Wine is meant to be enjoyed by everyone; some bottles cost two dollars and others cost thousands. In wine, you get what you pay for, and wine lovers know it. Wine of the highest quality comes at a price, and it’s because it’s so incredibly refined and scarce!
Getting to know the world’s leading wine brands in the premium category pays off. And no, not all of the wines are expensive — they’re majestic, that’s for sure, but not always overly pricey. Good wine brands are all about quality, and the best wines are always more than a beverage — they’re experiences.
Here are some of the best luxury red wine brands, premium white wine brands and more. The best wines you’ll want to add to your bucket list.
15 Premium Wine Brands to Know and Love
- Vietti, Italy
- Henschke, Australia
- E. Guigal, France
- Almaviva, Chile
- Chateau Calon-Segur, France
- Chateau Figeac, France
- Biondi-Santi, Italy
- Domaine Faiveley, France
- Pol Roger, France
- Two Hands, Australia
- Weingut Wieninger, Austria
- Mount Brave, USA
- Vasse Felix, Australia
- Allegrini, Italy
- Kracher, Austria
Premium Wine Brands Around the World
1. Vietti, Italy
Cantina Vietti is one of the most respected producers in Piedmont, Italy. And although the winery has an extensive catalogue with impressive reds and whites, they’re best known for their Barolos, often bottled as single vineyards.
The winery has been around since 1919, and today they’re famous worldwide; they’re one of the first estates to market the prominent Barolo in the United States. If you have never tried Barolo, Vietti is a beautiful alternative, but try the winery’s white wines, too. Their Arneis is perhaps the best in Piedmont, and that’s saying something.
Wines to try:
Cantina Vietti Barolo Castiglione DOCG 2017
2. Henschke, Australia
Australia was once known for its blending philosophy, where grapes grown in different vineyards and regions came together to create a unique Australian expression. That changes with a few talented producers focusing on single-vineyard wines, and Henschke is one of those pioneers.
When Henschke released Hill of Grace, a single vineyard Shiraz from Eden Valley, they changed the wine scene in Australia. The winery goes back to 1862 and owns plenty of old vines, including 150-year-old Shiraz. Henschke also produces white wines, including a wonderful Riesling.
Wines to try:
Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2016
3. E. Guigal, France
Without a doubt, one of the finest producers worldwide, E. Guigal, is responsible for the best wines in Northern Rhône. Luxurious red wine made with Syrah, often with hints of Viognier.
- Guigal was founded in 1946 and became famous for its premium wine brands featuring single vineyards in Cote Rotie and Hermitage. However, the estate now makes a wider variety of wines, including a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Guigal is a traditionalist and often ages its wines in oak for at least 42 months, making them incredibly age-worthy and contemplative.
Wines to try:
4. Almaviva, Chile
Chile is home to many marvellous wineries. The country has an extraordinary terroir for wine, and one of the best wines is unquestionably Almaviva.
Almaviva is a joint venture between Concha y Toro, the country’s leading winery, and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, from Bordeaux. They chose the Maipo Valley to establish the estate; their flagship wine, Almaviva, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carménère.
The first Almaviva hit the market in 1996, and it soon became one of the most acclaimed wines in South America. This is a fantastic expression of the famous Bordelaise grapes in the New World. Premium red wine brands in the country all look up to Almaviva.
Wines to try:
5. Chateau Calon-Segur, France
We could make a Top 15 List about the châteaux in Bordeaux alone, as they all produce luxury red wine, and they’re all considered premium wine brands. Still, for this global list, we’ve chosen just a few — but they’re spectacular!
Chateau Calon-Segur is a Third Growth in Saint-Estephe specialising in Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate goes back to the 18th century, but its vineyards are older than that. The original owner, the Marquis de Segur, once owned Latour, Margaux and Lafite as well, arguably the best wines in the world.
Wines to try:
6. Chateau Figeac, France
On the other side of the Gironde, you’ll find Chateau Figeac in Saint Emilion. According to the region’s classification, this estate is a Premier Cru Classé, making it one of Bordeaux’s premium wine brands.
This side of the river specialises in Merlot and Cabernet Franc, but not Figeac; its gravelly vineyards allow the winemakers to grow premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Unquestionably one of the best wines in France, Figeac only produces around 100,000 bottles of wine every season, and they’re coveted by wine lovers and collectors alike.
Wines to try:
7. Biondi-Santi, Italy
Tenuta Biondi Santi is larger than life — it’s a source of luxury red wine in Tuscany, and it’s part of the region’s history. Biondi Santi basically invented the Brunello, today considered the finest expression of Sangiovese.
