Here at Boss Hunting, we’re more than partial to a nice bottle of claret (check out Liquid Intel for some great suggestions), and it comes as no surprise that Australia is home to more than a couple of the world’s 50 best wineries in 2023. In a list that was dominated at the pointy end by South American vineyards – as well as many of the usual suspects in Europe – this top 50 is well worth consulting before you plan your next wine tour.
As you might expect, all three Australian wineries in the list of the world’s 50 best are in South Australia and include d’Arenberg coming in at 17th, Henschke at 26th and Penfolds Magill Estate at 44th for 2023. The best-placed winery in our neck of the woods was Lake Wanaka-based Rippon which came in at 11th, the family-run and biodynamically-farmed operation that’s been producing excellent wine since 1989.
The overall winner was Catena Zapata, in Argentina, which was one of six South American operators in the top ten for this year. The Spanish Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal was placed second, while Vik in Chile rounded out the podium.
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The criteria for selection was based on a vote from “nearly 500 wine, travel and wine tourism experts from across the globe.” Rather than focusing on the wine itself, the voting members judge the “overall experiences they deem to be the best in the world” of wineries, taking into account the atmosphere, tasting experience and more.
Here’s the full list:
1. Catena Zapata, Argentina
2. Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, Spain
3. Vik, Chile
4. Creation Wines, South Africa
5. Château Smith Haut Lafitte, France
6. Bodega Garzón, Uruguay
7. Montes, Chile
8. Domäne Schloss Johannisberg, Germany
9. Bodegas Salentein, Argentina
10. El Enemigo Wines, Argentina
11. Rippon, New Zealand; Australasia
12. Weingut Dr. Loosen, Germany
13. Finca Victoria – Durigutti Family Winemakers, Argentina
14. Domäne Wachau, Austria
15. Quinta do Crasto, Portugal
16. Quinta do Noval, Portugal
17. d’Arenberg, Australia
18. Château d’Yquem, France
19. Château Pape Clément, France
20. Jordan Vineyard & Winery, US
21. González Byass – Bodegas Tio Pepe, Spain
22. Maison Ruinart, France
23. Champagne Bollinger, France (New Entry)
24. Bodega Colomé, Argentina
25. Viñedos de Alcohuaz, Chile (New Entry)
26. Henschke, Australia
27. Abadía Retuerta, Spain
28. Brooks Wine, US (New Entry)
29. Ceretto, Italy
30. Bodega Bouza, Uruguay (New Entry)
31. Champagne Billecart-Salmon, France
32. Klein Constantia Winery, South Africa
33. Château Pichon Baron, France
34. Château de Beaucastel, France (New Entry)
35. Szepsy Winery, Hungary (New Entry)
36. Delaire Graff Estate, South Africa
37. Viña Casas del Bosque, Chile
38. Château Mercian Mariko Winery, Japan
39. Clos Apalta, Chile
40. Graham’s Port Lodge, Portugal
41. Château Kefraya, Lebanon (New Entry)
42. Quinta do Seixo (Sandeman), Portugal
43. Viu Manent, Chile
44. Penfolds Magill Estate, Australia
45. Disznókő, Hungary (New Entry)
46. Veuve Clicquot, France (New Entry)
47. Château Mukhrani, Georgia (New Entry)
48. Bodega Diamandes, Argentina (New Entry)
49. Bodegas Muga, Spain (New Entry)
50. Viña Errázuriz, Chile (New Entry)
