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MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 3

trong brands will play a vital CONTENTS role in leading the wine trade to a healthy future as the  HOW WE DID IT world emerges from Covid-19 lockdowns. The voting process explained SBillions of people are desperate to get the party started, reconnect with friends and toast a brave new dawn. However,  THE TOP  economic uncertainty still abounds, Full rundown of the World's and consumers are likely to seek the reassurance and safety that familiar Most Admired Wines brands can provide. This is the 11th year in which we have ƒ„ THE LIST compiled our de‰ nitive guide to The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands, and Your at-a-glance guide to the it features a vibrant mix of Old World full list – who’s up, who’s down classics, ambitious New World producers and who’s new and high-volume brands that oŽ er exceptional value for money. It provides a fascinating insight into the collective opinions of the most in‘ uential wine industry experts from across the globe. We polled wine buyers, sommeliers, wholesalers, bar owners, Masters of Wine, writers, educators and other specialists from every continent before arriving at this list. The wine brands featured in this magazine can help the trade signi‰ cantly boost sales as the world edges back towards a semblance of normality in 2021. There are wines to suit every budget, from entry-level brands to Bordeaux Premiers Crus. They act as regional champions, category signposts and industry leaders, and they have the potential to steer the wine trade into a new Roaring Twenties. We hope you enjoy learning more about these brands, and that you use this guide to help with your ranging decisions in the year ahead.

Martin Green MANAGING EDITOR

Main Contributor Art Editor Drinks International NIGEL HUDDLESTON AMBER STODDART Jubilee House, 56-58 Church Walk, Burgess Hill, Managing Editor Commercial Director West Sussex, RH15 9SN MARTIN GREEN ROB CULLEN T:+44 (0)1293 590040 F:+44 (0) 1293 474010 [email protected] [email protected] www.drinksint.com Production Editor Publisher JAQ BAYLES JUSTIN SMITH [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Researcher Managing Director OLI DODD RUSSELL DODD [email protected] [email protected] ISTOCK.COM HUSEYINYUK

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rinks International has spent the past decade assembling a broad voting academy featuring Dthe world’s leading wine experts. Our academy comprises wine buyers, sommeliers, wholesalers, bar owners, MWs, wine writers, educators and other wine specialists. They are not a liated with any brand, ensuring that the results are totally free of any form of voting bias. We asked each of these experts to name the  ve wine brands they most admire, in descending order. They were asked to consider the following criteria: • The quality and consistency of the wine. • The price to quality ratio. • The strength of the branding and marketing. The votes are weighted, so a brand is awarded  ve points if it secures a  rst placed vote, four points for second, three points for third, two points for fourth and a single point if a voter ranks it  ­ h. We then crunch the numbers to arrive at our  nal tally. Our academy features hundreds of wine experts from across the globe, and we work hard to ensure that there is a broad geographical and demographic spread. We consider it to be the most in€ uential group of global wine industry experts ever assembled. Voting took place during February 2021. The order of the list re€ ects the opinions of our academy members, all of whom are wine industry HOW WE professionals.

OUR ACADEMY DID IT FEATURES HUNDREDS OF the methodology behind the WINE EXPERTS voting process explained FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE ISTOCK.COM/NIXONCREATIVE

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Familia Torres’ single vineyard Grans Muralles with the Monastery of Poblet in the background

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FAMILIA TORRES

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN described Familia Torres as OWNER: TORRES FAMILY “an indisputable international THE 2021 MOST ADMIRED benchmark”, while another pain’s most famous WINE noted that it “continues to family wine producer BR AND IN THE produce a range of quality is no stranger to the WORLD wines at di‘erent levels… number one spot on combining the best of tradition our list and regains it and modernity”. Sfor 2021, moving up from third On the sustainability front, place a year ago. Torres reached a target to The company reached its reduce its carbon emissions by 150th anniversary in 2020, but 30% a year ahead of schedule, the Covid pandemic meant that a step on its mission to be major celebrations had to be “climate positive” by 2050. put on hold. It also teamed up with Smaller, presentational Jackson Family Wines of the events went online through US last year for the the year and allowed Torres collaborative project to reect again on its impact International Wineries for on the environment, an area Climate Action. “The idea is for which it has rightly won that it will be a trigger for other acclaim from many parts of the wineries to join and start or industry in recent years. accelerate the implementation Miguel Torres Maczassek, of carbon emission reduction general manager and ­h- programmes,” Torres generation of the family rm, Maczassek adds. says: “I am convinced that this Familia Torres – which screen communication will stay makes wine in Chile as well as with us a­er Covid. Spain – exports to more than “Perhaps we will be able to 150 countries, with growth in return to a normality in which the past ve years coming in we use less in fossil fuels, and key markets including Spain, to me this is a great learning Mexico, the UK, Ireland, from this situation.” Germany, the Netherlands, On the commercial front, Scandinavian countries, Torres Maczassek describes Russia, the US, Canada, South 2020 as “very challenging”, Korea and Japan. given on-trade closures around “Looking back,” says Torres the world, but adds: “Our Maczassek, “we see how, in sales in several countries – of the past 150 years, former course mainly in supermarkets, generations of the family have wine stores, monopolies and seen many crises, including in ecommerce – have actually wars and loss of markets that grown signi cantly, and I am a‘ected our company and the moderately optimistic for 2021. wine business in general. “One of the things we have “Covid is the challenge of my seen in this crisis is that Mireia and Miguel Torres Maczassek at the entrance generation but, as my family consumers have the tendency to the Mas La Plana vineyard did before, I am certain wine to stick to, or come back to, will nd a way to continue. well-established names like of timeless trust relationship “I believe that today a Familia Torres and our classic between the consumer and our I BELIEVE TODAY A glass of wine is more necessary brands like Sangre de Toro, wines.” GLASS OF WINE IS than ever as we have learned Viña Sol, Coronas or Viña This was reected in some MORE NECESSARY how important it is to celebrate Esmeralda. of the feedback from our THAN EVER life with our friends and “There seems to be a sort voting academy, one of whom family.”

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MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 9

CATENA

THE 2021 MOST ADMIRED WINE BR AND IN SOUTH AMERICA

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ARGENTINA 2020 couldn’t halt its progress the winery – myself, our promoted through social OWNER: CATENA FAMILY in many of these. “US sales winemakers, viticulturalists, media. increased signi­cantly, sales people – we have done “It was incredibly successful ur winery’s vision is especially for our Catena more than 500 Zoom tastings and has made us closer than to make Argentine Malbec, which is widely- since the pandemic started. ever to our restaurant partners, wines that stand distributed,” says Laura Catena. “We used a 10cl tube system whose business has completely with the best in the “The Netherlands has always in the Netherlands to create changed,” she adds. world,” says Catena been a strong market for three and ­ve-wine packs to But over and above all of this OZapata managing director Laura Argentine wine. Our sales were send to customers to introduce important sales and marketing Catena. The family-owned very strong in 2002 despite new vintages or show vintage creativity comes the product, producer, founded in 1902, restaurants and many wine progression. according to Laura Catena. would appear to be ful­lling its stores being closed. “These are much lighter “The priority is always mission, as a second successive “We’ve noted a and more sustainable than quality,” she says. “My father entry in the uppermost ranks of premiumisation of Malbec sending a full bottle and much told me when I started working our list attests. It is now the only sales in the UK.” appreciated by our customers.” with him and didn’t know Argentinian producer in the top South Korea, Switzerland, In Argentina, it launched anything about wine: ‘Laurita, 50, a ­tting achievement for a Norway, Spain, Mexico and a food and wine campaign quality always wins over winery which set the country Puerto Rico all saw sales with restaurants to help marketing. If you can make a on the journey of introducing growth for the company in them increase their delivery wine that is worth double its its Malbec to the world in the 2020. business, with a free bottle price you will always win’. 1990s. New wines introduced to accompany food orders “That is why, to this day, Catena Zapata is a champion during the year included prior to deciding if a wine is of Argentina’s most famous Catena Appellations White Clay good enough, we taste it blind grape and has its own massal – a Chenin Blanc/Semillion against wines twice its price. selection of 135 cuttings, blend from the Agrelo region “When we started exporting which it uses to plant all of the – and Catena Malbec Rosé, to 30 years ago, nobody knew family’s vineyards. date sold only in Brazil. WHEN WE STARTED about Argentina or Malbec. Apart from the domestic “Every country and every EXPORTING “Our icon wines, and market, Catena sees its biggest customer needed a di˜erent 30 YEARS AGO, Argentine wine as a whole, sales in the US, UK, Brazil, solution, and we were ready to NOBODY KNEW have received very positive Canada, the Netherlands and listen,” says Catena. ABOUT MALBEC press and are now being China – and the travails of “Between all of us at collected all over the world.”

