There are milestones that celebrate the growing prominence of Chilean wine, and this is unquestionably one of the grandest: Santiago has been officially confirmed as the host city for The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026, the premier global ranking for wine tourism. From November 16 to 20, 2026, the Chilean capital will make history as the first Latin American city ever to host this prestigious gathering.
Article Contents
- What is The World’s 50 Best Vineyards and How is it Evaluated?
- When and How the Santiago Event Will Take Place
- Why Chile Was Chosen as Host: The Global 2025 Ranking
- VIK and the Hall of Fame: Honoring the 2025 World Champion
- What This Means for the Maipo Valley and Santiago
- Beyond the Ceremony: The Trans-Andean Route
- Why This Matters to Every Wine Lover
What is The World’s 50 Best Vineyards and How is it Evaluated?
The World’s 50 Best Vineyards is the foremost annual ranking in global enotourism, assembled by an international voting academy of over 700 leading wine journalists, sommeliers, and luxury travel experts. Unlike a traditional wine guide, this competition evaluates far more than the liquid inside the bottle: it judges the complete guest experience, including winery architecture, landscape scenery, regional gastronomy, service excellence, sustainability, and cultural authenticity. It belongs to the esteemed global 50 Best family, the authority behind the world’s most prestigious restaurant and hotel rankings.
When and How the Santiago Event Will Take Place
The ceremonies will take place between November 16 and 20, 2026, organized in partnership with the Regional Government of Santiago and its tourism board. Throughout the week, Santiago will welcome more than 1,000 international wine luminaries, including estate owners, master sommeliers, and travel media, culminating in the live unveiling of the 2026 list of the world’s 50 best vineyard destinations.
Prior to the main event, the organization will also announce the One To Watch award and the extended 51–100 ranking, celebrating rising wine estates making an international splash.
Why Chile Was Chosen as Host: The Global 2025 Ranking
The selection of Santiago follows historic recognition for Chilean wine tourism. In the 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Vineyards, Chilean wineries delivered an astonishing performance:
- Viña VIK (#1 in the World): Located in the Millahue Valley (Cachapoal), crowned as the World’s Best Vineyard 2025 for its futuristic architecture, contemporary art pavilion, luxury retreat, and sustainable winemaking.
- Viña Montes (#10): Colchagua Valley.
- Almaviva (#34): Maipo Valley.
- Viu Manent (#40): Colchagua Valley.
- Viña Santa Rita (#41): Maipo Valley.
- Casas del Bosque (#42): Casablanca Valley.
With six Chilean wineries among the top 50 on Earth—spanning Millahue, Colchagua, Maipo, and Casablanca—Chile firmly demonstrated why it was the natural choice to host the world’s most prestigious wine gathering.
VIK and the Hall of Fame: Honoring the 2025 World Champion
Under the competition’s charter, any vineyard that reaches #1 in the world is permanently inducted into the 50 Best Hall of Fame, gracefully stepping aside from subsequent voting. In November 2026, on home soil, VIK will be officially inducted—a poetic milestone, with Chile hosting the global gala as the proud home of the reigning champion.
What This Means for the Maipo Valley and Santiago
Santiago stands as a premier global capital for urban wine tourism: an international hub boasting cutting-edge gastronomy and luxury hospitality, surrounded by historic terroirs less than an hour away, like the Maipo Valley, and offering effortless day excursions to Casablanca and Colchagua.
Hosting the awards in Santiago directly elevates this extraordinary accessibility: two Maipo Valley estates (Almaviva and Santa Rita) already rank among the planet’s top 50, showcasing the seamless union of metropolitan culture and world-class viticulture.
Beyond the Ceremony: The Trans-Andean Route
One of the most thrilling facets of the summit is the Trans-Andean Route, a collaborative gastronomic journey connecting Chile and Argentina across the Andes Mountains. Delegates and international media will experience vineyard immersions, chef-driven dinners, and historical estates across the central region.
Why This Matters to Every Wine Lover
Beyond the glamour, this announcement proves that Chilean wine stands proudly shoulder-to-shoulder with the most prestigious wine regions on Earth. Santiago becoming the first Latin American capital to host The World’s 50 Best Vineyards—just as a Chilean estate claims the #1 crown in the world—signals that global wine culture has turned its eyes southward.
Source: Santiago will host The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026 — Chile Travel, official tourism portal of Chile.
