World’s Best Vineyards 2023: These three vineyards in the Western Cape are among 50 best!

World’s Best Vineyards has revealed the top wine destinations for 2023. The extensive list, which is compiled from all the nominations by a global Voting Academy, showcases the very best of wine tourism, highlighting the world’s finest and diverse vineyards across the globe. The academy of voters consists of over 500 leading wine experts, sommeliers and travel experts and they submit their nominations based on the different criteria that make the best destination vineyard, including quality of the overall experience, ambiance, cuisine, activities, views, staff, and value for money. The results are then collated and converted into the annual World’s Best Vineyards list.

According to the World’s Best Vineyards annual list for 2023, South Africa's Western Cape has three vineyards in the top 50 as well further two vineyards in the top 51–100. Creation Wines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Hermanus) was named fourth best vineyard in the World 2023, Klein Constantia in Constantia was ranked 32 and Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch came in at 36. Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in Walker Bay closely missed the Top 50 and was named 53rd best vineyard, while Tokara Vineyard in Stellenbosch was ranked 93rd. Congratulations!
Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina, was named the World’s Best Vineyard 2023, followed by Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in Rioja, Spain, and VIK in Chile's Cachapoal Valley.

Western Cape: Five new farms in the Cape Winelands awarded Conservation Champion status!

WWF South Africa has announced that five new farms in the Cape Winelands in South Africa's Western Cape have been awarded Conservation Champion status in the past six months. Conservation Champion farms are committed to regenerative farming practices, including conserving natural systems and biodiversity on their land and optimal water and energy efficiency.  

The five farms to have joined the programme are: 

• Anthonij Rupert Wyne (Franschhoek)
• Journey’s End Vineyards (Somerset West)
• Mooiplaas (Stellenbosch)
• Nederburg Wines (Paarl)
• Tierhoek (Robertson)

WWF South Africa supports Conservation Champion farms in their environmental efforts by co-developing detailed environmental management plans, setting tangible targets and helping them to prioritise actions to address their most pressing envionmental risks. In exchange for their commitment to nature and adhering to WWF's high standards, the Conservation Champions can use the distinctive sugarbird and protea logo on their wine bottles so consumers can make an informed choice to support our environmental wine leaders.

WWF South Africa's Conservation Champion programme was initiated in 2004 and was originally called the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI). A total of 45 Conservation Champion farms are currently part of the the programme.