september 2011

World’s

how we The world's Regional did it top 50 Heroes The methodology The judges' decisions Top players across the behind the results p4 unveiled p7 main countries p25 Most Admired WineContents Brands

Contents 4 Methodology How we did our research 7 Top 50 listing The list of the world’s most admired brands starts here 25 Regionals A breakdown of top wines by region

Cover image: Shutterstock/Carballo

A salute to producers t has sometimes been remarked that the wine industry is not well suited to brands. There are too many variables: the weather, the availability of the right fruit, the skills of the winemaking team, the ability to Iship wine in the right conditions, and the willingness of the retailer to actually stock it. Yet great brands have emerged. The earliest attempt to codify them came in 1855, when the chateaux of Bordeaux were ranked for the first time. Since then, producers from all around the world have developed names that mean something to wine drinkers – names which give a reassurance of quality and a reliable indication of style. Modern viticultural practices and increasingly sophisticated techniques in the winery mean that it’s possible to achieve greater consistency than ever before, even when weather conditions are lousy, or head winemakers retire. The wine world, thankfully, is still a place where small artisanal producers can rub shoulders with the big corporations, and consumers have a vast choice of what they can drink. But in many cases, these small wineries only get a chance to make a name for themselves because of the pioneering work of their predecessors – wines which have Supplement Editor Graham Holter Senior Account Manager gone on to become big brands in their own right. [email protected] Roger Betriu Drinks International’s Most Admired Wine Brands project Managing Editor Christian Davis +44 (0)1293 590043 was conceived as an opportunity to salute the producers +44 (0)1293 590047 [email protected] whose products have done the most to put regions on the [email protected] Publisher map, to popularise wine drinking and to spread best practice Production Editor Jaq Bayles Russell Dodd throughout the industry. We explain how we set about this +44 (0)1293 590048 +44 (0)1293 590052 on pages four and five. [email protected] [email protected] The results aren’t quite as epoch-making as the 1855 Commercial Director Justin Smith Drinks International, Zurich House, +44 (0)1293 590041 classification. But we feel this is the most thorough and East Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6AS United [email protected] democratic exercise of its kind, and a fascinating glimpse Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1293 590049 into the way the international wine industry regards its Senior Account Manager leading producers. Carmen Poel Francesch +44 (0)1293 590042 Graham Holter Supplement Editor [email protected]

september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 3 Bubbling under – brands which missed the top 50

Domaine de la Romanée Conti France Guigal France t’s fairly straightforward to rank wines in terms of Augusti Torello Spain production volumes, Parker points, or how much they Ridge Vineyards US Sutter Home US fetch at auction. But how do you set about measuring Santa Rita Chile how much admiration there is for each brand? Lang & Reed US Drinks International approached 60 trusted members Franzia US Iof the global wine community earlier this summer and invited Jackson-Triggs Canada them to consider which wine brands they most admired. They included Masters of Wine, consultants, winemakers, critics, retailers, educators, buyers and analysts. We asked them to nominate up to five wine brands. We emphasised that this was not necessarily a competition to reward the best-selling wines in the market, or those with the most critical acclaim. We suggested they used the following criteria when casting their votes: l wines should be of consistent or improving quality l they should reflect their region or country of origin l they should respond to the needs and tastes of their target audience l they should be well marketed and packaged l they should have strong appeal to a wide demographic.

4 Drinks International Most Admired Wine Brands

Sixty wine professionals took part in the judging. All were given the option of anonymity but the following

To make the task more straightforward, we supplied a list of voters were happy for their names more than 80 well-known brands and producers, but also allowed the option of free choices – names not included on our list. to be published. Participants were When the results were collated, the top 50 brands were fairly not permitted to vote for brands with clear cut, though in a few instances there was a tie for places. Where this was the case, a small jury of voters was assembled to which they are associated decide the final positions. It should be emphasised that this did not affect the positioning of any of the brands in the top 10. Lucy Anderson (Australia) Asia Brett Jones (UK) Owner of The Inevitably, this type of project is open to interpretation and director for Wine Australia Wine Maestro we have had to take a pragmatic approach to the way we have Alexander Anson Esparza Wilhelm Lerner (Germany) handled certain businesses. For example, Concha y Toro is, (Switzerland) Buying and Consultant strictly speaking, a company rather than a brand. Gallo has merchandising director at The Peter Marks MW (US) Vice president a plethora of brands with distinct personalities. Other brand Nuance Group for education at Constellation Wines owners put their names to products in more than one country. Tony Aspler (Canada) Consultant Peter McCombie MW (UK) Wine No system is perfect, but we have tried to assign votes in and author consultant and communicator a way that makes sense to the widest number of people and Caspar Auchterlonie (UK) Consultant Tuomas Meriluto MW (Finland) reflects the way in which suppliers and their products are Richard Bampfield MW (UK)Wine Managing director of Winestate regarded internationally. trainer and educator Oy importers It was a secret ballot, and participants (other than the few jury Neil Barker (UK) Former commercial Charles Metcalfe (UK) Author, wine members mentioned above) have not seen the final results until now. director for UK & Ireland for Foster’s competition judge and speaker Group Wendy Narby (France) Chef Anne Burchett (UK) Managing d’entreprise at Insider Tasting director of Sopexa UK & Ireland José Manuel Ortega (Spain) Miguel Chan (South ) Group Director, O Fournier sommelier at Southern Sun Hotels Bruwer Raats (South Africa) Michael Cox (UK) UK director of Owner of Raats Family Wines Wines of Chile Grant Ramage (Australia) Christian Davis (UK) Editor of General manager for Drinks International Cellars at Coles Group Erica Donoho (US) US country Stephen Rannekliev (Netherlands) manager at Wine Intelligence Analyst at Rabobank Jourdan Guillaume (France) Director Bill Rolfe (UK) Director of 10 of VitaBella wine marketing agency International Neil Hadley MW (Australia) Lynne Sherriff MW (South Africa) Consultant at Taylors Wines Consultant Sam Harrop MW (UK) Winemaking John Skupny (US) Owner of Lang consultant; director of Litmus Wines & Reed Wine Company Michael Hill Smith MW (Australia) Godfrey Spence (UK) Wine Winemaker at Shaw & Smith educator and writer Justin Justin Howard-Sneyd MW (UK) Joan Torrents (UK) Group wine Dan Jago Howard-Sneyd Charles Metcalfe Neil Barker Global wine director of Direct Wines buyer at Mitchells & Butlers Claire Hu (South Africa) Wine writer Bruce Tyrrell (Australia) Managing Olivier Humbrecht MW (France) director of Tyrrell’s Wines Winemaker at Domaine Zind Jean-Michel Valette MW (US) Humbrecht, Alsace Chairman of Vinfolio Dan Jago (UK) Category director of Ronn Wiegand MW MS (US) beers, wines and spirits at Tesco Consultant and writer Shutterstock/Carballo

september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 5 Most Admired Wine Brands

