The Best Wine Brands To Know (And Try) Before You Die

Like many things that fall broadly under the umbrella of ‘luxury’, wine isn’t simply about the stuff that gets decanted out of the proverbial bottle and poured into your glass.

A beverage and craft that has existed around the globe since the Neolithic Age, wine has evolved over millennia into an art form, subculture and – unsurprisingly – a multi-billion-dollar industry. As in watches or luxury fashion, it’s a given that the wine world has developed its fair share of iconic producers.

Below, you’ll find a shortlist of names (by no means exhaustive) that often come up in the discussion around the world’s best wine brands: from the auction-worthy Burgundies of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti to more obscure producers who, when mentioned, will make you sound like a regular Robert Parker.

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Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

• Parent Company: N/A
• Vineyard Location: Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France
• Signature blends/cuvées: La Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, Montrachet
• Price Point: Starting at ~$5,670

Abbreviated by oenophiles simply as “DRC”, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is the Burgundy producer most associated with quality, rarity, and robust demand in the secondary market. 

Unlike many of France’s best wine brands, the Domaine’s 25-hectare holdings are all classified Grand Cru – located, in the vast majority, in the region of the Côte de Nuits. The jewel in the DRC crown is La Romanée-Conti: a historic 1.8-hectare sub-area (otherwise known as a monopole) from which the Domaine makes the world’s most covetable Pinot Noir. 

While the wines of La Romanée-Conti are undoubtedly the brand’s most legendary – commanding tens of thousands of dollars per bottle at auction – the DRC portfolio also extends to La Tâche, Richebourg, and Romanée-St-Vivant (all red wines). Additionally, the Domaine has holdings in Montrachet: another Grand Cru that is the source of its highly sought-after Chardonnay-based wines. 

Today, the Domaine continues to thrive under the direction of winemaker Aubert de Villaine; with ownership split between his family, and the Leroy/Roch clans. Winemaking and viticulture here remain traditional. Low yields, whole-cluster fermentation and long vatting times are employed to help capture the essence of Burgundy in every bottle.

Fun fact: a 1945 La Romanée-Conti hammered at Sotheby’s New York for US$558,000 – still the most expensive single bottle of wine sold since 2018. 

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Gaja

• Parent Company: N/A
• Vineyard Location: Multiple across Piedmont (Barbaresco and Barolo) and Tuscany, Italy
• Signature blends/cuvées: Barolo Riserva DOCG, Barolo DOCG ‘Arborina’, Barolo DOCG ‘Cannubi’
• Price Point: Starting at ~$44

Long considered one of Italy’s most acclaimed and innovative producers, the Gaja estate can trace its origins back to mid-1800s Barbaresco – a ‘DOCG’ in the northwestern Italian state of Piedmont (roughly analogous to the French appellation). 

Beloved among enthusiasts for its work with the distinctive red grape variety of Nebbiolo, Gaja’s wines have a reputation for depth, power, and impressive ageing potential; while many of the single-vineyard releases have benefited from radical innovation under Angelo Gaja. 

In the 1970s, despite strong opposition from his father Giovanni, Angelo pioneered many techniques at Gaja that have cemented its quality. He introduced the use of French barrique ageing, temperature-controlled fermentation, and perhaps most controversially of all, planted a prime vineyard in Barbaresco to Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Today, Gaja owns or operates over 100 hectares of vineyards around Italy, with the red wines coming out of single-vineyard holdings in Barbaresco widely considered to be its most desirable and expensive. For instance: a ‘90s vintage of Sori San Lorenzo – Gaja’s first single-site wine – will set you back around $1,000 per bottle. Who says the only investment-grade wine is Burgundy?

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Château d’Yquem

• Parent Company: 55% ownership stake by LVMH
• Vineyard Location: Gironde, Bordeaux, France
• Signature blends/cuvées: Château d’Yquem 1959, Château d’Yquem 1988, Château d’Yquem 2003
• Price Point: Starting at ~$1,131

A wine brand we’ve seen crop up increasingly frequently at fine restaurants and wine bars across Australia, d’Yquem’s primary claim to fame is that it makes the world’s most legendary dessert wine – a.k.a Sauternes.

Located within the Bordeaux subregion of Graves since the early 16th century, the d’Yquem vineyards are located on a site that is uniquely susceptible to botrytis – a sort of benign fungus which concentrates the flavours and sugar in affected grapes (leading to its nickname of ‘noble rot’). 