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VEGA SICILIA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN OWNER: ÁLVAREZ FAMILY

ibera del Duero has been steadily building a reputation to rival that of nearby Rioja Ron the global wine scene over several decades, and Vega Sicilia has been at the forefront of that movement. The brand has been steadily nudging its way up the Most Admired list in recent years, from 14th place two years ago to ninth last year, and now earning a top-three berth. Although records of the Vega Sicilia name date back to 1577, its place in modern winemaking history has its roots in the mid-19th century. It was in 1864 that Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves returned from Bordeaux with cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, and planted them alongside the indigenous variety Tempranillo at Vega Sicilia. It was over a century later that bottle, –what the company Alex Hunt MW, Berkmann’s – and a tiny percentage hosting the estate started to become a describes as “probably the purchasing director, says: Malbec. It makes no wine from world force, a‰er the Álvarez world’s longest ageing of a red “Despite its august history grapes that are under 10 years family bought the property from wine” before release. and seemingly unassailable old and the average vine age is Venezuelan businessman Hans Único Reserva Especial is a reputation, Vega Sicilia strives 35 years. Neumann in 1982, the same year blend from diœerent vintages, for continual improvement The property is part of the that Ribera del Duero achieved sometimes decades apart, with an open-mindedness and Álvarez family’s Tempos Vega DO status. which Vega Sicilia calls “the energy that keeps it way ahead Sicilia group, built up in the Vega Sicilia, whose wines most profound essence of the of the game.” decades since taking over its are now sold in 88 countries, Vega Sicilia style”. Vega Sicilia has 52 plots ˜agship property. makes just three wines. One of our voting panel across 210ha and 19 identi•able Its winery portfolio includes Valbuena 5˚ is ostensibly a rated Vega Sicilia within a soil types, with the land nearby Alión, Pintia – 100km Tempranillo varietal – with a group of “outstanding wines divided between Tempranillo, down the Duero river in the little Merlot blended in if the that continue to consistently Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Toro region – and Macán, vintage dictates – aged for •ve over-achieve, and deliver top a joint venture in Rioja years in French and American quality year on year, produced established with Benjamin de oak and glass. by passionate winemakers and Rothschild in 2003. Único is the ˜agship blend caring professionals”. It also owns the Tokaji of Tempranillo and Cabernet This year kicked oœ with producer Oremus in Sauvignon, which goes Vega Sicilia signing a new VEGA SICILIA Hungary. unmade in years where the distribution deal with STRIVES FOR “Vega Sicilia can’t grow, so I harvest doesn’t come up to Berkmann Wine Cellars in CONTINUAL started creating other estates,” scratch, and is aged for six the UK, one of its key export IMPROVEMENT chief executive Pablo Álvarez years in wood and four in markets. told Bloomberg in 2018.

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HENSCHKE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: AUSTRALIA OWNER: HENSCHKE FAMILY

enschke’s Hill of Grace is one of THE RECOVERY select bunch of OF LENSWOOD Australian wines CONTINUES AT held in such high GREAT PACE Hregard by wine lovers that are truly worthy of the description “iconic”. The release last year reshot strongly to establish of the 2015 iteration of the a new trunk this season, for acclaimed Eden Valley Shiraz subsequent seasons to –ow. earned perfect 100 points scores We are even hopeful of picking from critics Nick Stock and a small amount of Pinot Noir Andrew Caillard MW, while from vines una—ected by the Australian wine writer Tyson bushŠre this year.” Stelzer named it his wine of the Apart from the domestic year. The actor Russell Crowe, market, Henschke enjoys the meanwhile, did the voiceover best of its annual global sales for the wine’s launch video. of 40,000 cases in the US, Hong There were also accolades Kong and the UK, where it for other wines and the established a new distribution company as a whole, with the partnership with Liberty Wines authoritative Halliday Wine at the start of 2020. Companion naming Henschke In that pandemic-hit year, as its 2021 Winery of the Year Justine Henschke adds: and Prue Henschke garlanded “Online sales, direct to as Viticulturist of the Year by consumers, grew as wine Delicious. lovers went online to purchase Decanter made the 2015 their wine for drinking in the vintage of the producer’s Mount comfort and safety of their Edelstone Eden Valley Shiraz own homes.” its Australian Red Wine of the The sixth-generation family- Year for 2020. owned winery has now been And now we can add to making wine for more than 150 that list a top Šve place in this years, marking that milestone year’s World’s Most Admired in 2018 with the opening list, a rise of 14 places from of a new cellar door that last year, and most notable of incorporates stone walls from all, deposing Penfolds from the family’s 1860s grain barn. a long-held status as the top THE 2021 “We are proud to be Australian wine brand on the MOST ADMIRED representing family-owned list. wineries of Australia with As one of our voters put it: WINE a passion for hand-cra¢ed, BR AND IN “Henschke helped to place AUSTR ALASIA quality wines from old Australian wine on the world historic vineyards and strong map but, more importantly, environmental values,” says the winery pointed the way Justine Henschke. forward by focusing upon Henschke was one of the “The recovery of Lenswood Looking forward, May 3, vineyard origin, vine age and a bigger casualties of bushŠres continues at great pace,” says 2021, is a date for all wine style of wine that was not over in December 2019, with marketing manager Justine lovers to put in the diary: the the top.” damage to around 90% of its Henschke in an update. arrival of the 2016 vintages of It hasn’t all been plain 25ha Lenswood estate in the “Many of the vines cut at Mount Edelstone and Hill of sailing recently, however. Adelaide Hills. the base of the plant have Grace.

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6 PENFOLDS

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: AUSTRALIA OWNER: TREASURY WINE ESTATES

It’s no accident that Penfolds has been a mainstay in the top 10 of this list for many years. Arguably no other global wine brand manages so e—ectively to be held in high regard by collectors of ™ne wine – in the form of its agship Shiraz, Grange – and shoppers in supermarkets. Though a source of annoyance for brand owner Treasury Wine Estates, it could be seen as attery of the highest order that counterfeiters in China have chosen to knock out Penfolds lookalikes with the clumsy names of Benfolds and Penfulnils in recent months. The activity followed the imposition of extra tari—s on Australian wine by the Chinese government, which saw TWE switch some Penfolds allocations to other markets, and was cited by the company as one reason it was shelving plans to demerge Penfolds from the main business. The real Penfolds is so widely recognised by wine fans, both in China and around the globe, that it seems unlikely counterfeit activity will do any serious long-term damage to the Penfolds brand 5 CONCHA Y TORO equity. 5 At the heart of Penfolds’ strength is its commitment to wine quality and innovation at whatever price point, with a familiar umbrella COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: CHILE brand identity that, to Treasury’s credit, it has never attempted to OWNER: CONCHA Y TORO dumb down. Penfolds’ winemaking team – under the revered chief winemaker Concha y Toro is one of South America’s largest wine companies, Peter Gago – innovates constantly. with a strong international presence across an array of brands Last year saw the release of G4, the second in a series of wines that and labels, straddling everyday purchases and more premium blend Grange vintages, in this case 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2016. price points. Penfolds has also just released The Chilean wine producer claims that two bottles of its a quartet of wines under the agship Casillero del Diablo brand are opened every second, California Collection name, its ™rst with the most frequent consumption in the US, UK, Chile, to be made with grapes sourced Canada, Japan, China, the Nordic markets and Brazil. from Napa. The wines include Since it was founded by Melchor Concha y Toro in 1883, the fruit from Cabernet Sauvignon producer has grown to comprise 45 vineyards, nine cellars and cuttings taken from Penfolds three bottling plants – and the world travails of 2020 didn’t best vineyards in the 1980s manage to put a brake on further expansion of its activities. and planted in the US in 1998 The company launched a new global identity for its Frontera and 1999. 6 range to increase brand awareness and gain greater visibility on retail shelves. The brand was also launched in bag-in-box in the US, tapping into growth in that wine segment in the country. Casillero del Diablo ran its Protected Forever campaign in over 50 international markets and chalked up 10 years as a sponsorship partner with English football club Manchester United, while CyT’s Extraordinary Vintage campaign from 2019 ramped up its digital presence. CyT placed greater emphasis on digital activity as a whole in 2020 and developed its own online wine-selling platforms in Chile, Argentina and the US in response to the pandemic. The company was also busy in the vineyards, expanding its holdings with the addition of 220ha in the Marchigüe commune of the Colchagua Valley. CyT has a presence in more than 140 countries and puts its continuing success down to “powerful attributes such as trust and tradition” and being “totally devoted to producing high quality, innovative and sustainable wines in di—erent segments”.