Concha y Toro Estimated global shipments 29.2m cases Country of origin Chile

ith sales in 135 countries, cent of exports went to . because of the diversity of soils and Concha y Toro has become Concha y Toro has achieved acclaim climates in its estates. Wan ambassador for Chile not just as a result of its sheer size, Like all large-scale wine producers, it around the world. Its brands encompass but also its approach to its business. talks about its commitment to recognising everything that Chile does best: Chief executive Eduardo Guilisasti has the different characteristics of all its sites, consistent, flavoursome wines priced won plaudits for pushing for a 10% and preserving the freshness and personality within reach of connoisseurs and casual price increase this year at a time when of the grapes they produce. But the acclaim consumers alike. many producers are experiencing severe regularly bestowed on the company by The Concha y Toro portfolio includes margin pressure, and backing it with usually hard-nosed critics – including many the flagship Casillero del Diablo, a commitment to increased quality so who are usually dubious about big brands – which by itself sells 3 million cases and consumers can see some extra value. suggests the mission statement is more than recently signed a partnership deal with Founded in 1883 at Pirque in the just a marketing claim. Manchester United football club. Maipo Valley by local businessman It was telling that in March this year, Cono Sur has been included in the votes Don Melchor Concha y Toro, with when Concha y Toro bought Fetzer cast for Concha y Toro, but even without grapevines imported from Bordeaux, the from Brown-Forman for $238m in these being added the brand was a clear company’s vineyard interests have grown a deal which also included Bonterra, winner in our international poll. into some of the most significant holdings the reaction from the media and other Sales in 2010 for the business as a in the world. specialist observers was generally whole rose 14.3% to US$735m, and It owns (or has long-term leases on) positive. Had the Californian vineyard volumes were up 3.9%. The company 8,445ha in Chile, most of them in Maule, and winery fallen into the hands of any reports increasing success in most of its Colchagua and Cachapoal, but also in other multinational the response might regions, especially Asia, where a surge areas such as Limari, Casablanca and have been very different. But Concha y in interest from Japan, China and Korea Curico. In Argentina it operates 1,068ha Toro’s reputation for fair dealing, honesty contributed to a 21.4% increase in in Mendoza. and quality preceded it. Few in the global volume, although the going has proved a Concha y Toro claims to have the wine trade will be surprised to see it little more challenging in the US of late, “widest variety of wine varieties in the taking the top position in our countdown where volumes fell 1.7%. Fifty-one per Chilean wine industry”, which is possible of the world’s most admired wine brands. september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine Brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 7 Most Admired Wine Brands

Torres Estimated global shipments 24m cases Country of origin Spain Owner Torres SA

iguel Torres, who represents Wine critic Tim Atkin MW once wrote: and affordable, wines such as Viña Sol the fourth generation of his “Every time you drink a bottle of modern and Sangre de Toro. Its most familiar Mfamily to run the business, is Spanish white wine, be it from Rueda, brand names include De Casta, Coronas, unquestionably wine trade royalty. Few, if Penedés, , Navarra or Rías Baíxas, Atrium and Viña Esmeralda. Torres any, figures in the drinks industry are held you should toast the man who brought is also noted for its ground-breaking in such high regard. Those who meet him Iberian blancos into the modern age laboratory work and spends millions of are struck by his knowledge and modesty. by introducing temperature-controlled euros each year on better understanding The wines his company produces speak fermentation and stainless steel vats.” rootstocks and vineyard health. for themselves. In 1979, 20 years after Torres had Torres now has vineyards and wineries Torres was founded in Penedès in 1870 returned from his first round of French across Spain, and has gradually colonised and was soon exporting its wines to studies, Torres Gran Coronas Mas La areas such as Jumilla, Ribera del Duero, Cuba, thanks to family connections with Plana 1970 was voted the best Cabernet Priorat and Rioja. Varietal labelling has an oil company in central America. After Sauvignon in the “wine Olympics” become a feature of much of the range, the disruption of the Spanish Civil War, organised by French magazine Gault- representing another novelty for Spain. modern production started in earnest Millau. It was a major jolt for the French, International expansion has also played in the 1950s when Torres’s father (also and if the world hadn’t been paying a key role in the company’s development. called Miguel) decided to focus on bottled attention to the Torres revolution until It invested in Chile as early as 1979, wine rather than the bulk shipments he then, it was now. where it operates in the Central Valley, had previously favoured. Mas la Plana remains Torres’s most and has a joint venture retail business in Torres Jr headed off to France for the prestigious red wine, produced from vines China, named Everwines, where Torres first of two momentous study trips and in a 29ha plot in Penedés exclusively has shrewdly spotted a major growth returned with ideas and knowledge that planted with Cabernet Sauvignon – a first opportunity. were to reshape the family business. New for Spain. It has won a string of awards Despite its scale, Torres has an image grape varieties were planted; innovative since its famous victory in France and quite unlike many of its large rivals: a vineyard techniques were introduced; cemented Torres’s reputation for premium successful corporation, naturally, but barrel maturation became a feature of the wine production. one which portrays a friendly face to Torres business; the fermentation systems But the company has established a Wine trade royalty: the world and shares its expertise, and were overhauled. solid reputation for consistently good, Miguel Torres enthusiasm, with its peers and customers. september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 9 Most Admired Wine Brands

