Drinks International has revealed its fifty most admired wine brands in the world for 2022.
The brands have been chosen by the Academy, made up of the world’s leading wine experts, including buyers, sommeliers, wholesalers, bar owners, Masters of Wine, writers and educators from six continents around the globe.
Familia Torres of Spain has retained the number one spot after impressing the Academy with the quality and consistency of its wines. It was also awarded the Most Admired Wine Brand in Europe.
Australia’s Penfolds, best known for its Grange vintages, took the runner’s-up spot and therefore collects the Most Admired Wine Brand in Australasia award, while former champion Catena Zapata completes the podium. The family-owned winery in Mendoza also retains its crown as the Most Admired Wine Brand in South America.
European brands featured 26 times on the list, led by both France and Spain with nine brands each and Italy accumulating four in total.
The Highest New Entry this year was Spain’s Bodegas Protos, who entered the list for the first time at number 28, while the Highest Climber was fellow Spaniard La Rioja Alta, which gained 46 places on last year to reach number 4.
At 15, South Africa’s Kanonkop was named the Most Admired Wine Brand in Africa & the Middle East, while Ridge from California retained its title as the Most Admired Wine Brand from North America at number 27.
Drinks International editor Shay Waterworth said:
“The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2022 showcases the most iconic, innovative and respected producers in the world.
Earning a place on this prestigious list is a serious achievement given the thousands of brands around the world and I congratulate those in our top 50 this year. The chosen producers have earned the respect of hundreds of wine professionals and experts from around the world.
Within the list are the regional champions who are leading the way in their respected wine markets to earn the respect of our Academy of voters.”
This is the 12th year in which Drinks International has compiled its definitive guide to The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands. It features a vibrant mix of Old World classics, ambitious New World producers and high-volume brands that offer exceptional value for money.
Drinks International publisher Justin Smith added:
“We are delighted to reward the achievements of the most admired wine brands on the planet. Congratulations to the highest ranked wineries in Europe, North America, South America, Australasia and Africa & the Middle East, and to all of the brands featured in our definitive guide. We look forward to continuing to celebrate the successes of exceptional wine producers long into the future.”
Abrie Beeslaar celebrates his 21st harvest at Kanonkop
This year's harvest was a very special one for our cellarmaster Abrie Beeslaar, as he celebrated his 21st vintage on our Estate. His first arrived on Kanonkop in 2002 as Beyers Truter's wingman, but he has been at the helm since 2003.
By the time he arrived at Kanonkop, some pretty solid groundwork had been done by his two legendary predecessors, but Abrie followed in the footsteps of Beyers and Jan-Boland Coetzee to become a legend in his own right.
He is equally excited about this year's crop, and had the following to say:
"The 2022 vintage is showing a lot of potential to become one of the greats. A cool, early season with rain relieving some of the stress on the vines contributed to grapes with excellent phenolic ripeness. We generally had very pleasant weather throughout the growing season, with only a couple of extremely hot days dispersed inbetween. The late-ripening varieties like the Cabernet Sauvignon delivered fantastic ripeness and wines with balanced alcohols.