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DOMAINE DE LA CVNE ROMANÉE CONTI

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE OWNER: COMPANÍA VINÍCOLOA DEL OWNER: DE VILLAINE AND LEROY/ROCH NORTE DE ESPAÑA FAMILIES Gustave Ei‚ el – the guy who put It’s perhaps more surprising up the tower in Paris – designed that this celebrated Burgundy the cellar for CVNE’s Imperial estate hasn’t featured in the wine, an imposing structure Most Admired list before with a roof supported by steel than that it’s crashed in from trusses that allow for a large nowhere to a top 10 position. open space beneath to make The small size and low barrel management easier. yields of its seven grand cru Fast forward 65 years to 1974 vineyards – in Echézeaux, and CVNE planted Contino, Grands-Echézeaux, Montrachet, the ƒ rst single vineyard estate Richebourg, Romanée-Saint- in Rioja, a terroir-led approach Vivant and the monopoly grand 9 that’s since inspired similar 9 ANTINORI crus of La Tache and Romanée- practices across the region. Conti – means that DRC wines While the northern Spanish are, collectively, among the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY wine company has, then, never most sought a£ er and expensive OWNER: MARCHESI ANTINORI shied away from innovation, on the planet. that shouldn’t be confused with They occupy only a combined There are few wine brands with as much singular family history chasing a£ er the next big thing. area of around 25ha and the as Tuscany’s Antinori. Current Marchesi Antinori president “We completely ignore largest, la Tache, occupies Albiera Antinori can trace her family’s winemaking heritage fashion,” CVNE chief executive just over 6ha. Montrachet – back to 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member Victor Urrutia told DI last which produces the estate’s of the Vintners Guild in Florence. year. That may be the secret only white wine – has an area Albiera Antinori says: “Today, Marchesi Antinori is a to CVNE’s success and it’s that struggles to reach 0.8ha, combination of di‚ erent estates and each one can be considered almost certainly contributed enough grapes to ƒ ll only 250 as an autonomous individual one with its own dedicated sta‚ , to its longevity – eventually, if cases of wine in an average vineyards, viniƒ cation and ageing cellars. you stick to what you do best, year. “This is the only way to develop a strong feeling and fashion will catch up with you. With its origins in the 13th connection with the territory and to reach the ƒ nest quality of “Nowadays everyone says century and owned in the 18th our wines.” they want to drink elegant century by Louis-François de The company has added 144ha of new vineyards in its Chianti wines,” added Urrutia, “wines Bourbon, Prince of Conti, the Classico heartland in the past ƒ ve years, most notably bringing that are ƒ ner, persistent, that property has, since 1869, been Villa del Cigliano back into the family fold, having previously age better – people want to in the control of the De Villaine been owned by Alessandro di Niccolò Antinori in the 16th drink older vintages – and we family, now joined by the century. make those wines. We are living descendants of the Leroy and Antinori has since become one of – if not the – most instantly a good moment in that respect.” Roch, whose forebears bought recognisable names in Italian industry, with global annual sales In the Americas, CVNE reports into the property in 1942. of 800,000 cases and major export markets in the US, Germany, a growing interest in Spanish The wines are to be found Switzerland, Canada and the UK. wines at the delicate and elegant chie¥ y in auction catalogues “The domestic market has always been a priority,” says end of the spectrum, and Asia and on the lists of the world’s Antinori. “We are currently exported to 170 countries, with has also been an engine of most elite wine merchants, the main objectives to develop the US market that is the growth for the company. Both with a bedrock of devotees and biggest market for ƒ ne wines, and Asian markets where we see regions are also helping CVNE collectors to match any big- signiƒ cant potential, even though it will probably take some expand appreciation of Spanish name claret house. time before wine enters local consumption habits.” wines from outside of Rioja, with Two separate lots of bottles Antinori’s strength in the on-trade made 2020 a challenging wines from Galicia and Ribera of Romanée Conti broke the year. “Nonetheless,” she adds, “the brand name and our del Duero making their mark, word record auction price distributive model have certainly helped a lot. along with cava. for a single bottle at a “Export sales were almost in line with 2019, thanks to growth Among the new additions in Sotheby’s sale in New York in in a third of our markets. The domestic market su‚ ered more 2020 was Virgen del Galir from 2018, fetching $496,000 and than others, as the lack of tourism strongly hit consumption.” Galicia, a wine made from the $558,000. little-known Merenzao grape.

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with the UK its second best to 1868 has just been published E GUIGAL market for exports. CHÂTEAU LAFITE in a sumptuous 600-page co–ee Marketing manager Eve Guigal table book – Château La˜te: The says: “In recent years we have Almanac – written by Saskia gone through a blessed period of Rothschild of the owning family, growth with a very high quality with a suitably luxurious cover distribution network driven price of £125. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE by excellent vintages and the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE That followed hot on the OWNER: GUIGAL FAMILY growing interest of wine lovers in OWNER: ROTHSCHILD FAMILY heels of the release of the 2018 Rhône wines.” Château La˜te Rothschild, the The family-owned Rhône With its reds and whites The received wisdom among producer’s 150th anniversary wine producer established by enjoying a strong reputation, big brand marketing people vintage. The label has an Étienne Guigal just aer the end Guigal has recently decided is that 2020 was a year when illustration from that time of of the Second World War was to get behind rosé with new wine consumers looked for the two women gazing at a passing catapulted to global prominence packaging for its pink Côtes reassurance of recognisable hot-air balloon. in the 1980s, aided by the du Rhône wine for the 2020 names. Perhaps the return to “In 1868, hot air-balloons patronage of Robert Parker vintage. the Most Admired list of La˜te were the absolute symbols of and other critics of note in “The label is more at such a loy position – aer a modernity and adventure,” says rekindling interest in what had contemporary and clearer while year of absence – hints that the Sakia Rothschild. “In 2018, we become an under-appreciated keeping the signature look of theory about ˜nding comfort still see them ¡y but they have French region. our house,” says Eve Guigal. in the familiar stretches to the become the symbol of slowing It is now one of the country’s The company also recently highest echelons of ˜ne wine, down, of taking the time to most esteemed producers, opened Le Caveau du Château, not just those on supermarket move more steadily, with no today under the stewardship a new cellar door experience shelves. rush – just what we have been of Étienne’s son, Marcel, and which o–ers “a convivial space La˜te has been in celebratory doing at La˜te for 150 years: grandson Philippe. to discover and share our mood in the last few months. The steadily standing the test of time The US remains a stronghold, passion,” she adds. complete La˜te story going back as we head towards the future.”

10 CHATEAU MUSAR

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: LEBANON OWNER: HOCHAR FAMILY

Last year wasn’t the best for the most famous of Lebanese wine producers to celebrate 90 years in the business, with the global pandemic, economic meltdown at home and the Beirut port blast all putting a THE 2021 MOST ADMIRED damper on things. This year starts with a return to the WINE World’s Most Admired Wine list for the BR AND IN MIDDLE company that was founded by Gaston EAST & AFRICA Hochar and is run by the third generation of the family today. Family member Marc Hochar says the on-trade closure in key markets such as caused many of the country’s wine problems may be ˜nding10 enough to go the US hit sales in early 2020, though there drinkers to seek out domestically-produced round. was some pick-up later on through retail wines rather than imports. “In the past, we have always kept and online. “This led to a large increase of our back enough bottles for our library and The period aer the Beirut explosion Lebanon sales, albeit at a price that for gradual release over the course of 30 “initially created a strong support from our was not necessarily pro˜table given our to 40 years,” says Hochar. “Today, with wine-drinkers abroad, who all wanted to inability to increase prices in line with the production limited by global warming help”, says Hochar. devaluation,” says Hochar. conditions and demand for our current He adds: “We had some clients raising The UK and the US are traditionally vintage [2014] close to production levels, money for Lebanon, and others focusing the strongest markets for Musar’s wines, our ability to keep enough wines for the their sales on Musar’s wines as a show of global sales of which currently top out at library has been reduced and this may support.” around 600,000 bottles a year. a–ect the future availability of some older Devaluation of the Lebanese pound As its cachet rises, one of Musar’s biggest vintages.”

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ERRÁZURIZ

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: CHILE 15 OWNER: EDUARDO CHADWICK AND FAMILY

The family-owned Chilean producer turned 150 in 2020, a di cult year to hold parties, but still with plenty of scope to release special wines to mark the occasions. “Our icon wine, Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2017, was launched with a special anniversary edition label and we opened our cellar of historical vintages,” says marketing director Pilar Moreno. “We have been encouraged by our wines’ the way to its commitment to manage all of its excellent ageing potential, being 15 VILLA MARIA company-owned vineyards organically by 2030. faithful representatives of the The year also saw the release of the second style and technological resources vintage of Villa Maria’s “icon wine” Ngakirikiri, of each decade.” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: NEW ZEALAND a 2014 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon sourced Errázuriz also added a Š rst OWNER: SIR GEORGE FISTONICH from a single parcel of fruit selected row-by-row blend to the super-premium Max from less than 2ha of ultra-low yielding vines in range, which showcases the best New Zealand’s strict approach to lockdowns, Gimblett Gravels. of Bordeaux varieties grown in and the arrival of the pandemic just as the In a blind tasting of the world’s best Cabernets the Aconcagua Valley. Both Don country hit grape harvest season, meant that by New Zealand wine critics, Ngakirikiri came Maximiano and Max achieved Villa Maria needed a swi£ and inventive joint third with Bordeaux’s Pichon Lalande, good growth in the Chinese reaction to ensure that picking could go ahead. behind only LaŠ te Rothschild and Almaviva, market last year. It established motor home villages equipped the joint project in Chile between Mouton- Moreno adds: “We with wif-Š , kitchens and laundries, to rehome Rothschild and Concha y Toro. consolidated our position in sta¥ in safe bubbles to allow the company to Forty years on from Sir George Fistonich Canada, growing about 10% harvest what it called a “vintage of a lifetime”. leasing his Š rst vineyards, Villa Maria exports to with Aconcagua Costa and Alto, Later in the year, a£ er 21 years of growing more than 60 countries, with the UK, Australia wines with a real sense of origin, grapes organically, Villa Maria released its Š rst and the US heading its roster of principal following our aim of positioning organic wine range, Earth Garden, a step on exports markets. Aconcagua Valley as a world- class appellation. Nigel Greening, the British ever-growing list of eager export “The US is also one of FELTON ROAD ex-pat owner of the Central market requests”, most destined our main markets are we Otago property, “a good thing as to be disappointed, including strongly growing Max in the we like paying people properly “Uzbekistan last week! … and main retailers, despite a very – and we will have to have some not some spam thing”. contracted Chilean category.” modest prices increases just to He adds: “With Covid we The UK, Denmark, Brazil and stay level.” took some markets, which South Korea were also pockets COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: NEW ZEALAND Felton Road specialises in were heavy on on-trade, and of growth for Errázuriz, which OWNER: NIGEL GREENING Pinot Noir, which has been reallocated a portion of wine to hosted more than 120 virtual described in some quarters as direct-to-consumer. events during 2020 to stay Felton Road is a rarity in the the best outside Burgundy, and “Hopefully this has been connected with distribution global wine market in pursuing with its production capped at helpful to everybody concerned. partners and consumers. a zero-growth strategy, a policy 150,000 bottles per year, every But we have no markets “2021 will be a year of recovery, it has been pursuing for the past year, its wines are sold purely anywhere in the world that are where we want to maintain – and 15 years. Over the same period on allocation, making it hard for reporting issues with selling even strengthen – support for our it has also pegged its prices to new markets and customers to all their allocations. Many sell customers and closeness to our New Zealand’s in™ ation rate. get a foot in the door. their year’s supply the day they consumers,” adds Moreno. “Wages are now soaring,” says Greening says there is “an release.”

