NEWS
JAPAN'S CHATEAU MERCIAN NAMED WORLD'S 33rd BEST VINEYARD, ASIA'S ONLY ON TOP 50
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
18-10-2021
Source: Chateau Mercian
Japan’s Chateau Mercian is voted the world’s 33rd best vineyard in World’s Best Vineyards Awards 2021 and is the only vineyard in Asia having made to top 50.
World’s Best Vineyards aims at highlighting the best wine tourism destinations across the globe. This year’s awards ceremony was held on 20 September at Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau, Germany, in a hybrid event combining a real-life ceremony and digital live film to showcase the world’s best and most unique vineyards.
As the only Asian winery on top 50, Château Mercian has roots from Japan’s first private wine company, Dai-Nihon Yamanashi Budoushu-Gaisha, which was founded in 1877.
The Mariko vineyards of Château Mercian is the site being voted No 33, a 3-place drop from last year’s No.30. The winery also owns two other sites, at Katsunuma and Kikyogahara respectively.
Mariko’s 30 hectares are planted to French grape varieties, predominantly Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah (though there is also Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot), with indigenous varieties grown at other sites.
The 2021 Top 50 vineyards represent 16 countries and includes first-time entrants onto the list from Lebanon and Russia.
Argentina’s Zuccardi Valle de Uco topped the list. Bodegas de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal in Spain’s Rioja region took second place, and was closely followed by Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux, France.
The World’s Best Vineyards list aims to highlight the sheer diversity across both established and emerging wine tourism destinations and the list is voted by the Academy of 600 global wine and travel experts.
This year saw 10 new destinations in the Top 50 with Karam Wines in Lebanon becoming the highest new entry and reaching number 14 in the list.
There are two new Russian entries from the Krasnodar region with Sikory Winery famous for its rocky clay soil entering the list for the first time at number 20 and the Lefkadia Valley hitting number 23.
Click here to see the full list of World’s Best Vineyards 2021 Top 50.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
**IF YOU THINK THE WINE CHRONICLE IS WORTH SUPPORTING, PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO HELP US IMPROVE AND CONTINUE OUR WORK**
TRENDING│ FOCUS│ MISSION│ ABOUT US│ CONTACT
| 