With only 32 hectares of vines planted with Sangiovese Grosso, the estate crafts superb, age-worthy red wines aged for 36 months. Their Brunello di Montalcino is the star in their catalogue, but they also produce a more approachable Rosso di Montalcino. Biondi Santi revolutionised Tuscan wine with mono-varietal expressions of the acclaimed Sangiovese.
Wines to try:
Tenuta Greppo Biondi-Santi Rosso 2015
8. Domaine Faiveley, France
Domaine Faiveley started as a wine merchant in Burgundy before becoming one of the leading vineyard owners, particularly in the Cote Chalonnaise and Chablis. Domaine Faiveley has an impressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay collection, but they also champion the lesser Aligoté.
The estate has also acquired Grand Cru plots over the years and now has a considerable portion of such prestigious sites. Although this is a traditional estate going back to 1825, Faiveley is known for its innovative approach, often looking for new ways of improving the quality of their wines. This is one of the leading premium white wine brands in the world.
Wines to try:
Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2017
9. Pol Roger, France
If we’re talking about the best wines from good wine brands, we must mention at least one Maison de Champagne, and Pol Roger is a worthy ambassador for the region.
Pol Roger is based on Epernay and was founded in 1849; they offer a wide range of sparkling wines in all sweetness levels and styles. Their cuvée de prestige, Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, was released in 1975, and it’s still one of the most luxurious Champagnes, especially for its elegance and purity of flavour.
Wines to try:
10. Two Hands, Australia
Two Hands is a leading producer in Barossa, Australia, and they make one of the region’s most concentrated Shiraz from old vines scattered in the arid region. The wines are often intense and inky, with layered bouquets and a long aftertaste.
The winery is relatively young, founded in 1999, but it created quite a stir, bringing new energy to the premium wine region. Two Hands also works with Grenache, Mataro, Roussanne and others, and they prefer French oak to treat their best wines instead of the more traditional American wood. The winery is still growing, and its quality is just getting better.
Wines to try:
Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz 2016
11. Weingut Wieninger, Austria
Fritz Wieninger is an enthusiastic winemaker in Vienna, the only major city in Europe with its own AOC. Here, wine is made traditionally with owned grapes and sold to the city’s wine-loving community. Getting a bottle of Wieninger outside Vienna is increasingly rare!
Weingut Wieninger is only one of many talented wine producers in the European country. Mr Fritz is seriously committed to sustainability, making it a great ambassador for the country’s wine scene. There’s no doubt Austria is home to premium white wine brands.
Wines to try:
Weingut Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz 2017
12. Mount Brave, USA
Chris Carpenter is behind this famous winery in the Napa Valley. He learned the ropes working at Lokoya and Cardinale and opened the doors of his own winery in 2007.
Mount Brave is the source of fantastic wine made with grapes from Mt. Veeder, which ripen with extraordinary acidity. The wines are still very well priced, compared to other Napa wineries, making it an ideal candidate for the best wines globally. The winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon is superb, but they also craft a marvellous Malbec.
Wines to try:
Mount Brave Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
13. Vasse Felix, Australia
Vasse Felix is a founding winery in Margaret River, it was established in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, and the estate today is one of the most respected in the area.
The winery focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, crafted in an ultra-modern facility where technology and tradition meet. Quality is world class at Vasse Felix, that’s for sure, and the wines are as good as or better than anything in the rest of the world. The grapes from the estate wines come from four unique plots with astounding sun exposure, and they become authentic works of art.
Wines to try:
Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2017
14. Allegrini, Italy
Allegrini is a leading estate in Valpolicella Classico, the prime spot for wines made with Corvina, Corvinone and Molinara around Verona, in Veneto. The estate has produced wine since the 1960s in the area, and they have been involved in the region’s convoluted history, helping elevate the wine’s quality to international standards.
The most acclaimed wine in Allegrini’s catalogue is the Amarone, but they undertake all wine styles allowed in the area, including premium white wines in the neighbouring region of Soave. Allegrini wines are by far the most popular in the Valpolicella.
Wines to try:
15. Kracher, Austria
Ending with something sweet, Kracher is another Austrian producer, but the winemakers here specialise in sweet wines made with dried grapes harvested in Burgenland. The region has the right climate to allow the ‘noble rot’ to thrive, shrivelling the grapes and concentrating their sugar levels.
Kracher produces world-class sweet wines, the best labelled as TBA or Trockenbeerenauslese. The estate is relatively young, founded in the mid-20th century, but it’s now run by the second generation of Kracher’s, and the wine is gaining international recognition.
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