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MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 19

winemaking that informs compared to that at Petrus. YALUMBA Yalumba’s operations today. CHÂTEAU He decided to plant some His role is celebrated in one CHEVAL BLANC Cabernet Franc to blend with of Yalumba’s most luxurious the incumbent grape – or to labels, The Caley, a blend of provide a “cloak of freshness”, prime Coonawarra Cabernet as current director Pierre Lurton Sauvignon and Barossa Shiraz. poetically puts it. The result COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: AUSTRALIA The most recent vintage release, was wine with more elegance OWNER: HILL-SMITH FAMILY the 2015, commands an rrp of COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE and the ageing potential for A$365 a bottle in the domestic OWNER: BERNARD ARNAULT/ALBERT which Cheval Blanc is now The Barossa-based, family- market. FRÈRE ESTATE renowned, and the mix of the owned wine producer is As well as celebrating its two grapes across Cheval’s recognised for its ability heritage, Yalumba is always The premier grand cru Saint- fabled mish-mash of soil types to compete equally on the looking forward and last year Émilion property has improved provides winemakers with shelves of high street retailers introduced its Wild Ferments on its 2020 position by 20 plenty of options depending on and the lists of  ne dining range, a quartet of wines – places in this year’s list. Cheval diŸ erent vintage conditions. establishments. Founder Samuel two whites, a red and a pink Blanc is  ve places ahead of its The 39ha estate is divided into Smith established the  rst – fermented through the neighbour, Château Petrus, but 45 identi ed plots. vineyards in 1849, but it was a interaction of the grapes with owes its longstanding success at The company was bought by global voyage in horticultural natural yeast in the vineyards. least in part to the latter. It was current LVMH chief executive research by his grandson, Fred The range taps into modern in the 1860s that Jean Laussac- Bernard Arnault and Belgian Caley Smith – taking in the drinking trends and head Fourcaud, viticulturist and son- steel magnate Albert Frère US, UK, mainland Europe, the of winemaking Louisa Rose in-law of founder Jean-Jacques in 1998, injecting modern Middle East, Sri Lanka and describes them as “the essence Ducasse, noticed that Merlot commercialism while retaining India – that laid the foundations of the vineyard and the truest was reaching a slight state of the equipment, winemaking of sustainable viticulture and depiction of their variety”. over-ripeness at Cheval Blanc team and traditions of the past.

17 PLANETA THE 2021 MOST ADMIRED COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY WINE OWNER: PLANETA FAMILY BR ANDS HIGHEST CLIMBER The family-owned Sicilian wine  rm is the fastest climber on this year’s list, rising 22 places from last year’s number 39 position. The Planeta family has been farming on the Italian island for 17 generations but only planted their  rst vines in 1985, releasing their  rst o¥ cial vintage a decade later. Diego Planeta, who died last autumn at the age of 80, was a pioneer in bringing modern viticulture and winemaking to Sicily, including the introduction of international grapes such as Chardonnay and Merlot to complement indigenous varieties. These now include three ancient varieties – Vitraruolo, Lucignola and Catanese Nera – that have been brought back into recent use through the work of the regional viticultural research institute. Last year, the company completed work on 24ha of new vineyards in Cirami and another 4ha on a Mount Etna terrace in the Feudo di Mezzo area. Winemaker Patricia Tòth says: “We launched the  rst vintage of a new label for our highest category cru wines, Didacus, with the 2016 Cabernet Franc.” The Planeta group comprises  ve wineries and sales top €14 million, with its top  ve markets in Italy, the US, Germany, the 17 Netherlands and the UK.

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“The UK remains our ž rst CHÂTEAU and most critical international D’YQUEM market,” says Ridge president David Amadia. Low-intervention winemaking – or “pre- industrial”, as Ridge prefers to call it – remains a touchstone COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE of the company’s philosophy OWNER: LVMH and, since 2011, it has put an ingredients list on its labels to The topsy-turvy world of early emphasis what doesn’t go into 2020 couldn’t put a dent in making one of the world’s best Château D’Yquem’s auction wines. pulling power. A 12-bottle case of the 1975 vintage fetched $11,780 in a New York Sotheby’s SYMINGTON auction that went online in May. It was some way oœ the 19 19 M CHAPOUTIER US$111,000 that set the then- world record for a single bottle of white wine achieved by a COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE bottle of 1811 a decade ago, but OWNER: CHAPOUTIER FAMILY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: PORTUGAL still more than double the 1975 OWNER: SYMINGTON FAMILY case’s estimate. Last year marked 30 years since Michel Chapoutier took over D’Yquem is without equal control of the family-owned Rhône wine producer and – although The family-owned port business in the sweet wine world, the its heavy presence in the hotel and restaurant trade made it a of Cockburn’s, Graham’s, Sauternes property having ž rst di cult one – it continues to be forward thinking, scoping out Warre’s and Dow’s fame is established its cachet when new terroir for growing grapes and creating new wines. becoming increasingly well- it was named a Superior First It planted an additional 10ha to expand its 1,200-plus ha of known for its table wines, which Growth in the original Bordeaux vineyard holdings in 2020, and around a third of that total is continued to builds sales in wine classiž cation of 1855. dedicated to organic and biodynamic production, of which principal markets despite the It didn’t take long for those Michel Chapoutier was an early advocate. It added a new wine – impact of Covid-19 in 2020. eye-watering prices to kick in. M Chapoutier Haut Chamblard AOP Saint-Péray in 2020, and will Director Rob Symington Just four years later, Great Duke add another from that appellation this year, Anne-Sophie Pic & says: “Wine sales have grown Constantine, the brother of Michel Chapoutier Lieu-dit Le Pin. strongly over the last four years, Alexander II, the tsar of Russia, The producer’s Hermitage wines are its most celebrated but it with an annual average growth paid 20,000 gold francs for a has a big reputation for its ability to come up with the goods in rate of 23% by volume and 17% barrel of the wine. Japan was everyday wines as well as at the top end. by value. another early export success Global sales are now 9.5 million bottles, with Norway, the US, “Portugal, Germany, as the naturally-sweet wine’s Canada and the UK representing the biggest export markets. Belgium, the UK and US have reputation spread. “On our foreign markets, we had to show great sales agility consistently been our largest “D’Yquem has held its and adapt to the multichannel challenge,” the company says of markets. standards despite the ž nancial its 2020 pandemic experience. “With the growth of and production di culties in tourism to Portugal before doing so,” says one of those who California’s Ridge. Established the business, ending with his the pandemic, people were voted for d’Yquem in our poll, by a group of scientists from retirement as chief executive discovering Symington wines helping to send it upwards into the state’s Stanford Research at the age of 80 in 2016, that while on holiday and buying this year’s top 20. Institute, Ridge made its ž rst Ridge’s international standing them when they returned home. Cabernet Sauvignon from was forged. “People continued to the ¤ agship Monte Bello The biggest of its enjoy our wines throughout RIDGE vineyard in the Santa THE 2021 40 international lockdown,” he adds, with Cruz mountains MOST ADMIRED markets is the UK, the overall oœ -trade sales increasing in 1962, adding WINE recipient of its ž rst by 26% in volume. UK sales Zinfandel just two BR AND IN export wine, the 1971 were up by 50%. years later. NORTH AMERICA vintage Monte Bello, Symington is one of a growing Philosophy graduate in 1973. The current band of top wine producers COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US Paul Draper joined year kicked oœ with a which puts climate change OWNER: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICALS CO in 1969, bringing a focus new UK distribution partner and carbon emissions towards on quality, low-intervention in the form of Berkmann Wine the top of its business agenda Few modern wine companies winemaking, single vineyard Cellars a« er the contraction of and it applied to be a member of note owe their reputation expressions and old vines. It previous agent Fields Morris & of International Wineries for quite so much to one person as was during his 47 years with Verdin’s business in 2020. Climate Action in 2020.

