The top vineyards worldwide for 2019 have been announced

Forget about dilapidated French châteaux. For the ultimate vineyard getaway, think of a secretive lair perched in the breathtaking mountains and valleys of South America, straight out of a Bond movie.

On Monday evening, wine connoisseurs, culinary experts, and travel professionals from across the globe gathered at London’s Banqueting House for the inaugural World’s Best Vineyard Awards, created to celebrate the finest in contemporary wine tourism.

This year’s winner is an Argentinian winery nestled in the lush Uco Valley at the base of the Andes Mountains. The family-owned Zuccardi Valle de Uco, founded in 1963, opened a striking modernist winery in 2016, designed by architects Tom Hughes, Fernando Raganato, and Eugenia Mora.

José Alberto Zuccardi, managing director, proudly accepted the award beneath the frescoed ceiling of the 17th-century Banqueting House, saying, “We have three generations working together in wine. It’s a wonderful way to connect with wine enthusiasts.”

Complete package

A total of 1,500 wineries from across the globe were nominated for the awards, with approximately 3,500 votes cast by a global panel of wine tourism experts.

“Wine is a true reflection of its unique environment, its terroir,” explained Andrew Reed, the founder of the awards. “It’s not just the wine itself, but the entire experience.”

South America took center stage in the top 10, with awards granted to two wineries from Argentina, two from Chile, and one from Uruguay. Chile emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, with eight vineyards making it into the top 50.

The renowned wine regions of France and Italy did not perform as strongly. The top-ranking French vineyard, Château Smith Haut Lafitte near Bordeaux, secured 16th place, though France still placed seven wineries overall in the rankings.

Italy’s top vineyard, Antinori nel Chianti Classico in Tuscany, ranked 18th. Its stunning new cellar, completed in 2012, is a striking terracotta and wood structure that, according to awards host Nigel Barden, “feels more like a place of worship than a wine storage facility.”

Grapes, vistas, and fine dining

Bodega Garzón is located in Uruguay’s coastal Maldonado region.

Bodega Garzón is situated in Uruguay’s coastal Maldonado region. Courtesy of Bodega Garzón/World’s Best Vineyards

Uruguay’s Bodega Garzón, ranked second, was recognized for its leadership in sustainability. Like the other top vineyards, it offers exceptional tastings and events, while its 120-seat restaurant serves traditional Uruguayan cuisine with breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside.

Spain’s López de Heredia Viña Tondonia, a Rioja winery managed by the López de Heredia family for nearly 150 years, claimed third place and was named the Best Vineyard in Europe.

New Zealand’s Rippon, a biodynamic vineyard set on the shores of Lake Wanaka, secured eighth place and earned the title of Best Vineyard in Australasia.

The highest-ranking North American entry was Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley, renowned for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon. As awards host Nigel Barden put it, “It’s not just about the wine; the food is extraordinary.”

Cape Town’s Vergelegen Wine Estate, with its lush gardens, exquisite cuisine, and 300-year legacy, ranked 34th and was named Best in Africa.

Lebanon’s rising wine industry was represented by Chateau Heritage (ranked 49th), which earned the title of Best in the Middle East and Asia.

The top 50 vineyards included representatives from 17 countries, with the UK’s Ridgeview at No. 36 and Canada’s Mission Hill Winery at No. 50 proudly standing alongside the world’s most established wine regions.

Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid designed the 2012 pavilion for R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia.

Zaha Hadid was the visionary behind the 2012 pavilion for R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia. Courtesy of R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia/World’s Best Vineyards

Spain’s Marques de Riscal winery, ranked 9th, is renowned for its striking design by iconic architect Frank Gehry. It embodies the new wave of vineyards where cutting-edge architecture meets exceptional wines and gourmet dining experiences.

South Australia’s d’Arenberg Cube, ranked 29th, is an ultra-modern five-story structure in the heart of McLaren Vale. It features a wine sensory room, a virtual fermenter, and even an Alternate Realities Museum for a truly immersive experience.

Chile’s Clos Apalta, placed 6th, is a six-story building made of wood, glass, and steel, designed by Roberto Benavente Riquelme and Amercanda Office. It houses a wine library, while Argentina’s Catena Zapata, ranked 5th, boasts a pyramid-like design influenced by ancient Mayan architecture.

The late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, renowned for her work on projects like the San Francisco Museum of Art and Baku’s Heydar Aliyev Center, designed a pavilion for Spain’s R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia to mark the winery’s 125th anniversary.

This is yet another example of how the world’s finest vineyards blend time-honored tradition and terroir with cutting-edge innovation and forward-thinking design.