The Cap Classique will flow freely in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley this week, with the news that the South African wine estate Creation Wines has been named #3 in the respected World’s Best Vineyards awards.
It’s the sixth outing for the annual awards run by William Reed Media—who also hosts the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards—which were announced this year at a ceremony at Nyetimber estate in West Sussex, England.
A global academy of voters votes on the top 50 list made up of wine critics, sommeliers, and wine tourism experts from across the world. Bodegas De Los Herederos Del Marqués De Riscal in Rioja, northern Spain, claimed the top spot this year. Spain also had the most vineyards in the top 10 this year, with three vineyards in the top 10 and eight vineyards in the top 50. In second place – up one spot – was Viña VIK in Chile.
But shining a light on Africa in a remarkable third position, also one spot up from their impressive result in 2023, was Creation Wines. Located in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde valley, inland from the popular whale-watching town of Hermanus, Creation is a specialist in the classic Burgundian cultivars of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, famous for its scenic wine offering that focuses on holistic culinary pairings alongside wines that take their cue from the terroir.
‘This award is a great honour,’ says Carolyn Martin, co-founder and marketing director of Creation Wines, ‘and an acknowledgement of the journey we began over 20 years ago. While we knew instinctively that nature would be our guiding force in making fine wines, it was soon clear that to fulfil our dream of becoming the most loved and most innovative estate in the country, we would need to embrace every aspect of what it means to be truly sustainable.’
Creation’s 3rd place was even more remarkable considering the estates it beat to the top: Chateau d’Yquem in France (#13), Robert Mondavi (#16) in California, and Champagne Bollinger (#12). This is also the fifth time that Creation has been listed as the top wine estate in Africa!
The other winner on the night was Klein Constantia, in Cape Town’s Constantia Valley. This historic cellar, home to the acclaimed sweet wine ‘Vin de Constance’, was voted in at #41.
But if you’re planning your vinous travels for the year ahead, these are the 25 best vineyards in the world:
- Bodegas De Los Herederos Del Marqués De Riscal, Spain
- VIK, Chile
- Creation, South Africa
- Bodegas Ysios, Spain
- Fürst Von Metternich-Winneburg’sche Domäne Schloss Johannisberg, Germany
- Maison Ruinart, France
- Château Smith Haut Lafitte, France
- Abadía Retuerta, Spain
- Weingut Dr. Loosen, Germany
- Finca Victoria - Durigutti Family Winemakers, Argentina
- Bodega Garzón, Uruguay
- Champagne Bollinger, France
- Château d’Yquem, France
- Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, Italy
- Quinta do Crasto, Portugal
- Robert Mondavi Winery, USA
- Montes, Chile
- Bodegas Salentein, Argentina
- Viu Manent, Chile
- Ceretto, Italy
- Château Pape Clément, France
- Castello Banfi, Italy
- Bodega Muga, Spain
- Jordan Vineyard & Winery, USA
- Tenuta Castelbuono (Tenute Lunelli), Italy
Hungry? Here are the 20 Best restaurants in the Cape Winelands