premium versions; with Penfolds, it was Jacob’s Creek the other way around. The company will Estimated global shipments 7.8m cases forever be associated with Grange, the Country of origin Australia original icon wine from Australia, which Owner Pernod Ricard was first produced in the 1950s and is now described by Robert Parker as “a leading candidate for the richest, most concentrated acob’s Creek epitomises everything dry table wine on planet earth”. that has made Australia a Jacob’s Creek It was at first made in secret by Jpowerhouse of international wine has made winemaker Max Schubert, whose brands. The marketing is slick but never some major paymasters at the time were sceptical brash; the wine itself produced on an advances about the viability of a dry red wine. almost unimaginable scale, but with into the Penfolds has gradually extended quality control that might be more readily Asian down a ladder, allowing consumers on associated with a winery of far more market, all budgets to experience some of its modest proportions than the one on the winemaking magic. vast Rowland Flat in the Barossa Valley. notably As well as the numbered Bin ranges, The winery can trace its roots back to China, and Koonunga Hill and Rawson’s Retreat Johann Gramp, a Bavarian immigrant future have both proved successful in the mass who arrived in the valley in 1847. The growth is market. Jacob’s Creek name first appeared in 1976. likely to be During Southcorp’s ownership of the Now under the stewardship of Pernod achieved in brand, plans were hatched to transform Ricard, the brand is under margin this region Penfolds into a 5 million-case product, pressure in its main export market, the a strategy which risked embroiling UK, but has won the respect of its peers the brand in the kind of discounting for being prepared to sacrifice volumes in whirlwind which can encourage suppliers the interests of sustainable profits. to take quality shortcuts. Jacob’s Creek has made some major Mercifully, the project was abandoned advances into the Asian market, notably and Penfolds stands aloof from rivals China, and future growth is likely to be which were more tempted to play the achieved in this region as some of the numbers game. brand’s more traditional markets reach maturity. 6 Cloudy Bay Estimated global shipments 4 Antinori founded in 1385 by Giovanni di Piero 100,000 cases Estimated global shipments n/a Antinori. The company, based in Umbria Country of origin New Zealand Country of origin Italy and Tuscany, is now run by Marchese Owner LVMH Owner Antinori Piero Antinori, assisted by daughters Cloudy Bay recently celebrated its 25th Wine companies usually make great Albiera, Allegra and Alessia. anniversary – an event that effectively marketing capital out of staying in family Although Antinori did not actually signalled a similar milestone for its region ownership for three or four generations. produce the first “super Tuscan”, it of origin. The iconic Sauvignon Blanc put Antinori is now in its 26th, having been is generally associated with creating Marlborough on the map as one of the the blend which sparked a real best known wine-producing regions in winemaking revolution in the Chianti the world, inspiring a generation of wine region. Tignanello appeared in 1971, producers to develop their own versions containing the banned Cabernet Franc of the style. and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes as well It’s a style which is now synonymous as the regulation Sangiovese. Marketed with New Zealand as a whole and as an IGT wine, it cheerfully broke the mimicked, but rarely bettered, in other rules, leading to a far more open and parts of the world. experimental approach which quickly “Cloudy Bay is a brilliant piece of won admirers around the world. marketing,” says Tim Atkin MW. Since then, Antinori’s expansion “In the early days it was a great and programme has taken it into , groundbreaking wine, too.” California (at Atlas Peak) and Hungary. Famously, the brand was in such demand that merchants jealously 5 Penfolds competed for an allocation, which helped Estimated global sales 2.6m cases to keep prices up. Today, the brand is less Country of origin Australia scarce than it was, but LVMH is careful Supplier Treasury Wine Estates not to allow volumes to grow unchecked. Some wine brands start with everyday The almost mythical aspect of Cloudy Penfolds’ Peter Gago products then gradually try to introduce Bay endures.

10 Drinks International most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT drinksint.com september 2011 7 Chateau Lafite Duero DO was established. The family- exciting regions. As well as working with Estimated global shipments owned producer is an undisputed global the indigenous Verdejo, it introduced 45,000 cases superstar, making some of the most Sauvignon Blanc to the area – another Country of origin France acclaimed wines in Spain which reflect its French-inspired innovation. Principal territories International almost obsessive levels of quality control The region is dominated by white Owner Domaines Barons de (taking no chances with corks, it rejects wines, but true to form Marqués de Rothschild two out of every three that are supplied, Riscal has developed red wines from the Lafite’s reputation as a global wine and charges producers for the returns). area too. superstar has been assured since at least Anyone expecting the flagship Unico Marqués de Riscal exports its products 1855 when it was named in the first ever wines to be extraordinarily powerful and in more than 70 countries. The 2005 classification of Bordeaux premiers crus. intense will be surprised at how elegant Reserva caused a stir in the US when The estate’s history dates back to the 17th they usually are, the product of 10 years Robert Parker’s Spanish critic Jay Miller century and it spent time in Dutch and of ageing in French . The 200ha of awarded it 90 points. English ownership before coming into vineyard are planted with old vine Tinto Rothschild hands in 1868. Fino (the local strain of Tempranillo) as 10 Château Latour The property is located north of well as some Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Estimated global shipments Pauillac and produces wines dominated and Malbec. 30,000 cases by Cabernet Sauvignon, including its Michael Broadbent toasts Vega Sicilia Country of origin France second wine, Carruades de Lafite. as “the Lafite of Spain”. The comment Owner Groupe Artemis Lafite has enjoyed particular success reflects the high regard in which Vega Latour’s reputation is based not only on its in the Far East of late, a phenomenon Sicilia is held by the world’s leading Grand Vin, made from grapes immediately which has contributed to inflation in wine critics – but not, perhaps, the surrounding its 77ha property on the en primeur prices and definite irritation individuality of this great estate. south eastern tip of Pauillac, but also its among buyers in more traditional second wine, Les Forts de Latour. territories. Some have joked that this is Widely regarded as being worthy due to Chinese speakers finding Lafite 9 Marqués de of classified growth status in its own easier to pronounce than some of its Riscal right, this wine is generally a blend of first growth rivals (it’s regularly called Estimated global shipments 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% “Lafay” in Shanghai and Beijing). But 1m cases Merlot, sourced from specific vineyards this overlooks the efforts that Lafite has Country of origin Spain rather than representing grapes deemed made in reaching out to the Chinese Owner Vinos de los Herederos del unworthy of the Grand Vin. market, including investment in a joint Marques de Riscal A third wine, Pauillac, is made from venture business and labels designed for a The creation of Ciudad del Vino (City younger vines and has also developed a Chinese audience. of Wine), a Frank Gehry-conceived following. development housing the Rioja winery as Latour’s reputation has been beyond 8 Vega Sicilia well as a hotel, spa and conference centre, question since the 1855 Bordeaux Estimated global shipments fits in nicely with Marqués de Riscal’s classification, but its prestige also stems n/a philosophy of challenging the status quo from its ability to produce quality wines Country of origin Spain through innovation. in unpromising . For many Owner The Alvarez family As long ago as 1858 it became the critics, it’s the most consistent of all the Vega Sicilia had been making wines in its first Rioja producer to use Bordeaux first growths. present location long before it was joined techniques, and in 1972 it single- Owned by Francois Pinault’s Artemis by other hopefuls and the Ribera del handedly pioneered modern production business since 1993, Latour is run by in Rueda, now regarded president Frédéric Engerer, who has as one of Spain’s most overseen a series of technical investments which have further consolidated the winery’s international standing.

