torres (Spain)

43 VIU MANENT (Chile)

44 Maison Ruinart (France)

45 Domaine Marcel Deiss (France)

46 KRSMA Estates (India)

47 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (United States)

48 Château Heritage (Lebanon)

49 Quinta do Noval (Portugal)

50 Trapiche (Argentina)

 

For further details: www.worldsbestvineyards.com