Fine wines from a good source: These are the world's top wineries

What characterizes a top winery?

First, of course, there is the question of what makes a top winery anyway. Because alone There are around 15,000 companies in Germany who grow wine. It is therefore obvious that only a very small proportion of all wineries worldwide benefit from an award.

In principle, a top winery differs from an average growing region by a combination of various factors that contribute to the production of first-class wines. Some of them include:

• Terroir: The location of a winery is crucial. Wine connoisseurs understand the soil, location and slope exposure or orientation, and the prevailing climate in a region. All of these factors significantly influence the character and quality of the wine. In the end, however, it is a combination of terroir, grape varieties and the winemaker's skill that determines whether a winery becomes a top winery.

• Selection of grape varieties: Nicolas Sinoquet, Director of Château Gruaud-Larose, once said: “The new plot of land that I am planting this year will definitely be yielding for over 80 years. Way beyond my time! So I have to think very carefully about how I plant: With which variety, which clone on which rootstock vine, at what distance...” The precise selection of a grape variety suitable for the terroir is a science in itself and another characteristic of top wineries.

• Experience and tradition: Many outstanding wineries, such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, have a long family history and a tradition of winemaking that is passed on over generations. This knowledge and experience is of lasting, invaluable value.

• Critics' reviews and awards: Recognitions from Wine experts such as Robert Parker and awards help to strengthen the reputation of a winery or to promote a hitherto unknown winery to the top of the world.

• Consistency: A top winery produces high-quality wines year after year. And this is largely independent of annual weather conditions and other external factors.

The best wineries in the world are honored by various organizations and magazines every year. That is why the top lists are also very influenced by the “taste” of the respective jurors. However, some wineries are among the best in the world in various rankings - for example in”The Words Most Admired Wine Brands 2023” Ranking by Drinks International.

These are some of the top wineries and “newcomers” that appear in many ranking lists:

The evergreens

• Château Lafite Rothschild (France): The winery from the Pauillac region in Médoc produces one of the most sought after and expensive red wines in the world, such as the eponymous red wine Lafite Rothschild.

• Château Margaux (France): The famous wine estate in Bordeaux is known for its first-class red wines, in particular the Margaux Grand Cru Classé.

• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (France): This Burgundy winery produces some of the most sought after and expensive wines in the world, including Romanie-Conti and La Tâche.

• Château d'Yquem (France): The winery is famous for its sweet wines; in particular Sauternes, which is considered one of the best sweet wines in the world.

• Opus One (USA): The renowned winery is a joint venture between the Robert Mondavi and Château Mouton Rothschild wineries in Napa Valley. Opus One, one of the most expensive and highest-rated wines in the USA, is pressed there.

• Screaming Eagle (USA): Screaming Eagle is Napa Valley's cult winery par excellence, and its Cabernets are among the most sought after and expensive wines in the world.

• Penfolds (Australia): Founded in 1844, the winery is one of oldest wine producers in Australia. It follows three different wine production styles - single-vineyard, single-region, multi-region and blending of several grape varieties.

The newcomers

• Marchesi Antinori (Italy): The traditional Tuscan winery Marchesi Antinori was named the most admired wine brand in the world in 2023, making it the first Italian winery in history to top the Drinks International ranking.

• Barefoot Cellars (USA): In the 1980s, Barefoot was founded by two unconventional Californians in their home. These are primarily not investment wines, but very good wines in an affordable price range.

• Ridge (USA): The winery was founded in the 1960s and is known for its Cabernet, Chardonnay and Zinfandel. This year, Ridge Vineyards was named the most admired wine brand in North America by Drinks International and has also risen 17 places to 10th place on the “World's Most Admired Wine Brands 2023".

• KWV (South Africa): The wine holding company with a fairly short tradition was named the most admired wine brand in the Middle East and Africa in 2023.

Fine wine as an elegant portfolio component

Despite all ranking lists and points ratings, the wine world is often difficult for laymen to understand. That is why wine novices in particular should be wary of fraudulent offers, because counterfeits are repeatedly sold on Internet platforms in particular. And even when the “right” investment wine has been found, there is of course the question of proper storage and the optimal time to drink or sell.

However, without any expertise and starting at just 500 euros, interested wine investors can contact FINEXITY build up a diversified portfolio of fine wine and other, digitized tangible assets. This is because collectibles, real estate and even diamonds have “intrinsic” values and sometimes show a performance that does not correlate with the current turbulent financial market situation.