“World’s Best Vineyards 2023”: Ceretto best winery in Italy, Antinori in the “Hall of Fame”

Catena Zapata, in Argentina, is the most beautiful winery in the world, while Ceretto, an icon of Langhe, with its “Grape” on the vineyards and beyond, is the most beautiful in Italy. That's the verdict of the “World’s Best Vineyards 2023”, announced yesterday (late in the evening), in Rioja, which thus sees the famous Argentine winery join in the “Hall of Fame” (and for this out of the competition) the monumental Antinori winery in Chianti Classico, at No. 1 in 2022, and Zuccardi Valle de Uco, again from Argentina (at the top for three consecutive years, from 2019 to 2021, in a period, however, conditioned by the Covid period, and with a less dynamic list, ed.). And while rounding out the 2023 podium are two other wineries of enormous appeal, such as Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in Rioja, Spain, and Vik, from the Cachpoal Valley, Chile, Ceretto, led by one of the families that have most marked the recent history of Langhe food and wine, with wine, but also with hazelnut groves and with haute cuisine, with Alba’s Piazza Duomo, three Michelin stars, along with chef Enrico Crippa, and the underlying La Piola signature trattoria, and with the pastry brand “Relanghe”, is in this edition the only Italian company in the “Top 50”, at no. 29, joined, looking at the top 100 positions, by Villa Sandi, a Palladian-style marvel at the heart of one of the most important names in Prosecco, owned by the Polegato family, at No. 54, followed, at No. 59, by the historic Tenuta San Leonardo, excellence of Trentino owned by the Guerrieri Gonzaga family. At No. 62, however, it goes down to Sicily, with Donnafugata, one of the wineries that marked the renaissance of wine on the island, under the leadership of the Rallo family, which is just ahead of Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, a reference point for the wine of Irpinia, owned by the Pepe family. At No. 87, on the other hand, is Castello Banfi, a winery that has marked the contemporary history of the Brunello di Montalcino area, under the steadfast leadership of the Mariani family, while, at position No. 99, there is Ferrari Trento, Trentodoc’s No. 1 winery, and from where the Lunelli family's wine adventure began.
“The list each year surprises us with unique vineyards, unparalleled visitor experiences, futuristic or UNESCO-protected architecture, and family-run wineries with intimate tours. A list that provides an overview of the best all-around wine experiences. It is with great happiness that we welcome this special award, which sees us rise in the ranking, to No. 29”, comments the Ceretto family, according to whom the award is “a recognition of our daily work: from the vineyard to the reception space of Tenuta Monsordo Bernardina, topped by the iconic “Grape”. It is an immersive place to get an in-depth understanding of our everyday life, from the vineyards of the Langhe to those of the Roero. Our tale begins with a map that denotes and limits the thousand faces of this land. A journey that we conclude with the tasting of the different peculiarities that each of our wines is able to express, in full respect of the Langa terroir”. The global wine tourism competition, a note states, was launched in London by William Reed in 2019, and despite the difficulties related to the pandemic, in its first years it is confirmed, at edition No. 5, an expected reference for this booming segment. The parameters are many and not rigidly limited; rather, it is the overall experience of the experts that defines the value of winery hospitality.
The rankings are formed by looking at experiences from 22 important wine-producing regions and countries of the world, each with a panel of 36 professionals including sommeliers, journalists and experts in the wine tourism and food and wine sector led by a panel leader who in Italy is Chiara Giorleo, a freelance food and wine critic and trainer; seven preferences each to be assigned between wineries in their home country and abroad to be freely indicated (there is no predefined list), complete with reasons to arrive at the final calculation to which the votes of all the panels concur, defining the best 100 wineries in the world in terms of hospitality.
