Whilst I was travelling in Argentina last year, I discovered that one of the Wine Estates that I visited in Mendoza, Zuccardi Piedra Infinita in the Uco Valley, was named the Number One Vineyard in the World, an inaugural ranking of the World’s 50 Best Vineyards, a similar ranking competition as the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and organised by the same publishing company William Reed in the UK. I am even more delighted to see that Zuccardi has been named the Number one Vineyard in the world yet again, in the 2020 ranking, and that Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch has been named the 14th Best Vineyard in the World, and the Best in Africa, as well as the Highest Climber, having been ranked at Number 39 last year.
Zuccardi Piedra Infinita in Mendoza Uco Valley Best restaurant in Argentina!
The background to the Best Vineyard in the World. competition was summarised in my Blogpost in 2019, when I questioned a number of aspects about the competition and its judging :
In these Covid-19 times all news is good news, and hence my delight in reading that Delaire Graff Estate has done so well for our country and our continent in this Vineyard competition, especially given the dire straits the South African wine industry is in, in not being able to sell wine domestically for a second time during our Covid Lockdown.
The 2020 Top 20 Vineyards in the world, as listed by CNN Travel, are as follows, Delaire Graff being the only South African Wine Estate making this top end of the list:
The world’s best vineyards
No other South African vineyards made it onto the Top 50 list on the World’s Best Vineyards List. Last year Vergelegen was ranked at Number 34, Delaire Graff Estate at Number 39, and Creation at Number 45.
The achievement of Delaire Graff Estate is all the more exceptional when it beat such internationally renowned wine estates such as Château Mouton Rothschild, Château d’Yquem, Champagne Billecart Salmon, and Champagne Taittinger.
Delaire Graff Estate was praised as follows: ‘Flawless views across the Banghoek Valley; flavour-packed Asian tapas at Indochine restaurant.’ Its Chardonnay and Bordeaux blends made by winemaker Morne Vrey are praised in particular.
Photograph: Indochine Restautant at Delaire Graaff Estate, via Google Imagre.
Delaire Graff Estate, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch. Tel 021 885-8160. www.delaire.co.za
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein
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