12 Drinks International Most Admired Wine Brands

11 Wolf Blass Set in 262ha in the commune which Ste Michelle, which has a number of Estimated global shipments shares its name, Margaux is one of the brands including Columbia Crest and 4m cases original premiers crus of Bordeaux. Erath – the Oregon producer noted for Country of origin Australia Its second wine, Pavillon, accounts its Pinot Noir – also jointly owns Stag’s Owner Treasury Wine Estates for something like 235,000 bottles, a Leap in Napa Valley and has worked on Wolfgang Blass, the man, is one of the small proportion of which is white and Riesling projects with Ernst Loosen. most liked personalities in the wine world sold as generic Bordeaux (Sauvignon Its growth has been driven by the – famous for his humour, enterprising Blanc is not recognised as a Margaux acquisition of small wineries, creating spirit and considerable ability. He may appellation grape). what it likes to call a “string of pearls”. no longer own the wines that bear his Château Margaux is noted for Although widely regarded as a name (he sold to Mildara in 1991) but it’s a certain perfumed quality that premium producer, with Parker telling that subsequent owners have been adds a feminine edge to wines points to prove it, the range is keen to retain his services as a figurehead that are actually more complex broad and also includes wines at for the business. and robust than they might mainstream prices. Blass produced his first vintage in the originally seem. Barossa Valley in 1966 and by 1973 Robert Parker describes 14 Château Haut- owned 2.5 acres and an old army shed Margaux as “a modern-day Brion which became the HQ of Wolf Blass legend”, adding that the 1996 Estimated global shipments International Wines. vintage “continues to give every 13,000 cases From 1974 to 1976, Black Label won indication of being one of the Country of origin France three consecutive Jimmy Watson Trophies all time great clarets”. Owner Domaines Clarence Dillon for Best Australian Red Wine at the Haut-Brion stands apart from the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. 13 Château original first growths of the 1855 It triumphed again in 1999, a feat Ste Michelle classification as the only premier which remains unsurpassed in the Estimated global cru from outside Médoc. competition’s history. Today, it’s shipments Long before that list was questionable whether the 3,000 awards 6.7m cases drawn up, the wine was being Wolf Blass has won would fit inside that Country of origin enjoyed by Charles II and tin outbuilding. US Samuel Pepys, who in 1663 Now owned by Treasury, the Principal territories wrote that he had drunk “a winemaking team is headed by Chris US sort of French wine called Ho Hatcher who oversees a range extending Owner UST Bryen that hath a good and from luxury wines such as Platinum At a time when most particular taste I never Label, Black Label and Grey Label to Pacific North West met with”. everyday wines such as Yellow Label and wines have earned Thomas Jefferson was Red Label. something of a global similarly impressed when he reputation, it’s possible tried Haut-Brion in 1787. 12 Château to overlook the Some 350 years later, Haut- Margaux pioneering work that Brion continues to garner Estimated global shipments was done in the 1950s, such favourable reviews. The 30,000 cases 60s and 70s by Château property stands in 45ha of Country of origin France Ste Michelle, Washington vineyards, with a 37% Merlot Owner Corinne Mentzelopoulos state’s largest wine producer. component against a 45% Cabernet The grand, imposing edifice of the The company was originally called Sauvignon quotient. chateau building leaves no doubt that this American Wine Growers, itself a merger The property produces a second wine, is one of the world’s most fêted fine wine of the national Wine Company and Bahans-Haut-Brion, which is also in high producers. Pommerelle, a fruit wine producer in Seattle. demand. september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine Brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 13 Most Admired Wine Brands