The result is a signature wine, made using Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, that is extraordinarily concentrated and complex – with the additional hallmark of high acidity. On secondary markets, it’s common to find d’Yquem bottles from the early 2000s trading for upwards of $1,500. In large part, thanks to their potential for centuries-long ageing. 

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Egon Müller

• Parent Company: N/A
• Vineyard Location: Scharzhofberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
• Signature blends/cuvées: Scharzhofberger Spätlese, Beerenauslese
• Price Point: Starting at ~$102

Egon Müller is an unusual inclusion on our list of the world’s best wine brands for two reasons. Firstly, it’s our only German producer and – more curiously – focuses on the much misunderstood Riesling grape.

History buffs will probably also mention they’re the only German member of the Primum Familiae Vini: a sort of wine industry Illuminati that also counts Pol Roger, Marchesi Antinori and Château Mouton Rothschild among its number. 

Established in 1797 in Germany’s Mosel Valley, the secret weapon of the Müller family is its collection of vineyards. Here, the vines are characterised by a northwestern exposure, high slate content and proximity to the Saar River – all factors that have a bearing on the signature Müller style of Riesling.

The brand’s Auslese (“select harvest”) and Spӓtlese (“late harvest”) wines are made with grapes that are ripe or overripe respectively, while its Trockenbeerenauslese is affected by the same ‘noble rot’ that is crucial to the process of making Sauternes.

In 2015, a single bottle of Müller’s 2003 Trockenbeerenauslese was auctioned for €12,000 – turning it, in short order, into the most expensive German wine of all time.

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Penfolds

• Parent Company: Treasury Wine Estates
• Vineyard Location: Multiple across South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania
• Signature blends/cuvées: Grange, Grange ‘La Chapelle’, Bin 311 Chardonnay, Koonunga Hill
• Price Point: Starting at ~$45

One of two Australian marques we’ve chosen to include in our list of world-leading winemakers, Penfolds is known for producing bottles that combine heritage, quality and exceptional innovation. It is among the oldest wine brands in the country and, since 2011, has been owned by Treasury Wine Estates (of Stags’ Leap fame).

From humble 19th-century beginnings in suburban Adelaide, the company would go on to pioneer a range of practices now considered de rigueur for Barossa winemaking: ranging from partial barrel fermentation to the use of American oak ageing. 

Unlike a number of pure luxury winemakers in this guide – Domaine de la Romanée-Conti being the most outrageous example – Penfolds’ big strength is the sheer breadth of its portfolio. Its flagship, the legendary Bin 95 Grange, routinely fetches upwards of $1,000 upon release: buoyed by its track record of 100-point ratings and ‘brand Australia’ recognition.

Conversely, there’s also much more wallet-friendly fare: such as a $45 Riesling, or even non-vintage Champagne (made “through a Penfolds lens”) that will set you back less than $100. In an unprecedented move, this year the brand has also teamed up with Paul Jaboulet Âiné – makers of the legendary ‘La Chapelle’ – to launch a wine that is equal parts French and Aussie Syrah. Game recognises game.

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Henschke

• Parent Company: N/A
• Vineyard Location: Multiple across South Australia, including in Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills
• Signature blends/cuvées: Hill of Grace, Cyril Henschke, Keyneton Euphonium, ‘Julius’ Riesling
• Price Point: Starting at ~$28

Renowned for producing some of Australia’s most acclaimed cult wines, Henschke is a family-owned estate that traces its heritage back to 1868 – the year founder Johann Christian Henschke produced his first vintage in South Australia.

Situated in the Adelaide Hills, this winery is particularly well-known for its exceptional Shiraz. The most iconic of these is the ‘Hill of Grace’: named for a unique eight-hectare vineyard that is farmed biodynamically, from vines that are up to 100 years old. 

A critical darling, ‘Hill of Grace’ is often described as “Australia’s iconic single vineyard wine”: even newer vintages, such as the 2018, fly off retail shelves – and can fetch upwards of $1,000 per bottle on the secondary market. 

Fortunately, in an egalitarian mould not unlike Penfold’s, the brand crafts a range of exceptionally well-made everyday wines. These include the ‘Julius’ Riesling from Eden Valley, ‘Five Shillings’ Shiraz Mataro, and ‘Keyneton Euphonium’ – an expert blend of Shiraz and other grape varieties sourced from select Henschke vineyards in the Eden and Barossa Valleys.

