This week, at an event for over 125 VIPs held in Rioja, World’s Best Vineyards revealed this year’s top wine destinations for 2023. The extensive list showcases the very best of wine tourism, highlighting the world’s finest and diverse vineyards across the globe. Topping the list is Catena Zapata from Argentina who also won overall South American vineyard. Rioja’s Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal with its stunning, futuristic architecture and impressive setting came in second place and took the spot for top vineyard in Europe. Chilean vineyard, VIK jumped one place to third and Creation in South Africa, took fourth place and was named overall African winner.
Argentina populated this year’s list with three vineyards in the top 10, including Catena Zapata (number one) which was founded in 1902 and is known for its pioneering role in reinventing Malbec, Bodegas Salentein (number nine), described as the heart and soul of the Uco Valley and El Enemigo Wines (number 10) which celebrates both tradition and innovation. Finca Victoria from the Durigutti family in Mendoza is this year’s highest new entry at number 13.
There were 23 vineyards from Europe in this year’s list and France had the highest overall number of wineries with nine in the top 50 including the Champagne houses Maison Ruinart, Bollinger, Billecart-Salmon and Veuve Clicquot. With more first-time entrants than before, the 2023 list welcomed entries from Hungary, Georgia and Lebanon.
Continent winners also included Château Mercian Mariko Winery, in Japan, Rippon in Central Otago, New Zealand and Jordan Vineyard and Winery tucked into the hills of Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley.
This year, Antinori nel Chianti Classico (Marchesi Antinori), Best Vineyard in the World 2022, has entered into the World’s Best Vineyards Hall of Fame, which is reserved for vineyards that have topped the winning list.
The Top 50 list was announced at an event attended by media from all over the world at Bodegas Beronia in the heart of Rioja Alta, which is recognised as one of the most sustainable wineries in Europe. Rioja, Spain’s finest wine region and host of the event, holds two of Spain’s four places in the Top 50 list and with Bodegas Muga (number 49) in addition to Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal (number two).
Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in Rioja took second place, and Best Vineyard in Europe.
Andrew Reed, Managing Director Wine and Exhibitions at William Reed, comments: “The World’s Best Vineyards continues to highlight wine tourism destinations around the globe and with an impressive list of new entries this year, it’s more important than ever. We’ve found that local and international tourists are looking for experiences that offer a whole host of activities and our host Rioja truly fits the bill with stunning scenery, delicious food and of course, amazing wines”.
Fernando Ezquerro, Chairman of the QDO Rioja Regulatory Board (President of Denominacion de Origen Calificada Rioja) says: “It is an honour to host the prestigious World’s Best Vineyards 2023 event and a great opportunity to show the world why Rioja is Spain’s finest wine region. We are proud of the results, with four wineries from Rioja on the list and two of them in the Top 50. Rioja’s history and traditions have led it to establish itself not only as the leading winemaking region in Spain, but also as the country’s go-to destination for wine tourism, which has had a driving effect on the seasonality and diversification of tourism in Spain. Our passion for hospitality and wine-making makes Rioja such a special place to visit.”
The Top 51-100 vineyards list can be found on www.worldsbestvineyards.com and on social @worldsbestvineyards on Facebook and Instagram and @wbestvineyards on Twitter.
