From rustic Provence to the contemporary avant-garde wineries in Spain, today’s top wineries are a destination within the destination. Come for glasses of your favourite varietals, stay for the beautiful and historic estates. Below, we’ve listed a unique selection of wineries to give you inspiration for your 2021 travel plans.
Bodegas Ysios, Laguardia, Spain
Conceived as a place of worship for wine, Bodegas Ysios has a unique design by Santiago Calatrava that features a long and curious structure consisting of waves created from gigantic beams of aluminium. This unmistakable landmark sits in an idyllic enclave at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria producing expressive and delicious reserve wines.
Château Margaux, Margaux, France
This world famous winery features a striking neo-Palladian style villa and boasts a rich history. It was the first claret sold at Christie’s in the 18th-Century, it was endorsed by Thomas Jefferson as a vineyard of first quality and a bottle of Château Margaux 1787 holds the record as the most expensive ever broken, insured at an eye-watering $225,000 per unit.
Mission Hill Winery, British Columbia, Canada
Mission Hill Winery is located in the heart of British Colombia’s stunning Okanagan Valley and boasts an iconic 12-storey bell tower as its focal point. Heralded as the “Versailles of the Valley” by The New York Times, this prestigious winery is the winner of the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Darioush Winery, California, United States
Designed to resemble a Persian palace in homage to the heritage of its entrepreneurial owner, Darioush Khaledi, this exquisite winery is a story of blending traditions. The estate comprises of 120 acres in the cooler microclimates of the Southern Napa Valley, which spans Mount Veeder and Oak Knoll, where vintner Steve Devitt has unlocked the full potential of the AVA vineyards.
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Bordeaux, France
Featuring one of the most picturesque chateaux’s in the entire world, Pichon Lalande is a winery in Bordeaux owned by the Rouzaud family, which also owns the Champagne house Louis Roederer. As the most famous Médoc estate to utilise a high Merlot component, Pichon Lalande’s self-titled signature wine, Château Pichon Lalande, has a softer tannic structure than other Pauillac wines.
Marqués de Riscal, Alvara, Spain
Completely revamped in 2006 by famed architect Frank Gehry, the traditional Marqués de Riscal winery has been transformed into a contemporary avant-garde luxury retreat. It boasts a rooftop lounge with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Riojan vineyards and Elciego’s medieval cathedral, as well as a Vinoteca bar with in excess of 1,000 bottles and the Vinothérapie Spa boasting a range of grape-based treatments.
Castello di Amorosa, California, United States
Castello di Amorosa is a winery in the world famous Napa Valley offering guided tasting and wine pairing tours as well as a two-acre subterranean cellar. The authentically built 13th-century Tuscan castle features 107 guest rooms, a moat, drawbridge, interior courtyard, defensive towers, torture chamber, chapel, 500-year-old fireplace and great hall decorated with fresco paintings by Italian artists.
Ledson Winery and Vineyards, California, United States
Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley among acres of rolling vineyards and pastoral calm are the Ledson Winery and its iconic French-Normandy castle. The estate specialises in small varietal lots reflecting the diversity of its appellations and boasts handcrafted tasting bars, a stocked gourmet market and picnic areas dotted around impeccable grounds populated by pockets of majestic 100-year-old oak trees.
Bodega SOMMOS, Somontano, Spain
Encased in a prism of glass, the Bodega SOMMOS winery’s iconic landmark building is the brainchild of architect Jesús Marino Pascual. Located in the heart of Somontano, the estate cultivates 23 types of white grapes and 50 types of red to craft a broad range of wines including varieties of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Moristel, Parraleta, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer.
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Alentejo, Portugal
The Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is a family-run, working country farmhouse and winery in an idyllic bucolic setting. It features a tranquil, whitewashed boutique hotel with airy rooms that contain exposed wooden beam ceilings and heated terracotta stone floors. There is a vinotherapy spa, a Michelin-starred chef serving gourmet regional dishes and an infinity pool overlooking 27 hectares of vineyards that produce exceptional Malhadinha wines.
Franschhoek Pass Villa, South Africa
This family-owned boutique wine farm sits on the cool slopes of the Franschhoek Pass surrounded by spectacular mountains and gourmet restaurants and overlooking one of Africa’s most stunning valleys. Its spacious villa features an open-plan living and dining room area with a log fireplace. French doors open onto a wooden terrace that boasts a private pool, sun loungers, barbecue area and outdoor shower.
Clos Apalta Winery and Lodge, Santa Cruz, Chile
Described as an oenophile’s paradise, Clos Apalta is an exclusive winery and luxury boutique lodge located in Chile’s premier wine growing region. Its main building is a marvel of technical ingenuity with three of its five stories dug into the granite-rich hillside and four individual casitas for guests. At the building’s heart is a dramatic spiral staircase resembling the pouring of vino into a wineglass.
Cordeillan-Bages, Médoc, France
The Grand cru classé of Pauillac, Cordeillan-Bages is a beautiful, chic 18th-century charterhouse with bright guestrooms, a pool, sauna, private gardens and terraces overlooking the vineyards. Resident chef, Jean-Luc Rocha, boasts two-Michelin-stars and delights diners with gourmet dishes such as blue lobster with baby vegetable risotto washed down with fine wines from the hotel’s well-stocked cellar.
Castello Banfi, Tuscany, Italy
Set on a hilltop overlooking 2,800 hectares of olive groves and vineyards, Castello Banfi is a state-of-the-art winery producing some of Tuscany’s most renowned varieties. Having converted the workers quarters into luxury accommodation, the estate now offers 14 individually designed rooms with terracotta stone floors and exposed wooden beams as well as a small pool and decorative courtyard.
Craggy Range, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Australian businessman, Terry Peabody, founded Craggy Range after he pledged to his wife and daughter that he would create an enduring family wine legacy. After an unsuccessful worldwide search, he settled on Hawkes Bay having identified a potential he couldn’t find anywhere else. The estate now produces some of the finest wines in New Zealand and boasts two luxury self-contained cottages for visitors.
Wine Resort Conti di San Bonifacio, Montemassi, Italy
Wine Resort Conti di San Bonifacio is a working farmhouse and winery with an elegant boutique hotel that houses seven high-end rooms and suites with beamed ceilings and rustic-chic décor. The estate is nestled in the Maremma countryside surrounded by vineyards and mountains. The refined restaurant serves olive oil and wines produced on the grounds including Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
For bookings or for pointed guidance on enhancing your wine cellar, please contact your Personal Assistant at Insignia.
