The World's Best Vineyards in 2020

Finally, the 2020 list of Best Vineyards in the World has been revealed, and this list covers 18 countries over 5 continents. The diversity is really amazing and many vineyards are offering not only wine tasting but also unique experiences such as a horse-drawn vintage carriage tour, cooking class on open fire, tapas and wine pairing amid a collection of beautiful classic cars. Many vineyards also offer Michelin-starred dining and beautiful accommodations.

As expected, there are well-respected and famous names in wine-making, but it’s exciting to see newcomers from Japan, Bulgaria and India…

How are the Best Vineyards voted?

The awards are based on nominations from a Voting Academy made up of more than 500 wine experts across the globe, but there’s no preset checklist or criteria.

According to CNN, there were five South America winners in the top 20, with Chile’s Montes and Viña Vik at 4 and 10 respectively, and Argentina’s Catena Zapata, with its pyramid-like design inspired by Mayan architecture, dropping this year to No. 11.

Europe’s best vineyard — shooting up 16 positions to third place — is not to be found in the traditional wine regions of France or Italy, but in an Austrian valley formed by the Danube River. Domäne Wachau, with its baroque castle and UNESCO World Heritage site surroundings, also wows with its Grüner Veltliner white wines.

Europe climbed up the ranking

The highest-placed vineyards in France were: Château Smith Haut Lafitte, near Bordeaux, at No. 7, which climbed seven places this year. Château Pichon Baron, also in Bordeaux, broke into the top 20 at No. 19.

In Italy, the best vineyard was Antinori nel Chianti Classico in Tuscany, up nine places to No. 9.

Spain’s Marques de Riscal winery (up three places to No. 6), with its unique design by legendary architect Frank Gehry, is typical of the new breed of vineyard where top-class architecture as well as gourmet food are on offer.

North America’s highest entry was Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley, which climbed seven places to No. 5.

The most impressive improvement (moving up 25 places to # 14) was Delaire Graff Estate, in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, which boasts “unparalleled views of the Banhoek Valley, Stellenbosch vineyards and Table Mountain,” and was named Best in Africa.

Japan’s Château Mercian Mariko Winery, which only opened in September 2019, made a very impressive debut at No. 30, and was named Best in Asia.

The world’s best vineyards

1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco (Argentina) *Best in South America*

2. Bodega Garzón (Uruguay)

3. Domäne Wachau (Austria)

4. Montes (Chile)

5. Robert Mondavi Winery (California) *Best in North America*

6. Marqués de Riscal (Spain)

7. Château Smith Haut Lafitte (France)

8. Quinta do Crasto (Portugal)

9. Antinori nel Chianti Classico (Italy)

10. Viña Vik (Chile)

11. Catena Zapata (Argentina)

12. Schloss Johannisburg (Germany)

13. Rippon (New Zealand) *Best in Australasia*

14. Delaire Graff Estate (South Africa) *Best in Africa* *Highest climber*

15. Weingut Dr. Loosen (Germany)

16. Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello (United States) *Highest new entry*

17. Craggy Range (New Zealand)

18. Gonzalez Byass — Bodegas Tio Pepe (Spain)

19. Château Pichon Baron (France)

20. Opus One Winery (California)

Check out my post regarding wine tasting in Tuscany and watch this space for future posts on wines.

Wine tourism

As lockdown will ease up, Wine Tourism will be recover first near home, and will expand globally as people will gradually travel abroad for an amazing and unique vineyard experience.

While waiting for that to happen, the next best experience would be to taste international wines delivered to your door through this website. The team at Splash has scoured the globe searching for the best value wines on the planet.

Shop Splash Wines’ Curated Cases with selections starting at $105

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