By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-08-05 22:31:51 | Updated at 2026-08-05 23:08:06
1 hour ago
Wine: Santiago
Key Facts
—Host. Santiago will host The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026, the first time Chile stages the global wine-tourism awards.
—Date. The programme runs in the week of 16 November 2026, culminating in the reveal of the 1–50 ranking.
—Partners. The event is organised with the Government of Santiago, its regional corporation and Grupo Liderazgo.
—What it ranks. The list recognises the world’s best vineyard and winery visitor experiences, judged on hospitality and wine tourism rather than the wine alone.
—Home hero. Chile’s Vik, named The World’s Best Vineyard 2025, will join the awards’ Hall of Fame at the Santiago ceremony.
Santiago will host The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026 in the week of 16 November, the first time Chile stages the global wine-tourism awards, with home winery Vik set to enter the Hall of Fame.
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Santiago to Stage the 2026 Awards
The World’s 50 Best Vineyards announced that its 2026 edition will be held in Santiago de Chile, bringing the global wine-tourism community to one of South America’s best-known wine capitals. The programme is scheduled for the week of 16 November 2026 and will end with the reveal of the 1–50 ranking.
The event is being organised in partnership with the Government of Santiago, its regional corporation and Grupo Liderazgo, with organisers framing it as a chance to showcase Chile’s wineries and the Andean valleys around the capital.
For Chile, whose wine industry is a major exporter and a growing tourism draw, hosting rights place Santiago at the centre of the enotourism calendar for the year.
What The World’s 50 Best Vineyards Is
The World’s 50 Best Vineyards is an annual ranking that recognises vineyards and wineries offering the best visitor experiences worldwide. It comes from the same stable as The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and it judges the overall experience — hospitality, setting, tours and tasting — rather than the quality of the wine alone.
The winners are chosen through a voting academy of wine and travel experts, and the list is revealed at a live ceremony each year. The awards also publish an extended 51–100 list, and celebrate emerging destinations alongside established names.
Because the ranking rewards tourism experience, being on it can lift a winery’s international profile and drive visitor bookings, which is why host cities compete to stage the ceremony.
Chile’s First Time as Host
This is the first time the awards will be held in Chile. Previous ceremonies have been staged in cities across Europe and the Americas, and bringing the 2026 edition to Santiago is being presented by local authorities as a milestone for the country’s wine tourism.
Santiago is well placed for the role: within a short drive of the city lie the Maipo, Colchagua and Casablanca valleys, among Chile’s most visited wine regions, set against the backdrop of the Andes.
Organisers said the week would gather winemakers, sommeliers, buyers and travel professionals, turning the capital into what one partner called the world capital of wine tourism for the duration of the event.
Vik Enters the Hall of Fame
The 2026 ceremony carries an added storyline for the host nation. Vik, a winery in the Millahue valley, was named The World’s Best Vineyard 2025, the first Chilean winery to top the poll.
Under the awards’ rules, a vineyard that reaches number one joins a Hall of Fame and is no longer eligible for the annual ranking. Vik will formally enter that group at the Santiago ceremony, in its home country.
That gives the 2026 edition a symbolic homecoming, and opens the top of the list to new contenders from Chile and around the world.
What It Means for Chilean Wine Tourism
For Chile, the awards are as much an economic opportunity as a celebration. Wine tourism links vineyards, hotels, restaurants and transport, and a high-profile global event can raise the country’s visibility among international travellers.
For expatriates and visitors in the region, the week offers a concentrated window into Chile’s wine scene, from established estates near Santiago to newer projects further south. The valleys around the capital are already geared to receive visitors, with tasting rooms and tours.
The broader question is whether hosting translates into lasting gains — more foreign bookings, stronger export branding and repeat visits — or a one-off spotlight. Either way, staging the 2026 awards puts Chile’s vineyards in front of a global audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026?
The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026 will be held in Santiago, Chile, in the week of 16 November 2026, ending with the reveal of the 1–50 ranking of the best vineyard experiences.
What does The World’s 50 Best Vineyards rank?
It ranks the world’s best vineyard and winery visitor experiences, judged on hospitality and wine tourism rather than the wine itself, chosen by a voting academy of experts.
Why is the 2026 edition significant for Chile?
It is the first time the awards are held in Chile, and home winery Vik — The World’s Best Vineyard 2025 — will enter the Hall of Fame at the Santiago ceremony.
Sources: The World’s 50 Best Vineyards; La Tercera; El Mostrador; Gobierno de Santiago.
