World’s 50 best vineyards for 2021 revealed: Last year’s Argentinian winner is No1 again

World’s 50 best vineyards for 2021 revealed: Last year’s Argentinian winner is No1 again, Spain comes second, France’s Chateau Margaux is third and RUSSIA beats the U.S

  • Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco was named the top wine tourism destination – for the third time in a row 
  • The stunning Bodegas de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal in Spain’s Rioja region took second place 
  • The top entry for the Australasia region was New Zealand’s Craggy Range – in at No.11 

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The world’s 50 best vineyards for 2021 have been revealed – and the winner from 2019 and 2020 has taken the No.1 spot yet again.

Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco was named the planet’s top wine tourism destination in a ceremony that took place at the Schloss Johannisberg winery in Rheingau, Germany.

The stunning Bodegas de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal in Spain’s Rioja region took second place, closely followed by Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux, France.

Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco, pictured, was named the planet’s top wine tourism destination for the third year running

The stunning Bodegas de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal in Spain’s Rioja region took second place

The stunning Bodegas de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal in Spain’s Rioja region took second place

The 2021 ranking represents 16 countries and includes first-time entrants onto the list from Lebanon and Russia, with the latter’s Sikory Winery – famous for its rocky clay soil – coming 20th and the Lefkadia Valley hitting number 23.

Lebanon’s Karam Wines was the highest new entry, reaching 14 in the list.

The top entry for the Australasia region was New Zealand’s Craggy Range, in at No.11, while the Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley flew the flag for North America, coming 40th overall.

No vineyard from the UK made the top 50.

The World’s Best Vineyards list ‘aims to highlight the sheer diversity across both established and emerging wine tourism destinations’, with the list decided by votes from 600 global wine and travel experts.

Chateau Margaux (pictured) in Bordeaux, France, was named the world's third-best vineyard

Chateau Margaux (pictured) in Bordeaux, France, was named the world’s third-best vineyard

The world's fourth-best vineyard? That'll be Bodega Garzon in Uruguay, pictured

The world’s fourth-best vineyard? That’ll be Bodega Garzon in Uruguay, pictured

Pictured here is Craggy Range vineyard in New Zealand - the No.11 vineyard in the world

Pictured here is Craggy Range vineyard in New Zealand – the No.11 vineyard in the world

Russia's Sikory Winery, pictured, came 20th - way ahead of the best-ranked U.S vineyard

Russia’s Sikory Winery, pictured, came 20th – way ahead of the best-ranked U.S vineyard

The Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley flew the flag for North America, coming 40th overall

The Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley flew the flag for North America, coming 40th overall 

In the opening speech of the ceremony, Andrew Reed, Managing Director Wine and Exhibitions at William Reed, highlighted how vital wine tourism is to the global economy.

He said: ‘Wine tourism is hugely important to the global economy and local economies, creating jobs directly at the wineries but also encouraging visitors to the area and the associated revenue which that generates.

‘This is more important than ever with the recent global situation, and we know that by shining the light on wine tourism as we do with the World’s Best Vineyards the message gets out to more people to come and discover the uniqueness of wine and where it is made.’

Steffen Schindler, from Wines of Germany, commented: ‘We’d like to thank the organisers and the masterminds behind these awards for raising awareness of wine tourism worldwide and in Germany, of course.

‘Wine tourism has become a very important economic pillar for many of our wine estates, and we know that the most loyal customers are those that have come to our estates and our wine regions in person.’

Visit www.worldsbestvineyards.com for more on the winners. 

THE 2021 WORLD’S BEST VINEYARDS REVEALED 

1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco – Argentina

2. Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal – Spain

3. Château Margaux – France

4. Bodega Garzón – Uruguay

5. Montes – Chile

6. Antinori nel Chianti Classico – Italy

7. Catena Zapata – Argentina

8. VIK Winery – Chile

9. González Byass – Bodegas Tio Pepe – Spain

10. Creation – South Africa

11. Craggy Range – New Zealand

12. Château Smith Haut Lafitte – France

13. Champagne Taittinger – France

14. Karam Wines – Lebanon

15. Rippon – New Zealand

16. Quinta do Crasto – Portugal

17. Clos Apalta – Chile

18. Trapiche – Argentina

19. Quinta da Aveleda – Portugal

20. Sikory Winery – Russia

21. Chateau Oumsiyat – Lebanon

22. Domäne Wachau – Austria

23. Lefkadia Valley – Russia

24. El Enemigo Wines – Argentina

25. Henschke – Australia 

26. Familia Torres – Pacs del Penedès – Spain

27. Soalheiro – Portugal

28. Vina Santa Rita – Chile

29. Quinta do Noval – Portugal

30. Delaire Graff Estate – South Africa

31. D’Arenberg – Australia

32. Abadía Retuerta – Spain

33. Château Mercian Mariko Winery – Japan

34. Schloss Johannisberg – Germany

35. Bodega Colomé – Argentina

36. Château Mouton Rothschild – France

37. Penfolds Magill Estate – Australia

38. Quinta do Bomfim – Portugal

39. Château Héritage – Lebanon

40. Robert Mondavi Winery – United States

41. Vina Casas del Bosque – Chile

42. SuperUco – Argentina

43. Bodegas RE – Chile

44. Klein Constantia Winery – South Africa

45. Viu Manent – Chile

46. Weingut Dr. Loosen – Germany

47. Ridge Vineyards – Monte Bello – United States

48. Château Cana – Lebanon

49. Quinta do Vallado – Portugal

50. Quinta do Infantado – Portugal 

Source: www.worldsbestvineyards.com

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