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Château Lafite Rothschild

• Parent Company: Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)
• Vineyard Location: Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
• Signature blends/cuvées: Château Lafite Rothschild 1982, Château Lafite Rothschild 2010
• Price Point: Starting at ~$548

One of two legendary Bordeaux producers tended by branches of the Rothschild banking clan, Lafite Rothschild (commonly shortened to ‘Lafite’) consistently ranks as one of the world’s most expensive, revered, and relentlessly counterfeited wine brands. 

As with many phenomena in the fine wine industry, the reason for Lafite’s halo is historical. Alongside Mouton Rothschild, Lafite was one of five Châteaux awarded Premier Cru (‘First Growth’) status in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 – initially, a ranking system intended to help international visitors make sense of the Médoc’s vast winemaking community.

The majority of Lafite’s vineyards were planted sometime in 1680. With more than 107 hectares under vine, including a unique gravel plateau that figures pivotally in the flagship wine’s style, the brand is able to plant – and quality-control – large amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

The size of the Lafite estate has also proven useful in other ways: barrels used in the cellar come from the brand’s own cooperage, which is set up in close proximity to the vineyard. Baron Eric de Rothschild acquired Lafite in 1868, and today, his direct descendant Saskia de Rothschild remains in charge (additionally, as CEO of the brand’s parent company). 

In contrast to Mouton Rothschild, the wines of Lafite – particularly at the pointy end of the market – are better known for their “savoury” aroma and “reserved” character when young. Still, as you would expect of any First Growth, ‘complexity’, ‘elegance’ and ‘suitability to cellaring’ are compliments that are routinely thrown at Lafite – all demonstrably true (in a good vintage) of course.

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Champagne Salon

• Parent Company: Laurent-Perrier
• Vineyard Location: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Signature blends/cuvées: Champagne Salon 1985, Champagne Salon 1997, Champagne Salon 2008
• Price Point: Starting at ~$1,289

Even the most ineffectual wine drinker has probably heard of Krug (thanks to the multi-billionaire-dollar marketing machine that is LVMH). Yet much less is known about Salon – a Champagne house hailing from the same area where Krug makes its notoriously rare ‘Clos du Mesnil’ Blanc de Blancs.

Known as Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, this tiny village in Champagne is synonymous with the best Chardonnay grapes in the Côte des Blancs– and Salon dominates supply, thanks to its relationship with growers and its own prized single-hectare holding.

The brand was established by Eugène-Aimé Salon in the late 19th century, and along with his brother-in-law Marcel Guillaume, the duo are widely credited with having created France’s first ever Blanc de Blancs (i.e. 100% Chardonnay) Champagne. 

Laurent Perrier acquired the brand in 1989 and has been working steadily to introduce it to a wider global audience. Fortunately, quality remains the top priority. Today, the house still only produces about 60,000 bottles of its signature ‘Cuvee S’ Blanc de Blancs: made solely using the Grand Cru-rated fruit of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and left to age in bottle for at least 10 years. 

The calling card of Cuvee S is its salinity – resulting from the uniquely chalk-rich soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Salon’s famed affinity for stainless steel fermentation. Lean and fine-boned, this is probably the purest expression of a single Champagne terroir you can find on the market – for a price, of course.

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Château Cheval Blanc

• Parent Company: LVMH
• Vineyard Location: Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France
• Signature blends/cuvées: Château Cheval Blanc 1961, Château Cheval Blanc 1995
• Price Point: Starting at ~$162

As with three other notable brands on our list, Château Cheval Blanc is a ‘First Growth’ producer located in Bordeaux – bearing the distinction of being the only such winemaker from the region’s Right Bank.

The estate has held great cultural significance since the 1800s, when its eponymous red wine won gold medals at universal exhibitions in London and Paris (both of which are still prominently displayed on the brand’s labelling).  

Situated in the appellation of Saint-Émilion, Cheval Blanc is acclaimed for working almost exclusively with the Cabernet Franc and Merlot grape varieties – the blending of which results in a flagship that is remarkably elegant, balanced and tailored toward cellaring.

Importantly, the 56 plots of vines that make up Cheval Blanc share the same thin strip of blue clay with Château Pétrus – another legend of the Right Bank, known for its enviable million-dollar Merlot.

In a fun bit of trivia for film & TV buffs, the 1961 vintage of Cheval Blanc cameos as a plot device in both Sideways (2004) and the long-running NBC sitcom Frasier (1993-2004). This brand became a fully fledged member of the LVMH stable in 2009, following a decade of private ownership by the group’s lupine chairman Bernard Arnault.

