Forbes’ 2025 ranking of the world’s 50 best wineries puts Spain firmly on the global map, with two bodegas landing top‑10 spots.
Spain’s top performers in 2025
Marqués de Murrieta, Logroño (La Rioja)
Sitting in the valleys of Rioja Alta, Marqués de Murrieta traces its story to 1852, when it is said to have created the first ever Rioja wine, and the first to be exported. The wine estate, Finca Ygay, is a restored 19th‑century château that anchors vineyards and museum spaces.
Forbes highlights its lineage and the enduring prestige of Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva, noting hand‑harvested Tempranillo and century‑old barrels. The organised visits move between the château, old fermentation halls and guided tastings. English‑language tastings are common, but harvest season gets busy, so booking ahead is wise
Things to do in Logroño
Kick off with a guided tasting at Finca Ygay, of course, then graze your way down Calle Laurel and Calle San Juan for pinchos paired with a glass of Rioja crianza. Round things off with a stroll along the river Ebro to the Puente de Piedra and a peek inside the Concatedral de Santa María de la Redonda.
González Byass, Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
In the heart of Jerez, González Byass sprawls across cathedral‑like cellars and courtyards. The complex houses one of Europe’s oldest cooperages and La Concha, a pavilion created for Queen Isabel II. It’s also the historic bodega behind Tío Pepe, Spain’s benchmark fino sherry, with tours often ending at the casks where it ages.
Forbes leans into the architecture and sherry heritage in the winery, from Amontillado to Pedro Ximénez, with tastings beneath blackened beams and casks signed by royalty. Tours in English run year‑round, and summer evenings can be special when the courtyards cool down.
Things to do in Jerez de la Frontera
After your sherry tour and tasting, slip into a neighbourhood peña for an evening of flamenco. Or, graze between traditional Andalusian taverns called tabancos with a glass of fino. Leave time to wander the Alcázar’s Moorish walls and gardens, and step inside the cathedral to round things off.
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Top 10 wineries in the world according to Forbes
Rank | Winery | City/Region | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Santa Rita Winery | Maipo Valley | Chile |
2 | Penfolds Magill Estate | Adelaide | Australia |
3 | Marqués de Murrieta | Logroño | Spain |
4 | Bodega Trapiche | Mendoza | Argentina |
5 | Bodega Lagarde | Mendoza | Argentina |
6 | Quinta da Aveleda | Vinho Verde | Portugal |
7 | Terrazas de los Andes | Mendoza | Argentina |
8 | González Byass | Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) | Spain |
9 | M. Chapoutier | Rhône Valley | France |
10 | Luigi Bosca | Mendoza | Argentina |
How the 2025 ranking was decided
Applications for The World's Best Wineries 2025 were submitted to Forbes by leading estates via global tourist boards. These were then assessed by wine experts at Virgin Wines. The criteria covered heritage and longevity, mentorship of future winemakers, sustainability certifications, social responsibility, innovation in viticulture and more.
The end result, in their words, is “a global atlas of wineries well worth the flight,” balancing historic estates with rising names, and placing added weight on sustainability and community impact.
Living in Spain’s wine regions: La Rioja vs Cádiz province
Life in La Rioja and Cádiz province runs on different clocks. Inland La Rioja has four distinct seasons, a gentle pace and vineyard views that change colour with the year. Down south, Jerez de la Frontera sits in warm Cádiz light, with Atlantic breezes, bodegas tucked behind whitewashed walls and flamenco drifting from neighbourhood peñas.
If you’re curious beyond these two, the breadth of Spanish wine is huge—Catalonia’s sparkling and mountain reds are a world apart, and the best wines of Catalonia show just how varied your glass can be without leaving the country.
If you’re plotting weekends, Spain’s best wine routes thread neatly between sherry country and Rioja’s classic cellars. Getting an idea of the best wine region in Spain helps set expectations on styles, climate and travel times.
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