100 best wineries according to Wine and Spirits Magazine

Every year, the prestigious Wine & Spirits publication compiles a list of the 100 best wineries of the year. The selection is decided on the basis of the overall scores each winery is awarded for the performance and rating of their wines, which are tasted in a two-step blind tasting, and in recognition of their track record for exceptional wines.

From these 100 extraordinary wineries that produce some of the best known and most sought-after wines in the world, we have chosen 5 wineries that we think you should know a bit more about.

Sound good?

5 world-class wineries worth discovering

Anselmo Mendes (Portugal)

Anselmo Mendes has three decades of experience as a winemaker, two of which he has dedicated to the winery named after himself. Anselmo Mendes carried such a legacy that his reputation more than makes up for the young age of his winery. Anselmo Mendes currently produces more than 30 wines that are sold in about 40 countries around the world and are made in the Portuguese regions of Vinho Verde, Douro, Dão, Beira Interior and Açores. Wines born from the combination of ancient techniques, like “a curtimenta” (maceration with skins) and daring winemaking methods always based on a philosophy of respect for the land and a connection with a long winemaking tradition.

Gaja (Italy)

Angelo Gaja is one of the most renowned and best-known winemakers in the world. Known as “the king of Barbaresco”, he was a visionary who decided to break with the established patterns of winemaking in Piedmont, focussing on quality rather than quantity. His family settled in the region in the mid-17th century, laying the foundations of modern viticulture in Piedmont. This revolution has given rise to some of the world’s most expensive and desirable Italian wines that showcase the exquisite refinement and elegance of the Nebbiolo variety. Wines of extraordinary longevity and seductive character.

Dr. Loosen (Germany)

The Loosen family has been cultivating Riesling in the Mosel Valley for over 200 years, so it is not surprising that this German winery is one of the most renowned and admired Riesling winemakers in the world. Ernst (Erni) Loosen, who has run the family winery since 1988, is one of the most iconic and influential winemakers in the world. For Erni a great wine starts life as an idea, it captures the whole cosmos and reflects the passion of its winemaker, the change of seasons, the unique characteristics of the terroir and the distinctive character of its vintage. Ernst Loosen was named “Man of the Year” at the Decanter Awards in 2005, and “Best German winemaker of the last 25 years” by Wine & Spirits magazine.

Bollinger (France)

Lily Bollinger says this about champagne: “I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company, it’s a must. I eat with it when I’m not hungry and I drink it when I am. I don’t drink it at any other time, unless I'm thirsty.”
Bollinger is not only the favourite champagne of the world's most famous secret agent, James Bond, but also of the Crown of England, who awarded this Maison de Champagne the prestigious Royal Warrant, a badge carried by the official suppliers of the Court that Bollinger has held since 1884.

There are no words to describe Maison Bollinger, a house that pays attention to the smallest detail and never stops its constant search for perfection. No wonder it is one of the 100 best wineries in the world.

González Byass (Spain)

Since 1835 this family has been working to showcase the wonders of one of the most special fortified wine styles in the world: Sherry. One of its producers, Tío Pepe Cuatro Palmas, is a true oenological gem that in 2019 was crowned “Best Wine in the World” at the International Wine Challenge, one of the events that brings together the best producers on the planet. These achievements would not be possible without the passion and work of Antonio Flores, one of the most charismatic winemakers in existence and who, on more than one occasion, has been given the title “Best fortified winemaker in the world” in the same competition. Convinced? Try their wines... I don’t think we need to say any more.

These are just 5 of the 100 Best Wineries of 2021 chosen by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Remember that, as well as the remaining 95 best wineries of 2021, you should also start getting familiar with those that are doing something interesting that could see them featured in the future as the next Top 100 wineries in the world. And what better way to discover them than through their wines!  And that’s where we come in handy ;D.