Château Musar’s Serge Hochar

15 Louis Latour Hawke’s Bay, a region it now describes as Serge Hochar wants his wines to reflect Estimated global shipments its “second home”. nature. “I believe it should be a priority n/a Winemaking philosophy is always at to seek to drink what is true rather than Country of origin France risk of being over-elaborate, but at Oyster what is good,” he says. Owner The Latour family Bay the ambition is simply “to produce “I once produced a wine that was Family owned since the 17th century, elegant and assertive wines with glorious technically perfect, but it lacked the Louis Latour is one the great wine fruit flavours”. It’s a philosophy that is charms of imperfection.” dynasties. The company is renowned also applied to the Chardonnay, Merlot, for its Burgundy and has deep roots Pinot Noir and sparkling wines that make 18 Fetzer in Aloxe-Corton. But Latour has also up the Oyster Bay portfolio. Estimated global sales 3m cases succeeded in making great Chardonnay Country of origin US and Pinot Noir wines in the Ardèche, 17 Château Owner Concha y Toro Coteaux de Verdon and Provence, Musar California, 1968. The summer of where it has built a reputation for Estimated global shipments love is still influencing an idealistic making Burgundy-style wines at more 50,000 cases generation and in Mendocino affordable prices. Country of origin Lebanon County, Fetzer Vineyards is Latour produces around 150 different Owner The Hochar family beginning its life. wines, bottled in the same recognisable Wine production is tough enough The owners worked in bottles. Domaine Louis Latour is work without the added trauma of harmony with nature from the start, responsible for wines from Louis Latour’s a civil war. Yet that’s what Serge but it was only in 1984 that Fetzer own land in Burgundy, including 17ha Hochar had to contend with committed itself to totally of Grand Cru Corton and nearly 10ha of between 1975 and 1990, and sustainable grape production. Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne. during that time only two Fetzer was ahead of its time The negociant arm, Maison Louis vintages were lost. in other ways, too. It was Latour, includes wines from the Ardèche But Musar, founded in a pioneer of Chardonnay, and the Var. 1930 by Gaston Hochar Gewürztraminer and on the Mediterranean Riesling in California 16 Oyster Bay coast at an elevation of and in 1992 the drinks Estimated global shipments 1,000m, has done more giant Brown-Forman was 2 million cases than simply triumph in the sufficiently impressed by the Country of origin New Zealand face of adversity. business model to buy the Owner Delegat’s It produces wines from company. Oyster Bay was named best Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon, Now part of the Concha y Blanc in the 1991 International Wine Cinsault and Carignan Toro empire, Fetzer’s range Challenge. It wasn’t the last award the (the blend changes has grown to encompass wine was destined to win, but it was the according to the vintage) varieties such as Pinot one that really put it on the map as a which have seduced the Grigio, Shiraz, Moscato and global player. critics with their pure white Zinfandel. The family-owned producer was one of flavours. Despite its position in the the first to exploit the potential of New In 1979, Michael corporate big league, Fetzer Zealand’s Marlborough region, now Broadbent declared Musar still inspires the kind of recognised as one of the best places on the find of the Bristol Wine critical and consumer the planet for Sauvignon. Fair and the praise has affection that eludes many It has extended its vineyard interests to flowed steadily ever since. top wine brands. september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 15 19 Duboeuf promising description for a product that 22 JP Chenet Estimated global shipments is expensive even by Bordeaux standards Estimated global shipments 2.5m cases (a bottle of the 1982 is on sale for 8m cases Country of origin France £8,995 in Harrods), but the concentrated Country of origin France Owner The Duboeuf family flavours of this remarkable wine are Owner Les Grand Chais de France Few wine company owners have the prized by collectors and aficionados Launched in 1984, JP Chenet energy and vision of Georges Duboeuf, everywhere. has become the whose passion for – and influence over – Limited production also plays a part in biggest-selling French the Beaujolais region is almost legendary. pushing prices sky high: the estate is so wine brand in the The company was one of the prime small that all the grapes can be harvested world, according to movers in the creation of Beaujolais in a morning. Les Grand Chais de Nouveau, one of the most successful Inevitably, wine of this quality and France, a formidable marketing ideas ever created in the this restricted sale becomes a plaything wine-producing wine industry. of oligarchs and the obscenely rich, conglomerate capable Duboeuf has worked with others in the but those privileged to taste Pétrus of producing 3 million region to make Beaujolais a name that for themselves can see why there is bottles a day from its even casual wine drinkers have heard such a clamour. Indeed Robert Parker six sites. of. His devotion to modern techniques has awarded it a perfect 100 on seven The distinctive has given his wines a fresh, fruity occasions – more than any other wine bottle shape, character that has become the benchmark he’s reviewed. designed for the region. by Joseph Such is the company’s success, it has 21 Campo Viejo Helfrich been able to spread its investment into Estimated global shipments and named areas further south, where its wines 1.5m cases Joséphine, are made with the same painstaking Country of origin Spain was a approach. Owner Pernod Ricard marketing Campo Viejo claims to be the best-known masterstroke, 20 Château Pétrus wine brand in Spain and the most widely creating an Estimated global shipments consumed Rioja in the world. Created in instant point 3,000 cases 1959, the brand has achieved huge export of difference Country of origin France success with its modern, easy-going style. on shelves Owner JP Moueix The wine was given something of an which A Merlot-dominated blend fermented overhaul in 2005, after former owner can look in cement vats doesn’t sound like a Allied Domecq was swallowed by Pernod wearyingly uniform to grocery Ricard, as part of a strategy to make it shoppers. The innovative approach more accessible and reliable – though the justified the investment required in a winemaking team would argue the wine custom-built bottling line to handle remains an authentic Rioja. Joséphine’s curves. Not every European brand owner has Taking its cue from New World brands, responded to the New World challenge JP Chenet opted for varietal labelling as dynamically as Campo Viejo. The and sourced its wine from southern co- millions of euros invested in marketing operatives. by a multinational owner have certainly Germany was the first to embrace the helped its cause, but at the heart of it all brand, followed by the Netherlands and is a wine which has proved it has massive Scandinavia. Joséphine now graces the consumer appeal. shelves of retailers in 160 countries.

16 Drinks International Most Admired Wine Brands

and provided much of the thrust behind the company’s expansion (Jackson Family Wine Estates is now the owner of 35 wineries and dozens of wine brands). Jackson himself, a former policeman, farmer and lawyer, is widely regarded as a pioneer of sustainable agriculture. He is also a credited with the idea of combining grapes from various sites to achieve a desired blend, rather than sourcing everything from one locality. 24 Black Tower Estimated global shipments 1m cases favour somewhat as consumers graduated Jess Jackson Country of origin Germany to drier and arguably more sophisticated Supplier Reh Kendermann wines, Mateus has proved resilient even 23 Kendall- Black Tower started life in 1967 as a in the most testing times. Jackson Liebfraumilch in a ceramic bottle. It Indeed it’s possible that a renaissance Estimated global shipments quickly became a best-seller in the UK is happening as a new generation of wine 4m cases and US and is now sold in more than 50 drinkers explore light, sweet blush wine Country of origin US countries, reinventing itself periodically styles that fit in neatly with the Mateus Owner Jackson Family Wine to try to keep pace with consumer trends. flavour profile. The brand’s global Estates In 1997 Black Tower was relaunched as volumes rose 5.9% in 2010, suggesting This year saw the death of Jess a Rivaner and the range now includes the the theory may be accurate. Stonestreet Jackson who, in 1974 with his likes of Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Pinot wife Barbara Banke, converted a pear and Noir as well as generic entry-level Fruity 26 Villa Maria walnut orchard in Lakeport, California, White. The bottle too has moved on, Estimated global shipments into a vineyard. though the distinctive high-shouldered 500,000 cases The Kendall-Jackson brand was born in shape remains. Country of origin New Zealand 1982 when the couple decided to market Times are not easy for German Owner Sir George Fistonich their own wine rather than just supply brands in the international wine Fistonich, a Croatian by birth, grapes to others. market and Black Tower is no longer founded Villa Maria in Auckland Kendall-Jackson was the best selling on the crest of a wave. But it is widely in 1961. The company has since Chardonnay in the US for two decades admired for the huge role it played in expanded into Hawke’s Bay, where recruiting millions of consumers to the it has a second winery, and also wine category. bought the Esk Valley winery in Napier. 25 Mateus Villa Maria was one of the Estimated global shipments key brands in building New 1.7m cases Zealand’s reputation for Country of origin quality in export markets. Owner Sogrape Fistonich has been astute Like Black Tower, Mateus is in his understanding of the a brand to which almost all country’s terroir and the successful wine brands owe effect it has on viticulture and something of a debt. Launched ultimately wine styles. Villa in 1942, its sweet, easy-drinking Maria was reputedly the first formula won over legions of New Zealand wine company consumers who had never tried to agree payment for grapes wine before and quickly caught based on quality rather than a the bug. flat contract price. The flask-shaped bottle Villa Maria, which claims has become a minor design to be New Zealand’s most classic too. awarded wine, was also the Although the brand fell out of first to abandon corks in 2004. september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 17 Most Admired Wine Brands

