21 Wineries from the Wine Travel Awards Community That Forbes Says Are Worth Planning Your Next Journey Around
This year, leading Forbes.com contributor Jim Dobson published The World’s 21 Must-Visit Wineries, According to the Wine Travel Awards. We trust his judgement and expertise, and present a concise guide to the destinations from the Wine Travel Awards community that he believes deserve a place on every discerning traveller’s itinerary.
There was a time when wine tourism meant little more than a cellar tour followed by a tasting. Today, the landscape has changed entirely.
Generation Z travellers seek authenticity, local stories, singular landscapes, unexpected gastronomic discoveries and places that cannot be recreated through an Instagram filter. It is precisely for this reason that the Forbes selection, drawn from nominees of the Wine Travel Awards, which now spans 48 countries, features not only renowned wineries but also projects that have evolved into genuine cultural destinations.
What unites these 21 addresses is neither geography nor wine style. Rather, it is their ability to create lasting memories. Here, visitors can wander among the vineyards of ancient Pompeii, taste a legendary golden wine on an island in the Venetian Lagoon, watch elephants roaming beside vineyards in Thailand, or discover indigenous grape varieties found nowhere else on earth.
For that reason, The World’s 21 Must-Visit Wineries, According to the Wine Travel Awards is far more than a list of wineries. It is a ready-made itinerary for those who wish to discover the world through local stories, remarkable people and wines that could not exist anywhere else.
Argentina
Bodega La Luz del Vino
Among Forbes’ recommendations is Bodega La Luz del Vino, nestled high in the Andes. According to Irina Dyachenkova, CEO of Wine Travel Awards, quoted by Forbes, winery owner Ricardo F. Núñez is one of the wine world’s boldest investors, while the project itself combines uncompromising quality standards with a far-reaching vision for the future. Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards, dramatic day-to-night temperature swings and intense sunlight shape wines that Forbes describes as particularly fresh and expressive.
France
Champagne Joseph Perrier
Here, the journey begins underground. The ancient chalk galleries, carved centuries ago, create an extraordinary sense of immersion in Champagne’s history. Founded in 1825, Champagne Joseph Perrier captivates visitors with its historic chalk cellars, elegant architecture and finely crafted wines.
Château Pape Clément
One of Bordeaux’s oldest wine estates, Château Pape Clément traces its origins back to the 13th century. It is a destination for anyone wishing to experience the true scale of French wine culture and the grandeur of Bordeaux. More than seven centuries of winemaking history unfold here. Today, the château combines premium contemporary hospitality with some of the region’s most prestigious mature wines, offering an experience fit for royalty… or perhaps for popes.
Italy
Venissa Estate
Located on the island of Mazzorbo in the Venetian Lagoon, Venissa Estate is where the nearly extinct Dorona grape was rescued from oblivion and transformed into one of Italy’s most fascinating wine stories. Irina Dyachenkova has personally highlighted the estate as an outstanding example of wine heritage preservation and a destination that every wine lover should visit while in Venice. As it happens, our editorial team once did exactly that.
Mirabella Golf Club
Part of the Mastroberardino family’s vision in the Taurasi DOCG zone, Mirabella Golf Club reflects the scale of Antonio Mastroberardino’s achievements, including the revival of the vineyards of ancient Pompeii and the creation of the iconic Villa dei Misteri wine. A visit to the nearby Mastroberardino Winery is equally rewarding. Its beautifully frescoed cellars are unforgettable. Be sure to ask for the wines grown from the vineyards of Pompeii.
Ventiventi Winery
One of the finest destinations for anyone eager to understand how wine comes into being. At Ventiventi Winery, visitors can follow the entire journey from vineyard to bottle, gaining a deeper appreciation of every stage of production.
Villa Cammaratini
This Sicilian estate near Modica opens a doorway into the Baroque splendour of the Val di Noto. Villa Cammaratini is an ideal base from which to explore the rich gastronomic culture of southern Italy.
