VINEXPO INDIA AND SIAL INDIA HOST THEIR FIRST EXHIBIT IN NEW DELHI

January 17, 2022 by evebushman

SIAL India and Vinexpo India hosted their first exhibit in New Delhi from 9th – 11th December 2021 at Pragati Maidan. The show, which was one of its first kind in India in the B2B space, was jointly organized by InterAds Exhibitions, Comexposium and Vinexposium.

The Government of Meghalaya partnered SIAL India for this edition which was inaugurated by Ms. Amanda Strohan, Deputy High Commissioner Embassy of Canada, Mr. Matthias Radosztics, Deputy Head of Mission at the Austrian Embassy, Mr. Eric Fajole, Trade Commissioner and Director of Business France for South Asia Embassy of Paris, and Mrs. Rebecca Suchiang, Chief Secretary of Meghalaya. The three days of show had 119 exhibitors, 80 B2B meetings and saw over 7500 visitors from across Delhi-NCR.

The show hosted interesting masterclasses with experts from the F&B industry. An exceptional program of culinary events: demonstrations, live cooking classes with renowned chefs such as Mr.Manjit Gill, President, IFCA hosted a cooking demo of forgotten Indian recipes whereas Chef Manisha Bhasin hosted a cooking demo for sustainable cooking. The maiden Vinexpo India show in Delhi had participation from 15 wine and spirit companies. The exhibitors included the only dedicated State Wine Board in the country, the Karnataka Wine Board.

“It’s been a wonderful experience with SIAL. We have been recognised and able to meet with different people to introduce our products. Thanks to SIAL for choosing us and shortlisting our products. We are also proud to be the bronze prize winner of the SIAL Innovation Awards”, said a spokesperson of Condor, an exhibitor at the show.

Kartie, a winemaker from Mizoram said, “Vinexpo India has been a great experience! The masterclass has proven to be truly beneficial. The event has been truly informational and knowledgeable. Looking forward to more events like this in the coming years.”

The show hosted a program of masterclasses and tastings for the visitors. Throughout the 3 days, besides the cooking demos, there were Hosted Buyer Meeting, Conferences, Award Shows and Vinexpo Challenge.

Vinexpo India will now co-locate with SIAL India next on 10-12 May, 2022 in Mumbai, the economic capital of India and a major gateway for international trade. Mumbai’s economy is growing fast and its wine and spirits market is booming with a potential of 300 million consumers.

Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, commented “The success of the first edition of Vinexpo India in New Delhi encourages us to open doors to more territories in India. I am very much thrilled by the perspectives of launching Vinexpo India in Mumbai as soon as May 2022, it is an important milestone for the future.”

For more information, visit Vinexpo India

About Vinexpo India

The launch and establishment of Vinexpo India in 2021 was a first for the global wine and spirits industry. This B2B event is designed to connect producers from around the world with distribution and retail players in a market with strong potential. Vinexpo India is drawing on Vinexposium’s high standards, coupled with close collaboration with its local partner Inter Ads Exhibition and hosted in co-location with SIAL India, the global B2B platform dedicated to the food industry.

About Vinexposium

Owned jointly by Comexposium and Vinexpo Holding, Vinexposium is the world’s leading organizer of wine and spirits trade events. Vinexposium offers an enhanced range of high-performance events, tailored to different market segments, with a portfolio of iconic and recognized events: Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, Vinexpo America, Drinks America, Vinexpo Hong Kong, WOW! Meetings, Symposium “Act for change”, Vinexpo Shanghai, Vinexpo India and WBWE Amsterdam, as well as Vinexpo Explorer and World Wine Meetings.

New Deal Distillery’s Old Tom Gin wins Best of the Northwest

January 13, 2022 by evebushman

PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – New Deal Distillery’s Old Tom Gin wins Platinum in Sip Magazine’s 2021 Best of Northwest Barrel Aged Gin category. Distilled with over 20 botanicals and barrel-rested in French oak, this amber colored gin bridges Portland’s craft distilling scene and Oregon’s winemaking tradition.

New Deal’s founder, head distiller, and self-proclaimed “young Tom”, Tom Burkleaux tinkered and experimented with this gin recipe for years before finally making it a part of New Deal’s permanent line of spirits this past May. Embracing their proximity to the Willamette Valley, this final rendition of Old Tom Gin is aged in Oregon wine barrels and slightly sweetened in the traditional style, creating a warm, toasty, and highly sippable spirit. Burkleaux explains that “while Old Tom is not a new style of gin, it is a style that’s continually evolving. Old Tom is a large and diverse category that has historically encompassed both barrel aged and sweetened gins, and we set out to combine the two.”