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to make only around 30,000 The competition is no ash community is evidence that CHÂTEAU PETRUS bottles each year. in the pan attempt to catch a there’s life a­er Tuscany in the Wine Searcher currently modern cultural wave. The global ne wine market – as puts average bottle prices for Frescobaldis – who were the London merchant Berry Petrus at $3,604, and quotes originally a Florentine banking Bros & Rudd puts it, Gaja makes the most expensive bottle in its family as long ago as the 13th “world-class wines that sell for chart of the world’s priciest at century – have been supporting world-class prices”. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE $72,442. A group of bankers in artists since the Renaissance. The ­h-generation family OWNER: MOUEIX FAMILY/ALEJANDRO the UK made the news in 2002 Donatello and Brunelleschi business has two properties SANTO DOMINGO when they ran up a restaurant were among those who of its own in Tuscany, which wine bill of £44,000 in a single bene ted from their patronage it bought in the 1990s, but it is International fame came sitting, of which £11,000 went and the Frescobaldi company Piedmont – and the Barbaresco relatively late to Château on a bottle of 1945 Petrus. is reputed once to have bought and Barolo districts – which it Petrus, compared to some of the paintings from Michelangelo calls home. other more famous names in using wine. Later, there’s As you’d expect from a Bordeaux. The producer’s 1945 FRESCOBALDI evidence that it supplied wine company in continuous family vintage is widely regarded as to the court of English king control since its inception in the game-changer, in particular Henry VIII. The Tuscan rm 1859, tradition plays a big role in sparking interest in the estate’s is, then, steeped in history in a the Gaja way of doing things, but wines in the US market, though way that almost no other wine recent generations have shown it competes with the legendary producer is. a willingness to embrace change. 1961 for collectors’ a‘ections. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY Its prestigious portfolio The driving force behind As a late developer and a OWNER: FRESCOBALDI FAMILY includes the Ornellaia and Luce this has been Angelo Gaja, the Pomerol vineyard, Petrus della Vite labels, originally charismatic owner who is now is nowhere to be seen in Every two years, three begun as joint ventures with in his eighties and schooling the the Médoc-focused 1855 contemporary artists compete Californian wine family next generation of the family to classi cations, but its for the Artisti per Frescobaldi. Mondavi in the 1990s. carry the torch forward. exceptional quality and, above It’s like a more select version Though o­en seen as all, its rarity mean that market of the famous Turner Prize controversial at the time, prices routinely outstrip those competition in the UK, with GAJA Angelo’s innovations, including of other classic Bordeaux the artists invited to create an single vineyard wines, the properties. interpretation of Frescobaldi’s introduction of international Petrus derives its quality from Castel Giocondo estate and grape varieties and use of oak, clay top-soil and sub-soil that create a limited-edition label for were o­en game-changers in provides good drainage and the its Brunello di Montalcino. As Italian winemaking. perfect conditions for the Merlot a result of the competition, the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY Vineyard biodiversity and grapes that it grows almost property has created a modern OWNER: GAJA FAMILY responses to climate change exclusively. Its rarity comes art collection which is open to are now high on the agenda from the fact that there isn’t the public, global health crises The esteem in which Gaja is with higher altitude vineyard much of it – just 11.4ha, enough permitting. held by the international wine locations being explored.

25 CHÂTEAU ageing potential of its wines, which are made from roughly equal plantings of PALMER Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, and bat much higher than their original Third Growth 1855 Bordeaux COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE classi cation. OWNER: SICHEL AND MAHLER-BESSE FAMILIES The property continues to be guided through the modern era by members If you think the name Palmer gives of two of four Bordeaux wine trade this Bordeaux Le­ Bank château an families that acquired it in 1938. English ring, you’d be right. A British In September 2020, Château Palmer major-general, Charles Palmer, bought embarked on a re-release programme the 17th-century property in 1814 and under the name N-10, whereby the nal put his own name to it, the Anglicised available of its cellar stocks of vintages name helping to generate business in from 10 years previously – for example,

subsequent years within British society’s the 2010 for the inaugural tranche – TAPOL DE © ANTOINE upper echelons. will be released on the last Thursday The producer says that a “mosaic” of of September each year. The annual soil types accounts for the complexity, production from its 66ha is 200,00 aromatic richness, velvety texture and bottles a year. 25

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MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 23

Jackson Family Wines was MONTES the co-founder, with Familia Torres, of International Wineries for Climate Action, and its own environmental goals for 2021 include sourcing 85% of its grower fruit from certi† ed COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: CHILE 28 sustainable vineyards and OWNER: AURELIO MONTES powering half of winemaking operations from on-site It’s not every company website renewable energy sources. that refers to the “madness” of its founder, but such is the case with Chile’s Montes and CRAGGY RANGE its founder Aurelio Montes. The madness in question was more a pioneer spirit than anything to worry about, speci† cally the idea of planting vineyards on 45° hillsides. “Everyone told us 28 CONO SUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: NEW ZEALAND that we were crazy, that it was OWNER: PEABODY FAMILY TRUST much more manageable to plant on © at ground,” he says on the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: CHILE New Zealand’s Craggy Range is website’s blog. OWNER: CONCHA Y TORO somewhat chu• ed to † nd itself Having produced just 3,000 recognised by its peers. “Since cases in his † rst year in 1987, Mention of Pinot Noir normally gets most people’s thoughts inception, our aspiration was to production quickly ramped up turning to Burgundy. So it may come as a surprise to learn that sit alongside the great wineries to 50,000 cases a year later, and Concha y Toro-owned Cono Sur in Chile is one of the largest of the world,” says chief before too long to 650,000 cases. producers of the grape variety in the world. executive Michael Wilding, “to Montes had originally been Under its own steam, the brand manages to chalk up 5.5 be comfortable with our wine on the † rst full-time winemaker million cases in annual sales across all of its wine styles, with the table next to the incredible at Undurraga winery – another the UK, Canada and Japan providing the best results outside its Old and New World producers Chilean operation that makes home market. Sales in Europe were up 13.8% in 2020, and Japan we admire so much.” occasional appearances in was ahead by 8.5%, with the company attributing its successes That Craggy Range has the Most Admired list – before to strong distribution networks, especially in those territories’ achieved the accolade just joining Viña San Pedro. It was o• -trades, which performed well during various lockdowns as a little over two decades there he met marketing, † nance consumers changed their drinking habits. a er its foundation only and wine tech people who The two principal sub-brands Bicicleta and Organic, enjoyed adds to the achievement and eventually joined him to break volume growth of 18% and 15.9% respectively. is, Wilding hopes, “a long- away with the birth of Montes While sales teams were busy building volumes in various term acknowledgement of Wines. overseas markets, the growing and winemaking teams were hard at consistency rather a special Its “icon” wines are Montes work last year too. Some 66ha of additional vineyards were planted wine in a particular year”. Alpha M, Montes Folly, Purple across its Santa Elisa estate in Colchagua, Mulchén in Bío-Bío and Choosing to grow in Angel and Taita, all of which San Clemente in Maule, while investment at Santa Elisa was aimed Martinborough and Hawke’s Bay come from grapes grown to reach sustainability goals on energy e¥ ciency, solar power, rather than more fashionable in Colchagua Valley, while reduced water use and recycling all its organic waste for fertiliser. Marlborough, Craggy Range has the Outer Limits portfolio faced grape supply pressure as re© ects some of some of that The Californian operation is has California vineyards in its popularity has increased. Montes madness with varietal best known for its Vintner’s Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Sales have doubled to 100,000 expressions from unusual Reserve Chardonnay. The Monterey and Santa Barbara, cases in the past † ve years – led terroirs. wine has been a US bestseller favouring high elevation sites by the US, UK and Australia for decades and was the in coastal locations, producing – leading it to embark on the wine which really made the wines of elegance and † nesse most extensive vine planting JACKSON company’s name when it was that go against the prevailing programme since its inception. FAMILY WINES released in 1982, eight years perceptions that many Wilding adds: “While it eased a er Jess Jackson Jr and his consumers might have of what a our medium-term supply issue, family planted the variety Californian wine ought to be. the planting has also allowed in a former orchard in Lake It has also extended its us to take all of key learnings County. Emboldened by the footprint further a† eld and and implement them on the success, Jackson set out on a now has winery operations new block, including massale quest to match grape varieties in Oregon, Australia, Chile, selection, higher vine density COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US to their optimum terroir across Bordeaux, Tuscany and South and setting the vineyards up for OWNER: JACKSON FAMILY the state. Today, the company Africa. organics/under vine cultivation.”