27 Cheval Blanc wine is made. This last happened in 1992. Estimated global shipments Yquem has a reputation for producing 8,000 cases wines with huge longevity; some critics Country of origin France have described them as “indestructible”, Owner Bernard Arnault and Baron although the sweetness gives way to Albert Frère complex secondary flavours as the has been in the Rothschild family since This 37ha plot in St-Emilion, on the decades go by. 1853, was the first Bordeaux estate to fringes of Pomerol, marries Cabernet The 1811 vintage is another contender commit itself to chateau bottling. Franc and Merlot to create a world for the best wine ever produced, and was classic. awarded 100 points by Robert Parker 30 Yellowtail The 1947 vintage is declared by many when he tasted it in 1996. Estimated global shipments to be the greatest wine ever made. It has 7.5m cases “such a thick texture it could double as 29 Château Country of origin Australia motor oil”, according to Robert Parker. Mouton- Owner Casella Wines “The huge nose of fruitcake, chocolate, Rothschild Yellowtail has achieved global success leather, coffee and Asian spices is mind- Estimated global shipments without the backing of a multinational boggling. The unctuous texture and 20,000 cases drinks giant’s marketing funds. The richness of sweet fruit are amazing. Country of origin France Casella family originally farmed just “This wine is, technically, appallingly Owner Rothschild 16ha in Riverina, and grew in scale deficient in acidity and excessively high in In the 1855 Bordeaux classification, after hitting on a taste formula and alcohol. Its volatile acidity levels would Mouton was listed as a second-growth packaging design that was an instant hit be considered intolerable by modern- wine, and not promoted to premier cru with casual wine consumers, particularly day oenologists. Yet how can they status until 1973. in the US. explain that the wine is still remarkably In a way, this helped Mouton’s Its colonisation of Asia has been no fresh, phenomenally concentrated, and cause: the indignation they felt at being less impressive; the strategy has been profoundly complex? It has to make you excluded from the top table encouraged to recruit a network of importers and wonder about the direction of modern its owners to work harder on the distributors with no detailed knowledge day winemaking.” marketing, and led to the tradition of of wine (many are essentially beer commissioning leading artists to create companies) but with good access to key 28 Château label artwork for each vintage. Salvador accounts. d’Yquem Dali, Francis Bacon and Henry Moore The business now produces 12 million Estimated global shipments have all appeared. bottles a year, which encompasses a range 8,000 cases The wines are typically rich and of varietals and sparkling styles. To many, Country of origin France concentrated in flavour, built around Yellowtail represents the ultimate lesson Owner LVMH Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, in successful wine branding. Chateau d’Yquem is certainly the world’s Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot most acclaimed sweet wine, produced playing supporting roles. using botrytised fruit from just under Mouton-Rothschild, which 100ha of Sauternes vineyard. Yields are tiny; the grapes (Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc) are pressed three times before ageing in new oak. Even with the estate’s famously rigorous approach to viticulture, there are years in which the entire crop is deemed unworthy of the Yquem name and no

18 Drinks International most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT drinksint.com september 2011 31 Marqués de 33 Brancott Estate Cáceres Estimated global shipments Estimated global shipments 1.2m cases n/a Country of origin New Zealand Country of origin Spain Owner Pernod Ricard Owner Cristina Forner Brancott started life as Montana in 1934 Marqués de Cáceres was established in and was one of the original Marlborough 1970 by Henri Forner, guided by Emile producers. A year ago it was renamed Peynaud. The winery is based in Rioja Brancott Estate, a name already used for Alta and owns no vineyards of its own, the brand in the US. super-premium Private Reserve wines. sourcing grapes from local growers. The range has been Beringer specialises in Chardonnay, which Widely regarded as one of the most instrumental in forging New is considered by many to be among the progressive Rioja producers in the Zealand’s reputation (Pernod best in California, as well as Cabernet business, Marqués de Cáceres has enlisted Ricard estimates it accounts Sauvignon and Merlot with the ability to the services of Michel Rolland to help for 10% of all wine exports) age for decades. Critics have applauded create fresh, fruity wines that drink well and is indisputably one of the the consistent vein of quality that runs while young. reasons Marlborough is held through all tiers of the Beringer portfolio. The reservas and gran reservas are in such high regard. certainly no lightweights, however, and Sauvignon Blanc is the 35 Gallo are in demand in international markets key variety, but the range Estimated global shipments for their combination of juicy red fruit also includes acclaimed 80m cases and spicy notes. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Country of origin US Pinot Grigio and Supplier E&J Gallo 32 Chateau Le Pin Cabernet Sauvignon. Gallo is part of wine industry Estimated global shipments legend and folklore and, even 600 cases 34 though the company is less Country of origin France Beringer insular than it once appeared, Owner The Thienpont family Estimated global the mythology is undiminished. The modern history of this tiny Pomerol shipments 5m cases Employees are encouraged to read estate dates back to 1980, when it came Country of origin the official biography of Ernest into the hands of the Belgian Thienpont US and Julio Gallo; a controversial family who saw the potential of the site Owner Treasury unauthorised version of events was and extended it to five hectares. The Wine Estates reportedly bought up and pulped. low-yielding vineyards are dominated by Beringer claims to be From the beginning, Gallo has Merlot, though some Cabernet Franc is Napa’s oldest wine been unashamedly populist in its also grown. estate, having been marketing, though wary of giving Dany Rolland is a consultant to the founded in St Helena outsiders too much of a peek inside winery, producing wines which exhibit in1876. It’s been owned a corporation which now operates formidable depth and complexity, aided by big business for 40 years (Nestle, some 60 brands in 90 countries. by up to two years in new oak. The Foster’s, Treasury) but has retained The company, which employs some limited production helps to push prices an association with earthy, pioneering 5,000 people, remains resolutely sky high, making Le Pin one of the viticulture. family owned, with Joseph Gallo – world’s most sought-after and expensive The range is large, encompassing the son of Ernest Gallo – running the wines. wines at everyday prices as well as business.

20 Drinks International Most Admired Wine Brands

(the reserva) and Faustino 7 (the crianza). arrived and, more recently, the style has been The style is designed to emphasise influenced by the services of Michel Rolland. the fruit character of grapes grown in Jancis Robinson, praising the 2010, referred Faustino’s own estates – the company to the wine’s “almost supernatural fruit”. claims to own more vineyards than any The blend has recently been dominated by other bodega. Cabernet Franc.

