Very excited to cover the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Access Live 2024 for the first time – the event surpassed all expectations! In three days we would enjoy a preview event for media, then two full days to meet with new brands, most without nationwide distribution, and hear their stories. By day two there were the WSWA wine and spirit award winners to seek out and by day three we covered enough of the Access HQ conference to venture into a couple of the suites for more private storytelling and tastings.
Below is a synopsis of what we enjoyed and an abbreviation of my social media. Stay tuned to Eve’s Wine 101 for the next couple of months as I have several bottles to review coming up. And stay tuned to WSWA Access Live 2025 – to be held February 3 to 6 in Denver, Colorado. (Links are at the end of this article.)
Preview
A Media, Brand Battle Contenders, and Access Craft Members Reception was offered to us during the set-up day of the event. We met and mingled with other members of the press that gave us helpful coverage tips, sampled wines and cocktails made from spirits that were also going to be available at the event.
Day One
Social Media
How many brands can you count up from the photos here from our first day covering WSWA (Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America) Access Live 2024? Wowza! First we covered the Access HQ, then we attended the Brand Battle Championship – congrats to winner Quintaliza Tequila – and finally wrapped up the day at the TASTE event! The full story will run on Eve’s Wine 101 on March 1st but today we want to shout out to some of our favorites so far: @RodeoDeLasAguasTequila @ViaCarotaCraftCocktails @BotanyBarnDistilling @GraceOmalleySpirits @FerniesFunnelCakeCream @BNS_Whisky @Tenjaku_USA @DrinkNightowl @DeltaDirtDistillery @SlainteWhiskey @SassenachSpirits @Kyoto_Whisky @HandBarrelBourbon @wswaAccess
Day Two
Did we find new brands to try, on the last day of WSWA Access Live? What do you think? (Photos) This time we checked out @SpyrtWorldwide @RampurSingleMalt @DonJulioTequila @DTPWines @SeiersBitters +more! Then we headed to a WSWA event with dining, open bar and bowling at @BBowlVegas to finish the day! Further reviews coming, after the 3/1 story on the event, for more bottles from @SassenachSpirits @BNS_Whisky @PeddlersGin @UpstateVodka @MonkeyInParadise @DrinkAndale #A21WineAndSpirits @AikoBrands #DocHollidayBourbon @ViaCarotaCraftCocktails @DeltaDirtDistillery @SlainteWhiskey @HandBarrelBourbon @wswaAccess
Check out our photos from day one and day two. Credit: Ed Bushman.
Questions? Please email registrations@wswa.org.
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Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
