Top 5 Wineries Wine Lovers Must Visit in 2020
by
Heidi Jones
Hello, wine, connoisseurs! Wondering where to go this year to enjoy and experience the rich and complex heaven that is the world of wine? That sweet vacation time that you’ve wanted to take for months is about to lapse, but you don’t know where to go? We got you covered. This list covers the best places in Europe, North and South America, so vicinity should not be a problem. Whether you love famous reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, or Whites like Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, these are the places you must visit this year!
ZUCCARDI VALLE DE UCO
The first place on this list from Argentina is the Zuccardi Valle de Uco. Being managed by Sebastián Zuccardi, it's a must-visit winery for wine lovers around the world. It is primarily driven by a terroir group of wines, especially the high altitude limestone terroir, which the Uco Valley is famous for.
Zuccardi Valle de Uco is more than just a winery, as it is set 1100 meters above sea level and offers a terrific view of the Andes range of mountains. The two wine tasting rooms of Zuccardi Valle De Uco (One under a dome that reflects the sky, and the other next to the barrel rooms) offers you a chance to taste the rich limestone terroirs while enjoying nature. Sitting next to the Tunyan river, this place is an architectural gem, offering fantastic views of the Uco Valley, while being functional.
The Zuccardi family does not only aim to produce the best wine in the world but also creates the wines which best represent the region the best. Open from Wednesday to Sundays; this place is a must-visit for every wine lover out there.
LAVAUX VINEYARD
The most famous Lavaux vineyard in Switzerland is a UNESCO heritage site. This site is rumored to have been producing wine from the Roman era, though the actual terraces have only begun operations from the eleventh century AD. Famous for the Chasselas group of wine, this vineyard has a Mediterranean style of wine-making, though, being in the temperate zone, which can be accredited to the fact that the sloping terraces and the reflection of the sun and the sky in the lake. It is a vast complex comprising of 830 hectares of terraced vineyards, which stretches along the northern shores of Lake Geneva. Synthetic pesticides have not been used here since 2016.
The tourism office of Switzerland recommends the hiking trail called Terrasses de Lavaux, going from Saint-Saphorin to Lutry. However, this is only one of the many hiking trails available for public access. This vineyard is one of five Vaudois regions and the most spectacular of them all. The Lavaux Vineyard offers tourists the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Lauvax winemaker, provided reservations are made at least a week in advance.
CHATEAU MONTELENA
No list of wineries would be complete without one from the legendary Napa Valley from California. Initially named A L Tubbs winery after its original winemaker, Alfred Tubbs, Chateau Montelena was initially intended to be a barrel-ageing facility. The chateau is famous for its whites, especially Chardonnay, and is known for its historic victory in the "Judgement of Paris' 'wine competition in 1976. The winery is unique when compared to the other wineries in the Napa Valley, thanks to the architectural design of the place. Unlike other wineries here, Chateau Montelena resembles an English Gothic castle gatehouse with narrow arched windows, basement with crenels and merlons and rusticated stone walls.
MARQUES DE RISQUAL
This Iconic place famous for its classic Rioja and an exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon is situated in the Rioja wine region and is often dubbed as “the city of wine”. The extremely famous Bordeaux inspired this Winery. Opened for public access in 2006, this Spanish Winery has become a significant tourist attraction and is a must-visit for every wine connoisseur. It also consists of Marqués de Riscal hotel, built by the legendary visionary Frank Gehry and two iconic restaurants famous for its Riojan style of cooking. The climate here was found incredibly suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon and has since become the signature wine of this Winery.
Moreover, the Riscal hotel is an excellent place for wine lovers to visit, since there are plenty of other wine attractions, like one of the largest wine museums in the world, Museo del Vino Dinastía Vivanco, are exceptionally near to this Winery. Marqués de Riscal is everything a wine traveller can hope for and more, as it offers an impeccable experience. Since its first harvest in the year 1862, a sample of every single vintage has been collected and stored in the Riscal, making it one of the oldest wine collections in the world.
BODEGA GARZON
Uruguay, often overlooked as a wine travelling country, when compared to the size and status of neighbouring wine regions of Argentina and Chile, houses one of the best wineries in the world. Bodega Garzon, established as recently as 2016, is a tourist attraction for every wine lover since then, going as far as to rank no.2 in the worlds best vineyard’s top 50 of 2019. This eighty-five million dollar project, complete with a luxury hotel, is setting standards for not only Uruguay but has become a pioneer of winemaking for the entire South American wine region. Dining here has become one of the main tourist attractions thanks to the Patagonian style of open fire cooking and dining, along with the barbeque experience. This winery focuses on the wines of the cooler climate, with varieties of Tanat a being the main focus.
Influenced by the cross breeze freshness from the Atlantic ocean, this entire project has become the benchmark for sustainability and quality. One other tourist attraction of this place is the sky balloon experience, using which a bird’s eye view of this magnificent place can be seen. Bodega Garzon is the first-ever winery to have earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for both its winemaking and hospitality.
What are you waiting for? Speak to your travel agents, and visit these spectacular wineries around the world now, and experience the rich experience of wine, grapes and everything else NOW.