So, why is it called Old Tom Gin? In 18th century England, before London Dry Gin stole the show, Old Tom was the gin of choice. It was so popular that several prohibitive laws were enacted to curb its consumption but this only drove the gin scene underground. Since gin was nearly outlawed, pubs secretly selling this ‘mothers ruin’ would alert interested parties to its availability by putting a wooden plaque of a tomcat outside their building. After a coin was deposited through a slot in the wall, the bartender would slyly pour a shot through a pipe out to the patron. Some say it’s this reference to the old tomcat plaque that gives Old Tom Gin its name. However, like much of the history of spirits and cocktails, the exact answers are not known. There are other theories, some having to do with a tomcat falling into a vat of gin or an older distiller named Tom.

What is known for sure is that aging a spirit in wooden barrels affects its overall flavor profile — the gin can take on barrel characteristics like vanilla, clove, oak and smoke. For this reason, Old Tom Gin is often popular with whiskey fans as the gin takes on some of the same notes of barrel aged whiskey and can be enjoyed similarly when served on ice or simply sipped neat. Curious to try this fascinating (and award winning) spirit? New Deal’s Old Tom Gin can now be shipped right to your door in 40+ states: https://shop.newdealdistillery.com/product/new-deal-old-tom-gin/

More about New Deal Distillery:
New Deal Distillery has been making high quality, craft-distilled spirits, inspired by the DIY culture of Portland, Oregon since 2004. All of their artisan spirits are made in small batches with Bull Run water and natural and organic ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. For more information visit newdealdistillery.com or email info@newdealdistillery.com.

St. Croix Chocolate Company wins Gold and Silver awards

January 5, 2022 by evebushman

MARINE ON ST. CROIX, MINN. (PRWEB) – St. Croix Chocolate Company, an artisan chocolatier based in Minnesota, announced today that it took two top places in the Best Confections division of the 2021 Chocolate Alliance Awards. Apple Walnut Caramel enrobed in milk chocolate won the gold, and Chili-Peppered Passionfruit bon bons won a silver medal. The Chocolate Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to equality and social justice in the cocoa and chocolate world, based out of Seattle, Washington.

Just a week later, St. Croix Chocolate Company won more accolades. At the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards, judged in London, SCCC further enhanced its reputation by winning two silver medals: One for Orange Cardamom caramel sauce in the Caramels and Spreads category, and one for Thai Peanut bon bon in the Filled Chocolates category. Additionally, the Black Forest bon bon won a bronze award for Filled Chocolates.

Launched in 2005, the Academy of Chocolate awards seek to identify, recognize and showcase the world’s most talented chocolate producers and finest chocolate. The awards draw thousands of entries each year.

“This is the first year St. Croix Chocolate Company has entered these two competitions,” said Robyn Dochterman, founder and chocolatier at SCCC. “I’m so delighted and honored that we did well in both contests. It really sends a message that we’re on the right track, that we’re creating delicious fine chocolates that are also technically advanced. And that is especially heartening, given the challenges of the last year.”

St. Croix Chocolate Company was founded by Dochterman in 2010, and is no stranger to excelling in tough competitions. It has won a national Good Food Award, a gold and silver in the International Chocolate Awards, a gold in the national Scovie Awards for hot foods, and numerous golds, including Best Overall Truffle, in the International Chocolate Salon Awards. It also won the Best New Dessert Sauce at the international Sofi (Specialty Food Association) Awards in the Spring of 2021.

St. Croix Chocolate Company’s mission is to delight customers with its premium chocolates, bon bons and caramel sauces. The company operates a brick and mortar shop in the village of Marine on St. Croix, about 35 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as an e-commerce site at http://www.stcroixchocolateco.com.

The Chocolate Alliance:
https://www.nwchocolate.com/awards/
Academy of Chocolate:
https://academyofchocolate.org.uk/

Texas Crown Club Whisky Receives Perfect Score At 2021 Pr%f Awards In Las Vegas

January 4, 2022 by evebushman

HOUSTON (PRWEB) – Winning in Vegas is always fun. Texas Crown Club Whisky left the city victorious, receiving the highest recognition possible and a perfect score at the recent 2021 PR%F Awards. The competition is open to all spirits, wine and beverage brands – domestic or international, emerging and even established favorites.

Photo from: Arabghani Me

Judges are sequestered for a two-day private tasting experience. This showdown is comprised of judges who are all buyers from across the country and in different facets of the industry: distributors, retail, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, resorts, airlines, liquor stores, box chains, and online distributors. Each spirit is judged individually and generally either wins Double Gold, Gold, Bronze, or nothing. 100 Points is the highest rating/perfect score.

