World's Most "Admired" Wine Brands 2019 - Drinks International's "Ahem" Listicle

[Count Bobulescu]

This landed in my inbox this morning, from the Dept. of Useless Information.

Drinks International's survey of the world's most admired wine brands. It's a Tour de Force in bullshit, and good reason for consumers to maintain a healthy skepticism of corporate winespeak. Zero info on selection criteria. The global panel of wine experts sounds like an outfit I'd be proud to be kicked out of, if I was a wine expert, that is. Imagine if you are number 15 or 17 on this list.

 

The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands is considered a leading authority on the most influential and trending wine producers from around the world and the full list can be seen below:

1. Penfolds, Australia 2. Torres, Spain 3. Villa Maria, New Zealand 4. Concha Y Toro, Chile 5. M. Chapoutier, France 6. Sassicaia, Italy 7. E. Guigal, France 8. Marqués de Riscal, Spain 9. Errazuriz, Chile 10. Ridge, USA 11. Cono Sur, Chile 12. Felton Road, New Zealand 13. Campo Viejo, Spain 14. Vega Sicilia, Spain 15. Château Margaux, France 16. Barefoot, USA 17. Tignanello, Italy 18. Château d’Yquem, France 19. Yalumba, Australia 20. Château Petrus, France 21. Cloudy Bay, New Zealand 22. Château Musar, Lebanon 23. Cavit, Italy 24. Château Lafite, France 25. Louis Latour, France 26. McGuigan, Australia 27. Georges Duboeuf, France 28. Château Haut-Brion, France 29. Château Cheval Blanc, France 30. Santa Rita, Chile 31. Jean Marc Brocard, France 32. Oyster Bay, New Zealand 33. Robert Mondavi, USA 34. Château Latour, France 35. Royal Tokaji, Hungary 36. Peter Lehmann, Australia 37. Wolf Blass, Australia 38. Château Mouton Rothschild, France 39. Yellowtail, Australia 40. Ramon Bilbao, Spain 41. Undurraga, Chile 42. Trapiche, Argentina 43. Jacob’s Creek, Australia 44. Beringer, USA 45. KWV, South Africa 46. Château Le Pin, France 47. Nederburg, South Africa 48. Inniskillin, Canada 49. Rosemount Estate, Australia 50. Barton & Guestier, France

[DonRocks]

"Most Admired" from a sales and profitability standpoint only.

It's like saying Chipotle and Cheesecake Factory are the World's Most Admired restaurants (truly, it is).

[Mark Slater]

• Directly after Chateau Mouton Rothschild, a Bordeaux first growth that usually sells for more than $1,000, comes Yellowtail, a wine that sells for less than $6. Mouton produces 20,000 cases annually, Yellowtail, more than 8 million.

[deangold]

In the top 10, only Ridge make superb wines as good or better as they did 30 years ago

But here is the thing. The other brands all were small boutique producers at one time making a slew of great wines before corporatization. 

Ridge was bought by a single owner who told the staff to make Ridge the best winery in the world. That is what would make him happy. I know a lot of the top guys at Ridge and several members of top management have never heard an financial pressure from the owner's corporation. They make their budgets as they wish, and as long as they hit their numbers they get lovely letters of congratulations. And if they have to lower the numbers because of poor vintages, there is no one threatening them. My personal collection has 1 bottle of Ridge for every 6 bottles. We just had a 2009 Carignane that was simply wonderful.

[DonRocks]

25 minutes ago, deangold said:

In the top 10, only Ridge make superb wines as good or better as they did 30 years ago

But here is the thing. The other brands all were small boutique producers at one time making a slew of great wines before corporatization. 

Ridge was bought by a single owner who told the staff to make Ridge the best winery in the world. That is what would make him happy. I know a lot of the top guys at Ridge and several members of top management have never heard an financial pressure from the owner's corporation. They make their budgets as they wish, and as long as they hit their numbers they get lovely letters of congratulations. And if they have to lower the numbers because of poor vintages, there is no one threatening them. My personal collection has 1 bottle of Ridge for every 6 bottles. We just had a 2009 Carignane that was simply wonderful.

This is a solid post.