Welcome to Valle del Uco. A beautiful evening and warm welcome by the Zuccardi family is followed by a glass-in-hand walk through the impressive premises of their winery, complete with tango on the fermentation tanks and a classical string quartet in the bodega culminating in the restaurant area sprinkled with individual stands of winemakers offering a taste of their wines.
World’s Best Vineyards has revealed this year’s top wine destinations for 2022 at an event held last month in Argentina’s wine capital, Mendoza. The event, which was hosted by James Suckling, gathered over 100 of the world’s top wine buyers and media to discuss the future of wine tourism. Speaking at the event, Suckling said: “The vineyards that made our list this year offer travelers unique wine experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. These are the places that wine lovers should be visiting in the next few years.”
The annual list, which highlights the world’s finest and most diverse vineyards globally, announced the Top 50 with the innovative Antinori nel Chianti Classico in Tuscany, Italy, topping the list for the first time. Italy also celebrated the highest climber accolade, with sparkling wine producer Ferrari Trento moving 50 places up the list to 11.
Spain’s Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, with its longstanding history and breathtaking architecture, took second place for two years in a row, whilst Chilean vineyards, Montes and VIK Winery, achieved third and fourth place. Montes also took continent winner for South America, with Robert Mondavi Winery, described as the ‘soul of Napa Valley, ’ topping North America. The best in Africa was revealed as Creation in South Africa, whilst Henschke in Australia topped the list with the stunning winery in Eden Valley. France and Portugal had the highest overall split of vineyards, each taking 11 spots on this year’s Top 100 list.
The 2022 list includes more countries than ever, with 20 from all six continents featured. It also includes exciting first-time entrants from India, Bulgaria, and Greece, highlighting the recent growth in the industry. There were more English entries than ever before, with Balfour Winery (78), Gusbourne (85), and Nyetimber (93) joining Ridgeview at number 73.
This year’s host, Zuccardi Valle de Uco, has been promoted to the World’s Best Vineyard’s Hall of Fame after coming top of the list three years in a row. Going forward, the new category will be formed of vineyards that top the annual vote of the World’s 50 Best Vineyards and are, therefore, no longer eligible to be voted for on new editions of the list.
The World’s Best Vineyards for 2022 have been announced, and it’s a fantastic collection of wineries to visit. From the picturesque vineyards of Italy to the stunning landscapes of South Africa, there is something for everyone. So start planning your trip now and enjoy the incredible wines of the world.