38 Peter Lehmann 40 Berberana Estimated global shipments Estimated global shipments n/a 600,000 cases Country of origin Spain 36 O Fournier Country of origin Australia Owner United Wineries Estimated global shipments Owner The Hess Collection Founded in Rioja Alta in 1877 by 100,000 cases Born in 1930, Lehmann is no longer part Don Miguel Martínez Berberana, the Country of origin Spain, Argentina, of the day-to-day running of the company brand claims to be Spain’s biggest selling Chile which bears his name, but the Baron of wine export. Owner O Fournier the Barossa’s influence is still keenly felt. In 1994 the business broke with Created in 2000 by the exuberant José Lehmann has spent a career championing tradition by starting production of Vinos Manuel Ortega (above), a former banker, the region, convincing any detractors de la Tierra, making it the first of the O Fournier owns wineries in Mendoza with a string of awards and a growing traditional Rioja houses to take such a and Ribera del Duero and has vineyard international following for his wines. step. holdings in Maule, Chile. Ortega’s Peter Lehmann Wines was established in The Carta de Plata range has become business brain and passion for creating 1979 and has used the queen of clubs – the an important element of Berberana’s world-class wine have proved a potent gamblers’ card – as its emblem, symbolising portfolio. combination and the group has set itself the risk that Lehmann was taking when he The Berberana line-up has diversified an ambitious target of an annual output started out. The business was sold to Hess into a number of styles and price of 1.5 million bottles. in 2003 and Lehmann retired from his post brackets, generally winning acclaim In 2009 Robert Parker remarked that as managing director last year. from trade buyers and critics and, most Ortega appeared to be having more crucially of all, consumers. fun in Spain, Argentina and Chile than he did on Wall Street and confidently predicted that “the best is yet to come at O Fournier”. 37 Faustino Estimated global shipments n/a 39 Château Country of origin Spain Ausone Owner Grupo Faustino Estimated global sales 2,000 cases Founded in 1861, Faustino remains a Country of origin France family business. Although its bottles Owner The Vauthier family look traditional and conservative, the This 7ha estate in St-Emilion, planted company is more dynamic than it may with equal quantities of Merlot and appear, as anyone who has visited the Cabernet Franc, has a long and proud futuristic new Foster-designed winery in history, though it’s generally agreed it Ribera del Duero will attest. did not produce distinguished wines (by The group has seven wineries in Spain, its own high standards) for much of the including three in its Rioja heartland middle part of the 20th century. where it produces three principal brands: The return to form began in the late Faustino 1 (the gran reserva), Faustino 2 1970s when new regisseur Pascal Delbeck september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine Brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 21 41 Arniston Bay Estimated global shipments 700,000 cases Country of origin South Africa Owner The Company of Wine People Arniston Bay has caught the attention of the global wine trade, not just as a result of its successful export strategy but also for the way in which it does business. The brand’s owner, The Company of Wine People, does not own any of its own vineyards, yet through judicious partnerships with growers is able to maintain a consistent quality for its range. It’s also been innovative with Kumala winemaker Bruce Jack packaging, pioneering a pouch which offers environmental benefits as well as consumer convenience. pitted against wines of a supposedly for single-variety wines: several of its The brand has become one of the most higher pedigree, with Jancis Robinson Châteauneuf-du-Papes contain only recognisable mainstream brands in its key among the critics who have been Grenache, while its Côte-Rôties are market, the UK, thanks to an imaginative impressed by its Chardonnay. purely Syrah, with no Viognier. marketing strategy. Chapoutier has also drawn attention to 43 Lindeman’s itself with its biodynamic viticulture and 42 Woodbridge Estimated global shipments by broadening its horizons beyond the Estimated global shipments 8.4m cases Rhône and southern France into Portugal 7m cases Country of origin Australia and Australia, where it has joint venture Country of origin US Owner Treasury Wine Estates projects. Owner Constellation Wines When Henry Lindeman, a Hampshire- Its current chief executive, Michel Woodbridge is the winery built by Robert born doctor, set sail for Australia in Chapoutier, took over the running of the Mondavi in Lodi, 13 years after he 1840 he could never have imagined business in 1990, aged 26, and is widely had established his main headquarters the international success his Cawarra credited with revitalising the family firm. in the Napa Valley in 1966. While the winery would go on to achieve. The original project focused on premium fare, original vineyard has long gone, replaced 45 Kumala Woodbridge – formed after Mondavi by vast plantings in the Barossa Valley, Estimated global shipments bought out a cooperative of local grape Coonawarra and Padthaway. 2.6m cases growers – set about creating a range of Lindeman’s is one of many high- Country of origin South Africa wines for more general enjoyment. profile brands that gets caught up in Owner Accolade Wines Although the Woodbridge range of promotional price fighting, making it a Kumala did more than any other wine to varietal wines takes its place within victim of its high consumer appeal. Yet its popularise – indeed rehabilitate – South the mainstream of the wine market, it wines rarely get savaged by critics in the African wine as the apartheid regime regularly wins favourable reviews when same way as high-profile rivals – indeed crumbled. Developed by Western Wines, Robert Parker has praised its Chardonnay a now defunct UK wine business, Kumala for its exceptional value. gave British consumers a taste of the Cape which set out a path for many other 44 Michel rivals to follow. Chapoutier The brand later lost its way a little Estimated global shipments as volumes spiralled and consistency 420,000 cases suffered. New owner Constellation gave Country of origin France the brand an overhaul, installing Bruce Owner Chapoutier Jack as head winemaker, and Kumala has Braille labels have become something of got itself back on track. Today, as part of a trademark for this progressive Rhône newly-formed Accolade, it is still widely winery and negociant, which is a noted perceived as a shining example of how producer of top-level Hermitage. But the South Africa can create credible, crowd- company is also famous for its preference pleasing wine brands.

