Château d'Yquem

Bordeaux, France

#18 World's Best Vineyards 2023

The hallowed name of Yquem has become a byword for the best of the best sweet wines in the world, its older vintages tracked down by committed disciples with a mix of awe and glee. You’ll learn why at this serene estate, once owned by a Medieval king of England, which began its current incarnation in 1593. Its 113 hectares of vineyards yield a modest amount of juice from grapes attacked by noble rot (a fungus with fabulous potential given the right conditions), handpicked on multiple rounds of the vines to capture them at exactly the right moment. Its doors only opened to the public in 2016, offering 90-minute walking tours and three types of tasting, an ‘Anthology’ experience including one of recent history’s finest vintages, from 2001.