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Margaux for the very reasonable like the idea of an outsider Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet CHÂTEAU sum of US$3. These days taking over a château that Franc and Petit Verdot, MARGAUX you’d have to add a couple of Thomas Je‡erson considered with a vineyard of less than noughts to that, of course, but to among Brordeaux’s four 3ha producing a Semillon/ the property has been through greatest producers, and which Sauvignon white, supplies some less celebrated times. was one of the quartet of First of which are even scarcer at The recession of the 1970s Growths named in the 1855 around 500 cases a year. was one such era, when the classiŽcation. By the time of COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE prices were depressed and the his death just three years later OWNER: CORINNE MENTZELOPOULOS owning Ginestet family– who’d he was being feted as a saviour NEDERBURG kept Margaux going through well on the way to returning We wouldn’t normally consider the depression of the 1930s and Margaux to past glories. He one of the Žnest Bordeaux reds World War Two – were forced had already established better wines to be a “breakfast wine”. to sell. drainage, made new plantings But an 1859 breakfast menu Greek supermarket magnate and introduced new oak for from New York’s Metropolitan André Mentzelopoulous ageing. His daughter, Corinne COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SOUTH AFRICA Hotel, that recently came bought Margaux, alarming Mentzeploulous, took up the OWNER: DISTELL to light, o‡ers 1841 Château some in the region who didn’t baton, at the age of just 27, and is still in control of the business Nederburg regains a place in today. the list this year as the highest- ranking South African brand, a Žtting spot for an historic CHÂTEAU producer that claims to have HAUT BRION won more medals and trophies in international and domestic competitions than any other in 32 the country. One of the voters who helped put Nederburg back on our list said its “new vintages COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE under [head winemaker] Niël OWNER: DOMAINE CLARENCE DILLON Groenewald push the boat very far out, bridging quality Haut-Brion has long had friends between New and Old World”. in high places, so it should be Groenewald himself no surprise to Žnd it on our acknowledges that’s only 32 CAMPO VIEJO list of most admired wines half the battle in creating a in the world. King Charles II successful wine proposition, of Britain had 169 bottles in saying on his Linked In proŽle COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE his cellar as long ago as the that the biggest lesson he’s OWNER: PERNOD RICARD 1660s, around the same time learned in his time in the that Samuel Pepys recorded industry is that winemaking With Pernod Ricard rumoured to be considering a move to take over an encounter with a wine alone doesn’t make a successful Treasury Wines Estates, Campo Viejo could soon Žnd itself part of called Ho Bryan with a “most brand. “Marketing, focus an even more powerful portfolio than it already is. The Rioja brand particular taste”. Oenophile and and engagement with the retains a place on our list as sister brands Jacob’s Creek and Brancott future US president Thomas market and industry is just as Estate have fallen out of view, driven by its strong brand identity, an Je‡erson heaped praise on it important,” he adds. easy-to-navigate portfolio and engaging marketing. on visiting Bordeaux in the Nederburg’s story reaches An all-female winemaking team works with 800 growers to 1780s. Napoleon I’s foreign its 230th year in 2021, German make wines that combine the personalities of Rioja Alta, Rioja a‡airs minister even went as immigrant Philippus Wolvaart Alavesa and Rioja. far as to buy the property at the having planted 49ha of land in It sells around 3 million cases globally each year. The start of the 19th century, so the 1791, naming the property in UK, Spain and the US are lead markets, with Germany and groundwork was already laid honour of Sebastiaan Cornelis Sweden next in line. Campo Viejo had become the number one for its inclusion on the list of for Nederburgh, commissioner of international wine brand in Australia by the middle of 2020, First Growths named in the 1855 the Dutch East India Company. having launched only in the year before [IRI]. In 2020 it launched Bordeaux wine classiŽcation, The “h” was later dropped. a Rosé and a Red blend – the latter made from Tempranillo, the only non-Médoc estate to Today the winery makes wine Garnacha and Bobal and released initially in the US. make the cut. from the fruit of three company- This year marks 50 years since Campo Viejo founder José The most revered property owned farms and a network Ortigüela came up with the now-classic Rioja bottle – later in the Graves area derives its of meticulously-selected Cape followed by producers across the region – in a bid to create wine’s personality from the growers. something new and exciting for the brand he had launched two quartz gravel soil. Haut-Brion Nederburg led 19% growth in years earlier. makes around 9,000 cases wine exports for brand owner a year of red from Cabernet Distell in the second half of 2020.

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label, a practice it embarked the family farmhouse where he The campaign aimed to CHÂTEAU on with a design from Philippe had grown up. The Pla de Bages emphasise the slow and steady MOUTON Jullian to commemorate the DO was established a little pace the Portuguese producer ROTHSCHILD Allied victory at the end of over a decade later and Valentí adopts in making its wines, World War Two. became the region’s chair. while encouraging consumers The just-released 2018 vintage Its Essence range aims to give to consider their own pace of life features the work of Chinese forgotten local grape varieties and whether they could slow artist Xu Bing, following wider recognition. Its Picapoll down a bit. Little did it know. in the footsteps of Francis was the ‘ rst single varietal wine “At the time, we could not COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE Bacon, Salvador Dali, Gerhard made from the grape when it have imagined that this year, OWNER: ROTHSCHILD Richter, Andy Warhol, Wassily went on sale in 1996. we would be forced to stop,” Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, David The company added a Catarina Santos, Esporão The return to this year’s list of Hockney, Je‰ Koons, Pablo single varietal wine made from marketing director noted as Mouton Rothschild completes a Picasso and Joan Miró, among the little-known grape Mandó – lockdown started to be eased clean sweep for Bordeaux First many others. known elsewhere as Garró – in across Europe in the spring of Growths. The Pauillac property 2017. 2020. only gained that status in 1973 Last year the range evolved “The new cycle that now a‹ er decades of lobbying, BODEGAS ABADAL once again with Matís – nuance begins, with all the uncertainty having been le‹ out of the in English – which blends the it involves, is a rare opportunity original quartet in the original variety with the more familiar to re£ ect and build a better 1855 classi‘ cation. It remains Cabernet Sauvignon and society,” she added as the the only château to have been Merlot. company restated its campaign promoted in this way. Abadal’s icon wine Nuat – vows. The vines grow on gravelly COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN from the Catalan word “nu”, There was still breathing soil in gently undulating hills. OWNER: ROQUETA FAMILY meaning naked – is made from space in the year for Alentejo- Though it’s sometimes assumed 60-year-old Picapoll vines. based Esporão to release new that the “mouton” of the name Bodegas Abadal returns to the wines, including the 2019 is something to do with it Most Admired Wine Brands vintage of Esporão Colheita being the French for sheep, list a‹ er a seven-year absence, ESPORÃO White – an organic wine made the company itself suggests bolstering a strong showing in tulip-shaped concrete tanks it almost certainly originated from Spanish producers in 2021. – and 2019 White and Rosé from “motte” or “mothon”, The Roqueta family’s ‘ rst Assobio wines from its Quinta old French words for a rise or winery was Ramon Roqueta dos Murças property in Douro. mound in the landscape. in Catalunya, established by The company is a relative As well as its history and Ramon Roqueta Torrentó in the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: PORTUGAL newcomer on the international exclusivity, one of Mouton- ‘ nal years of the 19th century. OWNER: JOSÉ ROQUETTE wine scene, having been Rothschild USPs is the But it was as recently as 1983 founded in 1983. commissioning of a di‰ erent that Valentí Roqueta founded The digital marketing campaign It ‘ rst started exporting in well-known artist each year the Abadal winery in Spain’s Pla launched by Esporão in 2019 1989 and is now sold in more to illustrate the new vintage’s de Bages, on land surrounding now seems somewhat prophetic. than 50 countries.

36 BRUCE JACK

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SOUTH AFRICA OWNER: BRUCE JACK For Bruce Jack, the wine journey began – and continues – with food. “My ‘ rst 36 memorable food experience was tasting caviar on a Bishops Prep School rugby tour to the UK and loving the exotic texture and wild £ avour,” he says. “I have been intrigued by food – the textures and £ avours – ever since. Every time I blend wines, I immediately consider how the resultant complete wine will pair with food. My wines, at every price point, are cra‹ ed with food in mind.” It’s only three years since Jack released the ‘ rst wines under his own name, though he had previously owned the Flagstone winery, which he later sold to Accolade, becoming its winemaker on Kumala in the process. The Bruce Jack brand has already chalked up annual sales of 120,000 cases with listings in the UK’s ‘ ve biggest retailers and national coverage in Benelux and Canada. The ‘ rst shipment of Bruce Jack Chile wines have landed in South Africa, the UK and Hong Kong. The long-term aim is to make wines in Spain, the US and Australia under the name too, all of them countries that Jack has worked in during his career.