With its bold but refined notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel, Texas-born Texas Crown Club Whisky embodies a taste as big and unique as the state itself. This whisky is truly unique because of the ultra-premium ingredients added during the distilling process. They select only the finest corn and rye, then slow age the whisky in American-oak Bourbon barrels. Crafting Texas Crown Club this way is what gives it a distinguished, smooth, mellow, and creamy taste. Texas Crown Club Whisky can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Texas Crown Club Whisky is proud to create an exceptional award-winning whisky.

“We competed against world-class brands I have known and admired for decades, and WON! Our passion is crafting the best whisky at a price everyone can afford to enjoy. I’m proud of this recognition, our team, and I look forward to our exciting future,” shared CEO and founder Eduardo Morales.

Basquo! A Gracianna Winery Basque-Inspired Cookbook Newly Released by Gracianna Press

December 7, 2021 by evebushman

HEALDSBURG, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Gracianna Press is pleased to announce the publication of Basquo! A Gracianna Winery Basque-Inspired Cookbook, in time for the holidays. The book is authored by Gracianna co-founder Lisa Amador, and represents her joy of cooking Basque cuisine and culture, with contributions by cooks and chefs close to her. Gracianna Winery’s namesake, Gracianna Lasaga, was a French-Basque sheepherders’ wife who made gracious meals for the farmers and instilled in the family the concept of gratitude, which is the foundation upon which the winery was built. That is why Gracianna wines are for those with something to be grateful for.

This 74-page, hardcover cookbook features 22 recipes for mains, sides and sweets. The vivid photography brings dishes to life. Easy to follow ingredients lists and step-by-step directions encourage people with no experience making Basque food to try their hand at creating delicious dishes that will gratify everyone at the table. Featured recipes include “Classic Basque Piperade”, “Classic French Rosemary Grilled Chicken”, “Gracianna ‘Gratitude’ Salad Dressing”, and even some Amador family favorites such as Carrot Cake and “Gâteau Basque.”

Renowned around the world for its unique language and distinct culture, the Basque region has produced some of the world’s most highly-rated restaurants and as such has become a major culinary travel destination. Basque cuisine however can be easily brought into the home, and is based in straightforwardness and simplicity, drawing heavily on access to fresh ingredients that blend together to produce delectable creations.

Chef Carlos Mojica from Guiso Latin Fusion, TripAdvisor’s top-rated restaurant in Healdsburg in the heart of the Russian River wine country, writes in his foreword “I…see that the gratitude, graciousness and grace of Gracianna is embodied by this brilliant home chef.”

Author Lisa Amador adds, “Coming together for a meal is a meaningful experience at our house. My interest in cooking started in high school and carried through college to now. Creating a meal in the kitchen fills our hearts, feeds our souls, relaxes our mind and is a demonstrable way for us to know that we are taking care of our friends and family.”

Basquo! can be ordered direct from Gracianna.com: www.gracianna.com/purchase. At the Gracianna store you will also find several gift bundles featuring award-winning wines and a special Basque bundle with a copy of the book, a jar of Piment de’Espelette spice (a staple in Basque cooking) and a bottle of wine.

ABOUT GRACIANNA WINERY
The Amador Family of Sonoma County are the owners of the resilient award-winning Gracianna Winery, a “fruit-first” craftsman’s winery on the Miracle Mile of Westside Road in Healdsburg, CA. Gracianna wines are for those with something to be grateful for.

Gracianna Press produces titles associated with Gracianna Winery and include Basquo! A Gracianna Winery Basque-Inspired Cookbook, Gracianna (the story of the wineries namesake) and Gracianna (the audiobook.)

Cosmopolitan Magazine Names MYX Light Wines the Best Celebrity Wine

December 4, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK, NY – Cosmopolitan Magazine has named MYX Light the Best Celeb-Owned Wine, featured in the November 2021 issue, “The Only Awards You’ll Care About This Season Are the Cosmo Wine Awards.”

According to Cosmopolitan editors, “The flavor of MYX Light is gentle, sweet, and, dare I say…fun?! Plus the can is petite, cute, and pairs well as an accessory for any Friday-night outfit, on or off the red carpet.” https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a37793128/cosmo-wine-awards-2021

“We are delighted to receive the recognition and award from COSMOPOLITAN Magazine, for Best Celebrity-Owned wine. Their audience is exactly right for MYX Light wines.” says Peter Reaske, CEO of MYX Fusion Beverages.

