Top winery destinations include 10 of South Africa’s national treasures
WHO WOULD have thought that of the Top 100 winery destinations in the world, seven are in Lebanon, three in Russia? None in China, surprisingly enough, but there’s at least one worth seeking out in Japan, and one in India too! In the third year of the World’s Best Vineyards Academy awards organised and compiled by William Reed Business Media (UK), Zuccardi Valle de Uco of Mendoza in Argentina was declared the winner (again), with other countries to excel among the Top 10 including Spain and Chile, also with two wineries each.
Waving the flag for South Africa were Creation of Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge between Hermanus and Caledon, who placed 10th, Delaire Graff Estate of Banghoek/Helshoogte in Stellenbosch and Klein Constantia outside Cape Town, also among the Top 50, followed by seven more Cape wine farms inside the Top 100: Spier, Waterford and Tokara of Stellenbosch, Babylonstoren of Paarl, Steenberg of Tokai, Groot Constantia, and Haute Cabrière in Franschhoek.
The Academy comprises some 600 wine aficionados, sommeliers, and luxury travel correspondents from across the globe. Each has been selected for his or her expert opinion of the international wine and wine tourism scene, and representing South Africa among the 22 co-chairs involved in the voting process was Cape Wine Master Winne Bowman. Each chair is responsible for recruiting 36 wine and travel experts, each tasked with voting for seven vineyards in order of preference. There is no pre-determined checklist of criteria, except that the vineyard must be open to the public. Each vote is a nomination for a vineyard experience that they deem to be the best – the experience involving all things associated with the visit (the tour, tasting, ambience, wine, food, staff, view, value for money, reputation, accessibility). For the 2021 Top 100, see below, for a video of the Top 50, click here, and for more about the Academy, click here.
* * * * *
The owners of Creation, Swiss winemaker JC Martin and his South African wife Carolyn, have a thoroughly modern approach to farming, winemaking and hospitality. Gastronomes can choose from an array of wine-pairing options and guests are encouraged to explore the grounds, where they’ll encounter numerous works of art, and further afield, where there are hiking and cycling safaris though indigenous fynbos vegetation.
* * * * *
From the elegant terrace at Delaire Graff, you can sip wine whilst basking in a vista that stretches from the vineyards out to Table Mountain and the Indian Ocean at False Bay. Inside, the marble and rosewood boutique glimmers with diamonds, and beyond the botanical gardens with water features, exclusive lodges each have their own terrace and plunge pool. Besides a top winery, the luxurious retreat of British diamond dealer Laurence Graff OBE encompasses a world-class art collection, a five-star hotel, spa, three stores and two restaurants, with guests at the Asian-inspired Indochine dining underneath a swirling flock of over 1300 suspended (perspex) swallows.
* * * * *
Close to Cape Town, the leafy hills of Klein Constantia are the backdrop to a corner of the winelands dating back to the 17th century, the sprawling, historic farm comprising 146ha that visitors can cover on foot, on a bike or by way of a 4×4 tour. The traditional Cape Dutch homestead is contrasted by a contemporary winery which boasts a modern tasting studio and restaurant. With jacaranda trees hanging overhead, food at The Bistro puts a European spin on South African cuisine, and the cheese course is the perfect accompaniment to the famous Vin de Constance, a recreation of the famous dessert wine eulogised over the centuries by authors and poets, insisted on by King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Queen Victoria, Napoleon…
‘WORLD’S BEST VINEYARDS’
1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
2. Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain
3. Château Margaux, Bordeaux, France
4. Bodega Garzón, Maldonado, Uruguay
5. Montes, Colchagua Valley, Chile
6. Antinori nel Chianti Classico (Marchesi Antinori), Tuscany, Italy
7. Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina
8. Viña VIK, Cachapoal Valley, Chile
9. González Byass – Bodegas Tío Pepe, Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, Spain
10. Creation, Walker Bay, South Africa
11. Craggy Range, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
12. Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Bordeaux, France
13. Champagne Taittinger, Champagne, France
14. Karam Wines, Southern Lebanon, Lebanon
15. Rippon, Central Otago, New Zealand
16. Quinta do Crasto, Douro Valley, Portugal
17. Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile
18. Trapiche, Mendoza, Argentina
19. Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde, Portugal
20. Sikory Winery, Krasnodar, Russia
21. Château Oumsiyat, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
22. Domäne Wachau, Wachau, Austria
23. Lefkadia Valley, Krasnodar, Russia
24. El Enemigo Wines, Mendoza, Argentina
25. Henschke, South Australia, Australia
26. Familia Torres – Pacs del Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
27. Soalheiro, Vinho Verde, Portugal
28. Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley, Chile
29. Quinta do Noval, Douro Valley, Portugal
30. Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa
31. d’Arenberg, South Australia, Australia
32. Abadía Retuerta, Castilla y León, Spain
33. Château Mercian Mariko Winery, Nagano, Japan
34. Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau, Germany
35. Bodega Colomé, Salta, Argentina
36. Château Mouton Rothschild, Bordeaux, France
37. Penfolds Magill Estate, South Australia, Australia
38. Quinta do Bomfim, Douro Valley, Portugal
39. Château Héritage, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
40. Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa Valley, United States
41. Viña Casas del Bosque, Casablanca Valley, Chile
42. SuperUco, Mendoza, Argentina
43. Bodegas RE, Casablanca Valley, Chile
44. Klein Constantia, Constantia, South Africa
45. Viu Manent, Colchagua Valley, Chile
46. Weingut Dr. Loosen, Mosel, Germany
47. Ridge Vineyards – Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, United States
48. Château Cana, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
49. Quinta do Vallado, Douro Valley, Portugal
50. Quinta do Infantado, Douro Valley, Portugal
51. Château Pichon Baron, Bordeaux, France
52. Felton Road, Central Otago, New Zealand
53. Bodega El Esteco, Salta, Argentina
54. Opus One Winery, Napa Valley, United States
55. Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Champagne, France
56. Quinta da Pacheca, Douro Valley, Portugal
57. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Napa Valley, United States
58. Château Mukhrani, Mukhrani, Georgia
59. Château d’Yquem, Bordeaux, France
60. Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Douro Valley, Portugal
61. Ferrari Trento, Trento, Italy
62. Szepsy Winery, Tokaj, Hungary
63. Black Estate, North Canterbury, New Zealand
64. Seppeltsfield Barossa, South Australia, Australia
65. Atibaia, Northern Lebanon, Lebanon
66. Bodega Bouza, Montevideo, Uruguay
67. Bodegas Salentein, Mendoza, Argentina
68. Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch, South Africa
69. Ata Rangi, Martinborough, New Zealand
70. Château Qanafar, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
71. Mission Hill Family Estate, British Columbia, Canada
72. Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa
73. Ceretto, Piedmont, Italy
74. Tyrrell’s, New South Wales, Australia
75. Château Haut-Brion, Bordeaux, France
76. Viñedos de Alcohuaz, Elqui Valley, Chile
77. Domaine Sigalas, Santorini, Greece
78. Cullen Wines, Western Australia, Australia
79. Man O’ War Vineyards, Waiheke Island, New Zealand
80. Gai-Kodzor, Krasnodar, Russia
81. Pago de Carraovejas, Castilla y León, Spain
82. Château Khoury, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
83. GAJA, Piedmont, Italy
84. Steenberg, Tokai/Constantia, South Africa
85. Bodegas Tradición, Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, Spain
86. Groot Constantia, Constantia, South Africa
87. Viña Errázuriz, Aconcagua Valley, Chile
88. Waterford Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa
89. Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, France
90. KRSMA Estates, Karnataka, India
91. Kumeu River Wines, Auckland, New Zealand
92. Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Sonoma County, United States
93. Wine Cellar Villa Melnik, Melnik Region, Bulgaria
94. Domaine Henri Bourgeois, Loire Valley, France
95. Viña Casa Marín, San Antonio, Chile
96. Villard Fine Wines, Casablanca Valley, Chile
97. Tokara Winery, Stellenbosch, South Africa
98. Haute Cabrière, Franschhoek, South Africa
99. Leeuwin Estate, Western Australia, Australia
100. Marqués de Murrieta Estates & Wines, Rioja, Spain
