Named the world’s 50 best vineyards for 2020, with last year’s Argentinian winner overall again, fifth best American winery and New Zealand regional Australasia crown
- Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco was crowned the world’s best vineyard by a prestigious global voice academy
- During an online ceremony on Monday evening, Bodega Garzon in Uruguay was voted the second best vineyard
- The Top 50 vineyards of 2020 represented 18 countries and included the first winners from India and Japan
Advertisement
The world’s best vineyards for 2020 have been unveiled – and last year’s winner has reclaimed the top spot.
Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco has been crowned the world’s best vineyard by a prestigious global voice academy with nearly 500 leading wine enthusiasts, sommeliers and luxury travel correspondents. They suggested destinations based on the overall visitor experience, including, but not limited to, atmosphere, cuisine, tours, and the view.
During an online ceremony on Monday night, Bodega Garzon in Uruguay was voted the second best vineyard – for a consecutive year – Domäne Wachau in Austria jumped 16 places to take third place, Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, California, replaced fifth place and the best berth for America – and Rippon in New Zealand was crowned best in Australia and placed 13th overall.
The Argentinean Zuccardi Valle de Uco depicted was crowned the world’s best vineyard by a prestigious global voice academy
The stylish tasting room in Zendo-based Zuccardi Valle de Uco, which was established in 1963
During an online ceremony on Monday night, Bodega Garzon in Uruguay, in the photo, was voted the second best vineyard
A panoramic shot of this year’s third seeded vineyard – Domäne Wachau in Austria
The 2020 Top 50 vineyards represented 18 countries and included winners from India, Bulgaria and Japan for the first time – but no vineyard in the UK was so impressed to make it to the award.
Last year, East Sussex effervescent Ridgeview ranked 36th.
An award ceremony read: “The World’s Best Vineyards List aims to raise the profile of wine tourism, and despite the difficult conditions the travel industry has faced this year, organizer William Reed and 2020 partner Sonoma County Winegrowers wanted to transfer the efforts of wineries worldwide.
The Top 50 announcement hopes to encourage travel to these prime destinations when the doors begin to open again for visitors. ‘
The Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, California finished in fifth place. In the foreground is the statue of sculptor Beniamino Bufano of Saint Francis of Assisi, which is on loan to the vineyard
Shown here is the world’s fourth best vineyard – Montes in Chile
Corking: Innumerable barrels of wine in the Montes vineyard. Last year came sixth
Rippon in New Zealand, pictured, was crowned best vineyard in Australasia and ranked 13th. It is located on the shore of Lake Wanaka on the South Island
KRSMA Estates, depicted in the Hampi Hills of India, gave the country its very first ranking in the top 50
The wacky Marqués de Riscal vineyard (photo) in Spain finished sixth overall
Weingut winery Dr. Loosen in Germany, which makes exceptional rieslings, finished 15th worldwide
In an opening speech at the virtual ceremony, founder Andrew Reed praised the wine industry for its quick adaptability to current travel restrictions: “It testifies to this great community of winemakers and wineries that your flexibility and responsiveness have allowed you to adapt your business model to survive and even thrive! ‘
Reed also emphasized how vineyards should be ready to reconnect with customers as the world comes out of the lockdown.
Karissa Kruse, President of Sonoma County Winegrowers, said, “We were looking forward to welcoming guests to Sonoma County, the most sustainable wine region in the world, but were excited to continue to unveil the Top 50.
This year’s virtual announcement reflects the ways wineries around the world, and not least ours here in Sonoma County, have so skillfully adapted to the current situation. Many wineries in Sonoma County are opening their doors to visitors again and we look forward to another great season. “
The highest ranked vineyard in Sonoma County is the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, which offers an extensive range of attractions from a landscaped park to restaurants, poolside poolside cabanas, movie theater, movie gallery, bowling alleys and a performing arts pavilion .
Advertisement
.