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Opus One

• Parent Company: Joint-venture, Robert Mondavi Winery & Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA
• Vineyard Location: Oakville, Napa Valley, USA
• Signature blends/cuvées: Opus One 1997, Opus One 2007, Opus One 2013
• Price Point: Starting at ~$214

Initially established as a joint venture between Napa Valley icon Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One began life as an experiment to see whether a “singular wine” could be made – utilising Californian grapes and Bordeaux-style blending. This wine (and the estate subsequently built in Oakville in the late 1980s) proved pivotal to cementing Napa Valley’s prestige abroad. 

Today, Opus One is still one of the closest analogues that the American wine industry has to a genuine ‘First Growth’, and new vintages routinely fetch $800 or more per bottle. Since 1993, the brand has offered a (marginally) more affordable blend known as Overture; though Opus One remains the star attraction. 

In 2004, American brewing giant Constellation Brands acquired Opus One as part of its wider takeover of Robert Mondavi Winery. However, the estate of Baron de Rothschild managed to enter into a 50/50 joint venture – in which Opus One’s French partners continue to tend to the vineyards, marketing and day-to-day running of the winery.

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Vega Sicilia

• Parent Company: El Enebro SA
• Vineyard Location: Ribera del Duero, Castilla y León, Spain
• Signature blends/cuvées: Vega Sicilia Unico 1976, Vega Sicilia Unico 1994, Vega Sicilia Unico 2010
• Price Point: Starting at ~$101

Established in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, the estate has – for the better part of two centuries – blended the classic Bordeaux grape varieties (Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon) with Tinto Fino – the signature Spanish grape also known as Tempranillo. 

Ribera’s warm climes and arid soil play an obvious role in the signature Vega Sicilia style, but the success of this acclaimed Spanish wine brand also comes down to technique. The winemakers are unafraid to experiment with oak barrels: in all of their various sizes, makes, and national origins.

Meanwhile, in the vineyards, green harvesting and low yields are the norm – ensuring Vega Sicilia’s winemakers get the most out of the estate’s century-old vines.

The core of the brand’s range consists of three wines. Most famously, Único – the Vega Sicilia flagship – along with Reserva Especial (a blend of different vintages) and the entry-level Valbuena 5°. In recent decades, the former two bottlings have come to showcase Tinto Fino at its highest quality level. Both must be aged for roughly 10 years before release.

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Château Margaux

• Parent Company: N/A
• Vineyard Location: Margaux-Cantenac, Bordeaux, France
• Signature blends/cuvées: Château Margaux 1982, Château Margaux 1990, Château Margaux 2000
• Price Point: Starting at ~$232

Sure, there are plenty of world-class winemakers in Margaux (personal favourites include Palmer and the Chanel-dynasty-backed Rauzan-Segla) but there’s only one Château Margaux. 

There are endless facets to this estate’s almost universal name recognition. Most obviously, along with the aforementioned Lafite Rothschild, Margaux was one of four Premiers Crus singled out in the 1855 Classification. It also has the convenient privilege of bearing the title of the whole Margaux AOC: a source of envy and local infighting that meant the demarcated limits of the appellation were only finalised in 1954 – relatively recently. 

Of the four historic ‘First Growth’ producers, Margaux is certainly one of the biggest. Its domain currently extends across a whopping 1,500 hectares and its location at the southern edge of the Médoc means that the vineyards boast excellent natural drainage and soil that is (typically) prevalent in gravel – ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Since the 1970s, the brand has been owned and operated by the Mentzenopoulos clan: Greek-French business magnates who made their fortune in supermarket retailing. Corinne, the current matriarch, is credited with raising the estate’s already legendary quality to brave new heights. 

As compared to other wines produced in the region, Margaux’s are especially renowned for their heady perfume. Georgina Haacke, of iconic British merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, says that the flagship wine’s “finesse and silky texture…have even led to the comparison of some vintages to a Musigny Grand Cru”. 

Fun tidbit: the brand’s 1955 vintage (which you can locate in the secondary market for around $2,400) gets not one, but two explicit name drops in Steve Jobs – the 2015 biopic of Apple’s co-founder. 

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If you’ve enjoyed perusing this shortlist of the best wine brands from all around the world, check out a few more of our favourite vinous stories below:

• The Best Wineries In Margaret River
• The Best Wineries On The Mornington Peninsula
• A Beginner’s Guide To Wine Appreciation (According To The Experts)
• What Langtons’ Long-Running Classification Says About The Evolution Of Aussie Wine Culture