22 Drinks International Most Admired Wine Brands

49 Oxford Landing Estimated global shipments n/a Country of origin US Owner Yalumba Oxford Landing was established in 1958 by Wyndham Hill Smith. The vineyards, managed as 130 separate five-hectare 46 Blue Nun Brown, the company is today led by Ross blocks, border the Murray River near Estimated global shipments Brown and selects grapes from Waikerie in South Australia and 500,000 cases an eclectic group of vineyards, produce lush, quintessentially Country of origin Germany with differing terroir and Australian wines that have won Owner Langguth Wines microclimates. It is a member admirers across the globe. Blue Nun will forever be associated with of Australia’s First Families of Since 2002 Oxford Landing has off-dry German wines, but the brand has Wine, an alliance of some of tried to use minimal pesticides been extended in recent times to include Australia’s most prestigious and its increased commitment offerings from Spain, Italy and France. producers. to the environment went on to There is a Blue Nun from the Medoc, an include the purchase of 600ha organic Rivaner and Sangiovese, and a 48 Inniskillin of land to offset the carbon Riesling eiswein in the range. Estimated global shipments emissions of the winery. Like Black Tower, the brand was a n/a The land has been returned recruiting sergeant for the wine category Country of origin to native scrub with the in the days before the category had mass Canada intensive planting of appeal in markets such as the US and Owner Constellation thousands of trees and the UK. Langguth continues to have Wines bushes. faith in the main Blue Nun style, which Inniskillin is synonymous has continued to evolve over the years with ice wine, which it first and has been the subject of various made in Niagara in 1984, 50 Blossom makeovers. The range is sold in more nine years after the winery Hill than 100 countries. was founded. Until this Estimated global pivotal moment in its history shipments n/a 47 Brown Brothers – and indeed the history of Country of origin US Estimated global shipments Canadian wine – founders Owner Diageo 1.1m cases Karl Kaiser and Donald Blossom Hill goes Country of origin Australia Ziraldo had focused on table against almost every Owner The Brown family wines. theory that wine Few wine producers retain such an As Inniskillin grew, the critics put forward, appetite for experimentation as Brown Canadian wine industry yet its popularity with Brothers, which somehow manages grew with it, and Ziraldo consumers in northern to produce 45 varietal wines at was instrumental in forming Europe has been Milawa, many of them made at the the Vintners Quality Alliance phenomenal. mini Kindergarten winery. Some are scheme – Canada’s answer to The wine’s easy- exclusively cellar door products, but the an appellation system. The drinking, fruity style, range in mainstream distribution is also scheme was soon extended relatively high in residual impressively broad and includes fortified to British Columbia where, in 1994, sugar, was an almost instant hit and sparkling styles. The top end wines Inniskillin set up a winemaking venture in the UK. The idea of putting a tasting are marketed under the name Patricia. in partnership with the indigenous note on the front label proved to be a Established in 1885 by John Francis Inkameep people at Okanagan. masterstroke. Both the style and the packaging of Blossom Hill have inspired a host of imitations and arguably created a seismic shift in the UK market and beyond. Perhaps everyday consumers really do crave sweeter, less complicated wines than the market has been offering. september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 23 Most Admired Wine Brands

nsurprisingly, California claims the lion’s California wines on the list. The likes of Opus One, share of the vote, with eight of the top 10 Beaulieu, Saintsbury, Bonny Doon and Stag’s Leap Upositions, though it’s a Washington State don’t feature among the most supported brands in winery which claims the number one spot. our vote, which is not to say they are not widely Canada is represented by Inniskillin, although admired. Jackson Triggs, based in Ontario and British Judges have rewarded producers whose brands Columbia, just misses the cut, despite picking up have a more mass-market appeal and which have some votes. served as important ambassadors for American Top North There’s no place for some of the most premium winemaking around the world. America Wines

1 Château Ste Michelle 2 Fetzer 3 Kendall-Jackson 4 Beringer 5 Gallo 6 Woodbridge 7 Inniskillin 8 Blossom Hill 9 Ridge Vineyards 10 Sutter Home Gallo vineyards

september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 25 Most Admired Wine Brands

t’s striking that, despite the huge admiration that exists globally for South American wines, Ionly three brands have been nominated by our voting panel. This doesn’t necessarily reflect poorly on producers. For many in the trade, Chile and Argentina are brands in themselves such is their reputation for consistent quality. Another factor could be that, in many parts of the world, there is still something of a novelty factor to South America and its brands have not yet entered the collective consciousness in a way that has already happened with Europe, Australia and the US.

Top South America Wines

1 Concha y Toro 2 O Fournier 3 Santa Rita

O Fournier’s cellars

26 Drinks International most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT drinksint.com september 2011 Top Brands

1 Lafite 2 Latour hen the first Bordeaux these wines with the exception of Le Pin 3 Margaux classification was drawn up and, perhaps, Pétrus, which was a less 4 Haut-Brion Win 1855, only four wines impressive concern at that stage of its were deemed worthy of premier cru history than it is today. Pétrus 5 status: Lafite, Latour, Margaux and The list shows that, despite the 6 Cheval Blanc Haut-Brion. advent of Parker points and escalating 7 d’Yquem Astonishingly, more than 150 years en primeur prices, Bordeaux is still the 8 Mouton Rothschild later, those same four chateaux are still most traditional (and conservative) of all 9 Le Pin the most widely admired in the region. sectors of the wine market. A wine merchant from the mid-19th It may be some time before the likes of 10 Ausone century would be familiar with all of Pavie break into the top 10.

Lafite’s circular cellars

Louis Fabrice Château d’Yquem Latour

28 Drinks International Most Admired Wine Brands

Top European Wine Brands

1 Torres rance has to settle for just one Ausone et al. They might not fetch such 2 Antinori place in the top four European eye-watering prices at auction, but both 3 Lafite Fbrands and, unsurprisingly, it goes brands are admired for the way they have 4 Vega Sicilia to Lafite, arguably its best known as well represented regions of France outside of Marques de Riscal as its most admired brand. Bordeaux. 5 It’s interesting to note that although Spain claims three of the top five 6 Latour the first four French positions all go to places, which is a similarly impressive 7 Margaux top Bordeaux houses, the judges have achievement. Italy’s sole representative 8 Haut-Brion decided that Louis Latour and Duboeuf is Antinori, but there is no room for 9 Louis Latour both rank higher than Petrus, Cheval German, Austrian or east European 10 Duboeuf Blanc, d’Yquem, Mouton, Le Pin, contenders.

Lafite’s circular cellars

Le Grand Chai at Mouton

september 2011 drinksint.com most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT Drinks International 29 Most Admired Wine Brands

Top Australia and NZ Wines

ustralia six, New Zealand four 1 Jacob’s Creek is how the scores pan out in the 2 Penfolds AOceania top 10. Brown Brothers 3 Cloudy Bay and Oxford landing just miss the cut and 4 Wolf Blass some big names such as Hardys, Tyrrell’s Oyster Bay and Rosemount are also absent. 5 Neither Australia nor New Zealand 6 Villa Maria has quite the same class system that is 7 Yellowtail found in parts of Europe and California, 8 Brancott Estate meaning that some of their most 9 Peter Lehmann prestigious names (such as Penfolds) also 10 Lindeman’s operate on a commercial scale.

Penfolds’ Peter Gago

30 Drinks International most admired wine brands SUPPLEMENT drinksint.com september 2011