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MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 29

avours such as strawberry, Look out for a new packaging and the early signs are good for GALLO FAMILY pineapple, peach and passion design for the Gallo Family 2021, with Russia in particular VINEYARDS fruit into the fold and are Vineyards portfolio, due to experiencing and uptick in proving popular in the US. arrive in the US market in the sales. The fruity innovations summer. Limited production – only complement a more Gallo products are sold in about 100ha of vineyards conventional portfolio of still more than 100 countries, but fall in the Sassicaia DOC – and sparkling wines that the US remains its biggest and coupled with a glowing global COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US brought growth for the brand in most mature market. Sales reputation appears to have OWNER: GALLO several markets in 2020, despite there increased 4% in 2020, made it pandemic-proof. the impact of the pandemic. the company says, “as loyal The company founded by The company said Gallo consumers turned to familiar California wine legends Ernest Family Vineyards still wines brands and new consumers MCGUIGAN and Julio Gallo in 1933 has grew by 18.1% in Germany, entered the market through evolved its o‘ering to embrace while the brand was ahead sweet wine avours”. fruit other than grapes in recent by 15% in the UK. In the times. Netherlands, it surpassed even Its avoured Spritz and Sweet those gures, with still wines SASSICAIA sub-brands, under the Gallo up by 32.2% on 2019 levels [all COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: AUSTRALIA Family Vineyards name, bring gures from Nielsen]. OWNER: AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE

The Australian brand makes a 41 LOUIS LATOUR return to the top 50 a­er a leave COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY of absence, with consistent OWNER: INCISA DELLA ROCCHETTA winemaking skill still a COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: FRANCE FAMILY watchword. Its rst Hunter OWNER: LATOUR FAMILY Valley vines were planted by If you have a hankering to get Owen McGuigan in the 1880s The historic Burgundy house dates back to the 18th century but is into historical vintages of this and four generations later it still looking to build its international sales almost 250 years later. famous Super-Tuscan, then had become one of the most The company reports that “there has never been so much demand seek out the years ending in the garlanded wine producers of the for Burgundy and the overall quality has never been so good”. number eight. Though 1985 is modern era. Asia Paci c is a growing region, though “the Chinese market widely thought to be the most McGuigan was the rst is very limited compared to other regions like Bordeuax or acclaimed vintage of Sassicaia, company to be named countries like Australia”. But it adds “it will expand: it is not a the family-owned brand reports International Winemaker of the question of if, it is a question of when”. that 1988 is the favourite of Year at the International Wine & Maison Louis Latour regards its history and consistency of Marchese Nicolò Incisa and, Spirits Competition and, in one family ownership as major strengths. The current head, Louis- from the rst commercial year alone, amassed almost 600 Fabrice Latour, is the seventh Louis Latour the from the 11th release in 1968 to the most medals and trophies at major generation of the family that gives the wines their name. recent in 2018, the “8” vintages wine contests. It is a member of the Henokiens Club, a select group of are all “very classic and The stream of gongs peaked companies from all over the world which have been in family representative of its style”. under the watch of Neil ownership for over 200 years and still carry their founder’s name. One of the world’s most McGuigan, the former chief Louis Latour is the largest grand cru owner in Burgundy, sought a­er high-end brands executive and chief winemaker with more than 25ha, and uses only barrels made in its own because of its elegance and who stepped down in 2019, cooperage. nesse, Sassicaia is notable and under whose guidance the for its commitment to Cabernet company shed its reputation as Sauvignon rather than the a maker of bulk wine to become region’s signature grape, a force in premium brands, led Sangiovese, and for being by its instantly-recognisable the only single estate wine Black Label range. in Italy to have its own DOC, In its 2020 annual report, Bolgheri Sassicaia, bestowed McGuigan reported a 23% in 1994. increase in sales of its Black Label Italy remains Sassicaia’s and Reserve wines in the UK. principal market, but producer In recent times, McGuigan Tenuta San Guido exports has been pouring its wine about 70% of the wine, with expertise into the alcohol-free the US, Europe and Asia all sector with the launch of the enjoying growth in recent Zero range, while lockdown saw years. Mexico, Uruguay and a refurb for the Hunter Valley Argentina also joined the list cellar door ready for visitors 41 of growth territories in 2020, when restrictions li­ed.

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46 BERINGER

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US OWNER: TREASURY WINE ESTATES

Beringer has long been a force in premium American wine. Indeed, it has been chipping away at the task in hand for longer than any of its competitors and lays claim to being California’s longest continually operating winery. Beringer has a considerable list of US wine industry ­rst, only, longest and best claims: one of the ­rst gravity-fed wineries; the ­rst to operate using hand-dug caves and cellars; ­rst to give public tours, in 1934; the ­rst to oŒer wine tastings aer the repeal of Prohibition; and the ­rst – and still the only – producer to have red and white wines named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator. It’s had some famous fans along the way too, with Hollywood stars of yesteryear Clark Gable, Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard all visiting in their heydays. The connection with popular culture continues today – the Beringer Bros spirit barrel-aged wine range is currently the o•cial wine of the US Country Music Association.

46 oak. Another is “seeing with US market, and the brand’s normality should be music to RAMÓN BILBAO terroir eyes”, the process of Sauvignon Blanc is already the ears of Royal Tokaji understating the vineyards to among the ­ve bestselling white managing director Charles produce wines with a sense of wines at more than $10 per Mount. Both are markets that the place – and there are quite a bottle (IRI). only Hungarian wine on our list few places with personalities In the UK, Oyster Bay is entered in 2020. to capture as the producer has responsible for the bestselling “Given the constraints of our COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN 265ha of its own vineyards, with Merlot, Chardonnay and production we are very careful OWNER: GRUPO ZAMORA another 900ha on long-term Sauvignon Blanc over £8 about entering new markets,” contracts. (Nielsen). says Mount. “Both have exciting Why do polyphenols have a In Ireland, there was restaurant scenes and our positive impact on wine? To be signi­cant growth in the last wines are now featured on some honest, this probably isn’t the OYSTER BAY ­nancial year for Sauvignon beautiful wine lists. right forum for such a technical and Pinot Noir, which, along “Our biggest challenge by discussion. But it would be with Merlot and Chardonnay, some distance is production. handy to brush up should you hold the top varietal positions The conditions required for ever get your hands on the for New Zealand wines at over producing Aszú wines are so Ramón Bilbao Spanish Wine €9 (Nielsen). speci­c that we are very lucky if Academy board game, which COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: NEW ZEALAND Oyster Bay Sauvignon is the we can produce enough wine to went on sale as part of a OWNER: DELEGAT bestselling white wine by value in meet our existing level of sales. two-bottle gi pack of its Australia, while the Chardonnay “Growth in China has been Reserva wine at the end of Delegat is New Zealand’s biggest is the top-selling premium strong as we begin to tap into a last year. wine exporter and Oyster Bay, version of that varietal (IRI). burgeoning collector market.” The team at Ramón Bilbao led by its signature Sauvignon Despite the pitfalls of thinks deeply about wine and Blanc, is the pearl in its availability, and the vagaries of its place in the world. Lots of collection. ROYAL TOKAJI doing business in 2020, Mount producers have a philosophy The company said the brand said sales in territories where these days, but few nail it quite held up well during 2020 as restrictions were lied quickly last so ­rmly as to come up with consumers around the world year – including China, Taiwan a nine-point manifesto that turned to trusted brands in and South Korea – bounced back encompasses, to highlight just uncertain times. quickly to above 2019 levels. a few, using traditional grapes In its latest annual report, the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: HUNGARY Trivia nugget: a statue of with a modern approach, group showed record total wine OWNER: THE ROYAL TOKAJI WINE CO company founder Hugh Johnson making fruitier wines with an sales of almost 3.3 million cases in the Royal Tokaji garden is one elegant style, growing at high in the year to June 30, 2020, up The news that Denmark and of only two of living people in altitudes to achieve fresher 9% on the year before. Israel are close to the top of Hungary. The other is of former wines, and ageing in lightly- Delegat sees Oyster Bay as the list of countries heading F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone at the toasted American and French a major growth engine in the towards some sort of post-Covid Hungaroring.

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32 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL ADVERTORIAL MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021

RAVENTÓS CODORNÍU, WINEMAKING EXPERTISE SINCE 1551

A total of 15 wineries,  ve centuries of passion for wine and more than 450 prizes in 2020 alone

ive centuries of history, 3,000ha of our own vineyards, 15 iconic wineries in the world’s  nest winemaking regions (Abadía de Poblet, Artesa, Bach, Bodegas Bilbaínas, Codorníu, Legaris, Mont-Ferrant, Parxet, Portal del Montsant, Raimat, Raventós d’Alella, Scala CAPTION IN HERE FDei, Séptima, Tionio and Titiana) and dozens of wines, each with their own soul and personality, all made to enthral and with the greatest respect for the land. This is concentrated Ribera del Duero. One of the world’s most Raventós Codorníu, Spain’s longest-standing producer prestigious wine regions – Rioja – is the birthplace of wine and cava and a world leader in viticulture and of another of its red wines that enjoys international winemaking expertise. Today, its passion for the land and recognition: Viña Pomal ‘Alto de la Caseta’ 2015, from its obsession with achieving excellence has placed its 15 Bodegas Bilbaínas. Selected as one of the best Riojas in the wineries among the leading representatives of their wine world by The Drinks Business, its origin is in loose, poorly regions, and its wines among the most esteemed in the structured, gravelly soils and Tempranillo vines of more world. It was awarded more than 450 accolades for its than 40 years of age. Viña Pomal Crianza was also awarded quality in 2020 alone, and has won around 3,000 over the a Gold Medal in the Mundus Vini competition. past decade. This is just a quick taste of some of its most Back in Catalonia, Pla dels Àngels from Scala Dei is awarded wines. made in the Priorat Quali ed Designation of Origin. An Among its cavas, the Ars Collecta Codorníu Blanc de estate-grown rosé (100% Garnacha), which reaches the Blancs, Ars Collecta Codorníu Blanc de Noirs and Ars height of elegance in a harsh terrain and extreme growing Collecta Codorníu Grand Rosé trilogy stand out, three conditions. It was considered to be Spain’s best Young Gran Reservas from unique estates in Penedès. The Ars Rosé in the Baco Awards 2020 and it has built up various Collecta collection is complemented with the iconic Jaume accolades: Catalonia’s Best Rosé Wine by the Catalan Wine Codorníu: three cavas from Quali ed Estates (La Fideuera, Guide 2021, 90 points in the Guía Peñín 2019, selected as El Tros Nou and La Pleta) and the 457. Commitment to the one of the world’s best rosés (The Drinks Business), etc. origin and to expressing the terroir are the lynchpins of the Also among the best in its DO (Conca de Barberà), is La winemaking process. It results in exclusive blends, based Raventós Font Voltada from the Abadia de Poblet winery, another on respect for the land, and it has achieved prizes like a “ wine from a multi-award winning estate. The grapes used to Gold Medal in the Mundus Vini competition for its Blanc de Codorníu, heir make it (Trepat) come from of some of the oldest vines in the Blancs. Conca de Barberà. A© er ageing for 14 months, it becomes a Another of its most revered wines is born in the Ribera to a home, a  ne, fresh wine with very noticeable fruit, which obtained del Duero: Moradillo de Roa from the Legaris winery, 92+ Parker points, making it the DO Conca de Barberà’s chosen as the top Spanish Red 2020 and one of the top 30 profession highest-rated wine. The tasting could continue with dozens wines in the world by the International Wine Challenge. and a land of other unique and distinctive wines, made with the same The extreme terroir and climate (it comes from a vineyard respect for their origin and with the Raventós Codorníu seal at 973m altitude) make it an excellent, authentic and of expertise. Only one word can sum it up: Mastery.

