The World's Top 50 Wineries

The prestigious rankings for the "World's 50 Best Vineyards" were announced at a grand ceremony in Rioja, Spain on Wednesday evening. The result of the evening was a defining moment for South American wineries, with Argentina's Catena Zapata being crowned number one in this esteemed list. This recognition was orchestrated by the renowned William Reed, a British firm recognized for curating lists for the 50 best bars and restaurants worldwide.

For the fifth year running, the rankings assessed a holistic experience of each winery, including the quality of the wine and the overall visitor experience. South American wineries, in particular, dominated the top 10 positions, thanks to six of their vineyards, including the century-old Catena Zapata, which has played an instrumental role in the global promotion of Malbec wines. The vineyard's 2019 Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae even received recognition as one of the Best Wines of the Year by the Robb Report, signaling the high caliber of wine it produces.

Yet, Catena Zapata offers more than just wine. The location is a haven for wine lovers, where they can indulge in a culinary experience at the new restaurant, take a tour of the breathtaking Adrianna vineyard nestled in the Andes hills, or even try their hand at blending their own wine.

Other South American vineyards in the top 10 included Argentina's Bodegas Salentein and El Enemigo Wines, securing ninth and tenth places, respectively. Chile also had a strong showing, with vineyards VIK and Montes securing third and seventh positions, while Uruguay's Bodega Garzón was placed sixth.

While South American vineyards dominated the list, Europe also had a substantial representation in the top 10. Spain's Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal came in at a close second, followed by France's Château Smith Haut Lafitte in the fifth spot and Germany's Domäne Schloss Johannisberg securing the eighth. In fact, Europe boasted 23 vineyards in the list, with France alone securing nine places in the top 50, featuring eminent Champagne houses such as Ruinart, Bollinger, Billecart-Salmon, and Veuve Clicquot.

The United States had two vineyards in the top 50: Sonoma's Jordan Winery at the 20th spot and Oregon's Brooks Wine, a newcomer to the list, in the 28th position.

"The World's Best Vineyards continues to highlight wine tourism destinations around the globe. With an impressive list of new entries this year, it's more important than ever," commented Andrew Reed, managing director of wine and exhibitions at William Reed. This emphasis on new entrants signals the dynamic nature of global wine tourism and the thriving innovation within the industry.

To generate this highly coveted list, chairmen representing 22 geographical regions selected a panel comprising approximately 36 unnamed wine and travel experts. The extensive judging panel of over 500 members then nominated up to seven destination vineyards they had personally visited within the last two years. These nominations were then meticulously counted and collated to determine the winner, revealing an overall fondness for South America's wine offerings.

The rest of the top 50 list featured vineyards from a rich mix of countries, showcasing the diversity and global reach of high-quality wine production. From Argentina's Catena Zapata in the first place, all the way down to Chile's Viña Errázuriz in the fiftieth, each winery represents a unique story of dedication to viticulture, hospitality, and the love for creating exceptional wine.

Overall, the World's 50 Best Vineyards 2023 reaffirms the global appeal of wine tourism. The dominance of South American vineyards this year is a testament to the region's burgeoning wine industry. However, the diverse geographic spread of wineries on the list underscores that wine lovers have a wealth of global destinations to explore, each offering unique flavors, experiences, and rich histories.

The full list, as well as positions 51 to 100, can be viewed on the World's Best Vineyards website.