Vinos de La Luz Toscana
The Tuscan project of the Vinos de La Luz group is located in the breathtaking Val d’Orcia. Here, the classic landscapes of Tuscany meet a distinctly contemporary vision of winemaking.
Fasoli Gino Winery
A pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture, Fasoli Gino Winery demonstrates how a family business can become a benchmark for sustainability. It is also one of those rare places where exceptional Amarone wines are matched by equally memorable hospitality and striking hotel design. Following Jim Dobson’s lead, it is a destination we would wholeheartedly recommend.
Radici Resort
Situated in the heart of Irpinia among the vineyards of Mastroberardino in the Taurasi DOCG area near Mirabella Eclano, Radici Resort is a fully fledged wine destination. The property combines a hotel, restaurant, golf course, swimming pool and spa. Guests are invited to discover local gastronomic specialities alongside Mastroberardino wines while exploring the cultural, historical and wine heritage of Campania.
Georgia
Shaloshvili Cellar & Hotel
Kakheti without theatrical scenery or tourist clichés. At Shaloshvili Cellar & Hotel, guests are welcomed not as customers but as old friends. This family-run project embodies Georgian hospitality at its most authentic.
Winery Khareba
A living museum of Georgian viticulture. Winery Khareba safeguards hundreds of indigenous grape varieties and serves as a true genetic repository of the country’s wine heritage. It is also home to a collaborative wine project involving British wine tourism guru Robert Joseph.
SHUMI Winery
If you have only one day to spend in the country many consider the birthplace of wine, Irina Dyachenkova recommends spending it here. At SHUMI Winery, visitors will find acclaimed wines, including the world’s first sparkling wine produced in qvevri, alongside a museum, an extensive ampelographic collection, the microzones of Kakheti and the unique beverage known as Zigu, a particular favourite of our editorial team.
Spain
Bodega Tío Pepe
Sherry, sun-drenched courtyards, vine-lined avenues and one of Spain’s most authentic wine atmospheres. At Bodega Tío Pepe, wine is woven into the fabric of the town itself. Once a year, that spirit erupts into a vibrant festival that draws enthusiasts from around the globe.
Bodega La Luz del Duero
Ribera del Duero at its most compelling: limestone soils, dramatic temperature variations and a medieval castle visible from the winery terrace.
Descalzos Viejos
A former monastery overlooking Ronda, transformed into one of Andalucía’s most enchanting wineries. Descalzos Viejos offers outstanding wines, a barrel hall adorned with frescoes, spectacular views and an atmosphere that is impossible to forget. According to Wine Travel Awards experts, it is the most romantic place in the most romantic city of Andalucía.
Bodega La Luz de Rueda
The world of Verdejo unfolds here among gravelly soils and the modern story of one of Spain’s most dynamic white wine regions.
Portugal
The Yeatman
More than a luxury hotel, The Yeatman has become a temple of Portuguese wine culture overlooking the Douro. It is the perfect place to understand the phenomenon of Port wine and the profound relationship between landscape, heritage and hospitality.
South Africa
The Glass Museum at Glenelly Estate
A winery, a glass museum and the remarkable story of Lady May-Eliane de Lencquesaing. Having managed one of Bordeaux’s leading châteaux until the age of 70, she now continues to oversee her South African vineyards well into her second century of life, travelling from Switzerland to Africa. Glenelly Estate is one of those rare places where art and wine become inseparable parts of the same experience.
Taiwan
Domaine Vino Formosa
Proof that great wine stories do not necessarily require centuries of history. Domaine Vino Formosa became one of the pioneers of underwater wine ageing and has attracted considerable international attention through its innovative approach.
Thailand
Monsoon Valley Vineyard
One of the most extraordinary wine destinations anywhere in the world. At Monsoon Valley Vineyard, tropical vineyards, unconventional viticultural techniques and the neighbouring elephant sanctuary combine to create an experience unlike any other. Here, visitors discover that the boundaries of the wine world are far broader than tradition might suggest.
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