South American vineyard Zuccardi Valle de Uco has been voted the World’s Best Vineyard for the second year running

World’s Best Vineyards, which promotes wine tourism around the world, has revealed its Top 50 list of greatest wine tourism destinations in the world for 2020. The list, created by William Reed in partnership with Sonoma County Winegrowers, was presented in the organisation’s first ever virtual vineyard awards event on 13 July. The 2020 Top 50 vineyards represented 18 countries and included first-time winners from India, Bulgaria and Japan. 

Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco was awarded the best vineyard in the world and the best vineyard in South America for the second year running, with Uruguay’s Bodega Garzón also retaining its second place ranking for a second consecutive year. The best in Europe was Domäne Wachau in Austria, which jumped 16 places to take the third-place spot. 

Founder Andrew Reed praised the wine industry for its quick adaptability to restrictions on travel due to the ongoing Covid-19 world health emergency in his opening speech. 

“It is testament to this amazing community of winemakers and wineries that your flexibility and speed of response has allowed you to adapt your business model to survive, and even thrive,” he said.  

The World’s Best Vineyards list also celebrates the diversity across established and emerging wine tourism destinations. This year, 17 new destinations made their debut on the list, including Japan’s Château Mercian Mariko Winery (number 30), named best vineyard in Asia. >>

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Other outstanding wineries included Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, California (voted fifth in the world as well as best vineyard in North America); Rippon in New Zealand (best vineyard in Australasia) and; Delaire Graff Estate in South Africa (best vineyard in Africa).

Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers, who had aimed to physically host the awards, said: “This year’s virtual announcement is a reflection of the ways in which wineries around the world, and not least our own here in Sonoma Country, have so skilfully adapted to the current situation. Many wineries in Sonoma County are once again opening their doors to visitors and we look forward to another great season.” 

Kruse also announced the highest-ranking vineyard in Sonoma County, Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The winery is every bit as immersive as Coppola’s unforgettable films and features an extensive array of attractions from a landscaped park to restaurants, swimming pools with poolside cabanas, a cinema, a film gallery, bocce courts and a performing arts pavilion.