“It is a tension-filled wait that precedes the revelation of the 100 names and often a surprise to discover the favorite wine tourism destinations of international colleagues: the votes of all the panels contribute to the definition of the ranking, not only that of one’s own country. This is without neglecting the value of the tour in the host country of the awards - like this one in Rioja - with the hope that one day we can bring the appointment to Italy”, declares the Italian contact person for the “World’s Best Vineyards 2023” competition, Chiara Giorleo.

Focus - La “World’s Best Vineyards 2023”
1 Catena Zapata - Argentina
2 Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal - Spagna
3 VIK - Cile
4 Creation - Sudafrica
5 Château Smith Haut Lafitte - Francia
6 Bodega Garzón - Uruguay
7 Montes - Cile
8 Domäne Schloss Johannisberg - Germany
9 Bodegas Salentein - Argentina
10 El Enemigo Wines - Argentina
11 Rippon - New Zealand
12 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Germany
13 Finca Victoria - Durigutti Family Winemakers - Argentina
14 Domäne Wachau - Austria
15 Quinta do Crasto - Portogallo
16 Quinta do Noval - Portogallo
17 d’Arenberg - Australia
18 Château d’Yquem - Francia
19 Château Pape Clément - Francia
20 Jordan Vineyard & Winery - US
21 González Byass – Bodegas Tio Pepe - Spagna
22 Maison Ruinart - Francia
23 Champagne Bollinger - Francia
24 Bodega Colomé - Argentina
25 Viñedos de Alcohuaz - Cile
26 Henschke - Australia
27 Abadía Retuerta - Spagna
28 Brooks Wine - US
29 Ceretto - Italy
30 Bodega Bouza - Uruguay
31 Champagne Billecart-Salmon - Francia
32 Klein Constantia Winery - Sudafrica
33 Château Pichon Baron - Francia
34 Château de Beaucastel - Francia
35 Szepsy Winery - Ungheria
36 Delaire Graff Estate - Sudafrica
37 Viña Casas del Bosque - Cile
38 Château Mercian Mariko Winery - Giappone
39 Clos Apalta - Cile
40 Graham’s Port Lodge -Portogallo
41 Château Kefraya - Libano
42 Quinta do Seixo (Sandeman) - Portogallo
43 Viu Manent - Cile
44 Penfolds Magill Estate - Australia
45 Disznókő - Ungheria
46 Veuve Clicquot - Francia
47 Château Mukhrani - Georgia
48 Bodega Diamandes - Argentina
49 Bodegas Muga - Spagna
50 Viña Errázuriz - Cile
51 Joseph Drouhin
52 Château Haut-Brion
53 Benguela Cove
54 Villa Sandi
55 Quinta Da Pacheca
56 Mission Hill Family Estate
57 Château Mouton Rothschild
58 Craggy Range
59 Tenuta San Leonardo
60 William Chris Vineyards
61 Gusbourne
62 Donnafugata - Marsala
63 Karam Wines
64 Soalheiro
65 Tenuta Cavalier Pepe
66 Quinta do Infantado
67 Matias Riccitelli
68 Chateau Beychevelle
69 Kaiken Wines
70 Cafayate Winery (Piattelli Vineyards)
71 Bodegas Ysios
72 Viña Santa Rita
73 Monte Bello (Ridge Vineyards)
74 Tokaj Oremus Pincészet
75 Cos d’Estournel
76 Bodegas Vivanco
77 Man O’ War Vineyards
78 Quinta da Aveleda
79 Villard Fine Wines
80 Canaan Winery
81 Kumeu River Wines
82 98WINEs
83 Bodega El Esteco
84 Schloss Gobelsburg
85 Herdade do Esporão
86 Robert Mondavi Winery
87 Castello Banfi
88 Coulée de Serrant
89 Maipo Andes (Viña Aquitania)
90 Nyetimber
91 Movia
92 Domaine Weinbach
93 SuperUco
94 Tokara Winery
95 Daou
96 Champagne Henri Giraud
97 Château Oumsiyat
98 Seppeltsfield Barossa
99 Ferrari Trento
100 Grace Vineyard