2025 World’s 50 Best Vineyards
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The 2025 edition of the World’s 50 Best Vineyards was revealed this year in Western Australia’s Margaret River, a region where food, wine, and ocean landscapes blend with effortless charm. The results reflect a wine-tourism world that is quickly evolving—where immersive experiences matter as much as the wines themselves, and where heritage estates and bold newcomers now stand shoulder to shoulder.
Vik in Chile Takes the Crown
The biggest headline this year belongs to Vik, the estate that rose to the top of the global ranking. Located in Chile’s Millahue Valley and surrounded by more than 4,000 hectares of natural reserve, Vik has crafted a vineyard experience that feels almost cinematic.
Its titanium-clad roof sweeps across the hilltop like a sculptural wave, and the glass-walled restaurant opens onto a panorama that captures vineyards, shifting light, and the distant Andes.
Rather than leaning on tradition, Vik embraces an immersive, design-driven identity: artist-themed rooms, horseback valley tours, and carefully choreographed food-and-wine experiences. It demonstrates a growing truth in wine tourism—great estates today don’t just pour great wine; they create unforgettable journeys.
Europe’s Depth Meets the New World’s Momentum
This year’s ranking paints an intriguing contrast. On one side are Europe’s storied estates—centuries old, deeply rooted in history. On the other is the New World, brimming with creativity and progressive experience design.
Schloss Johannisberg in Germany’s Rheingau earned Europe’s highest position at No. 2. Known as the birthplace of Riesling, its cellars, palace grounds, and terraced vineyards read like chapters of a living wine encyclopedia.
South Africa impressed as well. Klein Constantia, this year’s biggest climber, offered a blend of authenticity and scenic splendor—open-top vineyard drives followed by tastings of the world-renowned Vin de Constance.
North America’s top spot went to Jordan Vineyard & Winery in California. Its calm, elegant, food-driven experiences reflect a new phase of maturity in American wine travel—precise, thoughtful, and quietly luxurious.
Asia and Australasia Step Boldly Onto the World Stage
Asia delivered one of the most exciting performances this year. Japan’s 98Wines, crowned Best Vineyard in Asia, presents a style of wine tourism built on subtlety and nature: walking paths through hillside vineyards, the silhouette of Mt. Fuji in the distance, a nearby forest hotel, and a parallel craft-beer program that celebrates local creativity.
Meanwhile, Cloudy Bay in New Zealand marked a powerful regional debut, topping Australasia and reasserting Marlborough’s position as one of the world’s essential wine destinations. From terroir-focused tours to a seafood-paired tasting experience, its offering remains as polished as its global reputation.
New Entries and Returning Icons
With 11 newcomers and 8 estates returning to the list, the ranking shows just how dynamic the wine-tourism landscape has become.
Standouts include Aperture Cellars in Sonoma, which entered the list at No. 14 with its vineyard-specific “Site Series” concept, and returning names like Mission Hill, Château Mercian, Rippon, and Champagne Taittinger—all of which renewed or elevated their visitor experiences to earn their place again.
Three Global Trends Shape the Future of Wine Travel
A closer look at the ranking reveals several clear directions:
1. Luxury is now part of the narrative—not an add-on.
Vik’s combination of design, landscape, and hospitality shows that immersive storytelling is central to world-class wine tourism.
2. The global map is expanding.
Japan, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, and other non-European regions are emerging as top-tier destinations.
3. Wine tourism is becoming cultural tourism.
Forest pathways, historic cellars, open-top vineyard safaris, and chef-driven dining show that wine is increasingly intertwined with regional culture and lifestyle.
A New Definition of a “Great Vineyard Experience”
The 2025 list serves as a reminder that the world’s top vineyards no longer stand out by wine alone. What resonates today is authenticity, landscape, design, and the ability to craft emotional, memorable journeys.
From ancient German estates to futuristic Chilean landmarks, from Japanese mountainsides to South African valleys—each destination is redefining what it means to travel for wine.
In today’s world, a vineyard does more than make wine.
A great vineyard makes a journey worth remembering.
source: The World’s 50 Best Vineyards