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to distribute in the best possible RAVENTÓS way to every market, without CODORNÍU 48 SANTA RITA forgetting the domestic market, which represents an important part of our sales.” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: CHILE She adds: “I’m really happy to OWNER: GRUPO CLARO say that in 2020 we were able to acquire four remaining hectares COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN Last year was a momentous one for Santa Rita, celebrating 140 of the Tignanello hill – that had OWNER: RAVENTÓS FAMILY years of history and 40 under Claro Group ownership. It was, of been sold over 40 years ago as course, a year like no other in its history, but the pandemic failed an olive grove – and that will be The name of Codorníu to put the brakes on international growth with its biggest export planted this year.” is synonymous on the markets of Ireland and Brazil achieving advances of 9.9% and international stage with cava 6.6% respectively. ¥ zz, but the appearance of An ecommerce site, Bodega695.com, was launched in Ireland LA RIOJA ALTA the producer on this list is at the end of the year to o„ er direct-to-consumer sales of high testament to its pro¥ ciency and quality super-premium wines from around the world – including experience in making still table the company’s Floresta and Pehuén Apalta labels, but not just wines as well. The company those owned by Santa Rita. Its Chilean market ecommerce site has more than 450 years of was also repositioned to support the loss of revenue from the winemaking heritage and on-trade, and received 246% more tra‘ c than it had in 2019. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: SPAIN claims to be the oldest family “For 2021, we expect to continue growing through online sales, OWNER: PRIVATE CONSORTIUM company in Spain and the 17th consolidating in Chile, growing in Ireland, and opening in new in the world. It owns a dozen states in the US,” the company says. La Rioja Alta is one of the iconic wineries in Spain, plus one Annual global sales for Santa Rita Estates top US$237 million, traditional Rioja producers, each in Argentina and the Napa with the UK, Canada, Denmark, China and Japan also in the list though like others, it has, over Valley. of top export markets. The UK (+28.8%) and Mexico (+32.2%) time, extended its winemaking With more than 3,000ha showed rapid volume growth in 2019. footprint into Ribera del Duero under vine, it is one of largest and Rías Baixas. vineyard owners in Europe History is important to La and it makes over 400 products Rioja Alta’s identity. The name across numerous regions and of one of its ® agship Rioja 35 sub-brands including the wines, Gran Reserva 890, is familiar Raimat in Catalonia, an abbreviation of 1890 (the Séptima Argentine Malbec, ¥ rst digit omitted to avoid Legaris in Ribera del Duero and confusion with vintages), the Viña Pomal Rioja. year in which ¥ ve Riojan and Its most successful markets Basque families founded the outside of Spain include the US, Sociedad Vinícola de la Rioja Belgium, the UK and Japan. Alta. Another, the Gran Reserva The company is in the process 904, commemorates the year in of turning its Raimat winery which one of the co-founders estate into a nature reserve Alfredo Ardanza, merged the called Raimat Natura, which company into his own Ardanza will open free to the public in winey. The names of the 2021. In addition to scouting out founding Arana, Ardanza and the local wildlife, visitors will Alberdi families – who remain be able to explore rows of grapes widely used to describe the very barriques. Current48 Marchesi shareholders to this day – are on the estate. best wines from the region. Antinori president Albiera immortalised in the names of The wine was born in 1971 aª er Antinori, Piero’s daughter, Reserva wines. Piero Antinori and oenologist describes Sangiovese as a That connection to history TIGNANELLO Giacomo Tachis travelled to “nervous” variety but says that and tradition is not to say that France and California and came from Tignanello is “vibrant, a Luddite philosophy prevails. to the realisation that the wines elegant, decisive, yet never too Last year it implemented a of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico invasive”. hi-tech traceability system weren’t exploiting the region’s Production is limited to to improve quality control full potential. between 20,000 and 30,000 and prevent fraud through COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY They were led to a more cases a year, with the US, international supply chains. OWNER: ANTINORI modern style through blending Germany, Switzerland and But where modernisation the traditional Sangiovese Canada having ¥ rst call on takes place the emphasis is on Antinori’s Tignanello was one grape variety with Cabernet export allocations. improving and maintaining the ¥ rst wines to be crowned Sauvignon, and using Albiera Antinori adds: “The wine quality rather than a Super Tuscan – a term now malolactic fermentation and challenge we face every year is stylistic updating.

033 No47-50 DI Admired Wine 2021.indd 33 18/03/2021 15:59

MOST ADMIRED WINE BRANDS 2021 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 35 THE LIST NO. COMPANY, COUNTRY MOVERS NO. COMPANY, COUNTRY MOVERS FAMILIA TORRES, SPAIN ↑   FRESCOBALDI, ITALY ↓  MOST ADMIRED WINE BRAND IN EUROPE  CHÂTEAU PALMER, FRANCE NEW ENTRY  CATENA, ARGENTINA ↓ MOST ADMIRED WINE BRAND IN  GAJA, ITALY NEW ENTRY SOUTH AMERICA  MONTES, CHILE ↑  VEGA SICILIA, SPAIN ↑ 
CONO SUR, CHILE ↓   HENSCHKE, AUSTRALIA ↑  MOST ADMIRED WINE BRAND IN  JACKSON FAMILY WINES, US NEW ENTRY AUSTRALASIA  CONCHA Y TORO, CHILE NONMOVER  CRAGGY RANGE, NEW ZEALAND ↓  PENFOLDS, AUSTRALIA ↓  CHÂTEAU MARGAUX, FRANCE REENTRY  DOMAINE DE LA ROMANÉE NEW ENTRY  CAMPO VIEJO, SPAIN ↓  CONTI, FRANCE CHÂTEAU HAUT BRION, FRANCE REENTRY
CVNE, SPAIN ↑   NEDERBURG, SOUTH AFRICA REENTRY  ANTINORI, ITALY ↓  CHÂTEAU MOUTON REENTRY  CHÂTEAU MUSAR, LEBANON REENTRY ROTHSCHILD, FRANCE MOST ADMIRED WINE BRAND IN MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BRUCE JACK, SOUTH AFRICA ↑ 

E GUIGAL, FRANCE ↑   BODEGAS ABADAL, SPAIN NEW ENTRY

 CHÂTEAU LAFITE, FRANCE REENTRY
ESPORÃO, PORTUGAL ↓ 

ERRAZURIZ, CHILE ↓   GALLO FAMILY VINEYARDS, US ↑ 

 FELTON ROAD, NEW ZEALAND ↑   SASSICAIA, ITALY ↓

 VILLA MARIA, NEW ZEALAND ↓   LOUIS LATOUR, FRANCE ↑

YALUMBA, AUSTRALIA ↑   MCGUIGAN, AUSTRALIA REENTRY  PLANETA, ITALY ↑  HIGHEST CLIMBER  RAMÓN BILBAO, SPAIN ↓  OYSTER BAY, NEW ZEALAND REENTRY
CHÂTEAU CHEVAL BLANC, FRANCE ↑   ROYAL TOKAJI, HUNGARY REENTRY  M CHAPOUTIER, FRANCE ↑   BERINGER, US REENTRY  CHÂTEAU D'YQUEM, FRANCE ↑   RIDGE, US ↓   RAVENTÓS CODORNÍU, SPAIN REENTRY MOST ADMIRED WINE BRAND IN NORTH AMERICA 
SANTA RITA, CHILE ↓  SYMINGTON, PORTUGAL ↓   TIGNANELLO, ITALY ↓ 

 CHÂTEAU PETRUS, FRANCE ↑   LA RIOJA ALTA, SPAIN NEW ENTRY

035 Full list DI Admired Wine 2021.indd 35 18/03/2021 18:11