World’s 50 best vineyards for 2020 named, with last year’s Argentinian winner No1 overall again, the top U.S winery coming fifth and New Zealand snaring the regional Australasia crownArgentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco was crowned World’s Best Vineyard by a prestigious global voting academyDuring an online Monday-night ceremony Bodega Garzon in Uruguay was named the second-best vineyard The 2020 Top 50 vineyards represented 18 countries and included first-time winners from India and Japan
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The best vineyards in the world for 2020 have been revealed – and last year’s winner has retaken the top spot.
Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco was crowned World’s Best Vineyard by a prestigious global voting academy comprising nearly 500 leading wine aficionados, sommeliers and luxury travel correspondents. They put forward destinations based on the overall visitor experience including, but not limited to, ambience, cuisine, tours and the views.
During an online Monday-night ceremony Bodega Garzon in Uruguay was named the second-best vineyard – for a consecutive year – Domäne Wachau in Austria jumped 16 places to take the third spot, Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, California, snared fifth place and the top berth for America – and Rippon in New Zealand was crowned best in Australasia and ranked 13th overall.
Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco, pictured, was crowned World’s Best Vineyard by a prestigious global voting academy
The stylish tasting room at Mendoza-based Zuccardi Valle de Uco, which was founded in 1963
During an online Monday-night ceremony Bodega Garzon in Uruguay, pictured, was named the second-best vineyard
A panoramic shot of this year’s third-placed vineyard – Domäne Wachau in Austria
The 2020 Top 50 vineyards represented 18 countries and included first-time winners from India, Bulgaria and Japan – but no vineyards in the UK impressed enough to make the cut.
Last year East Sussex fizz-maker Ridgeview came 36th.
An awards statement said: ‘The World’s Best Vineyards list seeks 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 encourage travel to these outstanding destinations as doors begin to open again to visitors. ‘
The Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, California, snared fifth place. In the foreground is sculptor Beniamino Bufano’s statue of St Francis of Assisi, which has been on loan to the vineyard
Pictured here is the world’s fourth-best vineyard – Montes in Chile
Corking: Myriad barrels of wine at the Montes vineyard. Last year it came sixth
Rippon in New Zealand, pictured, was crowned best vineyard in Australasia and ranked 13th overall. It sits on the shore of Lake Wanaka on the South Island
KRSMA Estates, pictured, in the Hampi Hills in India, gave the country its first-ever ranking in the top 50
The wacky Marqués de Riscal vineyard (pictured) in Spain came sixth overall
Weingut Dr. Loosen winery in Germany, which makes exceptional rieslings, came 15th globally
THE 50 BEST WINE TOURISM DESTINATIONS FOR 2020
1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco, Argentina (continent winner – South America)
2. Bodega Garzón, Uruguay
3. Domäne Wachau, Austria (continent winner – Europe)
4. Montes, Chile
5. Robert Mondavi Winery, United States (continent winner – North America)
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. Rippon, New Zealand (continent winner – Australasia)
14. Delaire Graff Estate, South Africa (continent winner – 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. Château Mercian Mariko Winery, Japan (continent winner – Asia)
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
Source: World’s Best Vineyards 2020
In an opening speech during the virtual ceremony, founder Andrew Reed praised 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!’
Reed also highlighted how as the world comes out of lockdown, vineyards must be ready to re-engage with customers.
Karissa Kruse, President of Sonoma County Winegrowers, said: ‘We were looking forward to welcoming guests to Sonoma County, the most sustainable winemaking region in the world, but we were thrilled to be able to carry on with the unveiling of the Top 50.
‘This year’s virtual announcement is a reflection of the ways in which wineries around the world, and not least our own here in Sonoma County, have so skilfully adapted to the current situation. Many wineries in Sonoma County are once again opening their doors to visitors and we look forward to another great season.”
The highest-ranking vineyard in Sonoma County is the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, which features an extensive array of attractions from a landscaped park to restaurants, swimming pools with poolside cabanas, a cinema, a film gallery, bocce courts and a performing arts pavilion.
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