MYX Beverage LLC, (with investor Nicki Minaj), introduced a new, lower-calorie wine in portable single-serve cans this summer, after many years of success with low alcohol MYX Fusion Moscato and Sangria.

“The MYX Fusions team collaborated with the winemaker in Italy to produce these amazing wines. They represent a milestone in winemaking, using age-old methods of early harvest and creative innovation. MYX Light offers consumers what they are demanding—two high-quality wines with great flavor, fewer calories, and less guilt, all packaged in convenient 4-packs of cans,” adds Reaske.

MYX Fusion Light Rose and Light Chardonnay in portable cans are ideal for holiday entertaining, with delicious and refreshing wines that are easy on the waistline. Serve them at holiday parties and dinners, or gift them as stocking stuffers for wine-loving friends and family.

MYX Light Chardonnay is a slightly dry wine with fresh, crisp notes of apple, Romagna pear, and lemon. MYX Light Rosé is delightfully refreshing and made from Barbera grapes showcasing hints of strawberry, raspberry, and citrus.

75 calories per serving (5oz serving)
125 calories per 250ml can
13g total carbs per 250ml can
5% alcohol by volume
Sold in 4-packs of 250ml cans
Imported from Italy
Gluten-free, Kosher OU-certified
$12.00 per 4-pack SRP

About MYX Beverage LLC

MYX Beverage LLC was formed in 2013 in New York. The company is comprised of strategic partners committed to taking the growing wine industry by storm. Get in the Myx and follow MYX everywhere at @MYXFusions and https://www.facebook.com/myxfusions. MYX Fusion Beverages are certified OU- Kosher.

BEST CELEB-OWNED

“The flavor is gentle, sweet, and, dare I say…fun?! Plus the can is petite, cute, and pairs well as an accessory for any Friday-night outfit, on or off the red carpet.”

MYX Light Chardonnay, $12

Brad Paisley to Launch ‘American Highway’ Bourbon

December 2, 2021 by evebushman

BARDSTOWN, Ky., /PRNewswire/ — Global country music superstar Brad Paisley will launch “American Highway” Bourbon this month, a whiskey aged in barrels stored in a 53-foot semi-trailer that followed his 2019 nation-wide tour for 7,314 miles across 25 states, from coast to coast.

Global country music superstar Brad Paisley launches “American Highway” Bourbon

“Bourbon is like songwriting, it’s a blend of things coming together to make something incredible,” said Paisley. “These are really special barrels that saw more of the United States than most people I know.”

The fluctuating climate of the barrels’ journey expanded and contracted their staves, imparting oak and char that cultivate the characteristics flavors of America’s native spirit. This well-traveled batch was then blended with three-year, 13-year and 15-year-old Kentucky bourbons to create the final product. The next batch, to be released in 2022, was aged on the Rolling Rickhouse during Paisley’s 2021 tour.

Paisley sums up the creative process that derived his bourbon: “It’s so similar to what goes into a great guitar. The right woods, the right craftsmanship, the right alchemy that makes this intangible, magical thing, and that’s what makes this so great to me.”

“American Highway’s” literal path-to-market wasn’t the only unique aspect of its creation: Rather than just sourcing whiskey and lending a celebrity name to it, Paisley worked closely with award-winning bourbon distiller Bardstown Bourbon Company to create the final blend. Located in Bardstown, Kentucky the “Bourbon Capitol of the World,” this modern bourbon distiller creates custom whiskey, bourbon and rye for more than 30 different brand-owners worldwide and has won critical acclaim for its releases.

Paisley collaborated with a team of experts at Bardstown, including VP of New Product Development Dan Callaway. “You don’t get to see many celebrities that have such a technical palate,” shared Callaway. “It was a super collaboration that resulted in a travelled bourbon in an exemplary expression.”

Callaway describes the bourbon as “A blend of four rye-forward bourbons ranging in age from 3 to 15 years. The flavor profile is incredibly unique. Subtle, complex, spicy, well-traveled. As we like to say, it was, ‘born in Kentucky, aged across America’.”

With just 30,000 bottles of the initial release produced, the 96-proof blend has a suggested retail price of $99.99. The bourbon will be available in AL, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MS, NC, NV, NY, OH, TN, TX, WI and WV, and exclusively online through www.seelbachs.com.

The stats:
Proof: 96 / ABV 48%
Mashbill: 28% 3YO 71/21/0/9; 25% 3YO 60/36/0/4; 24% 13YO 74/18/0/8; 23% 15YO 78.5/13/0/8.5
Suggested Retail Price: $99.99 per 750ml bottle

For more information on American Highway Reserve Bourbon, or to find out where you can purchase locally, visit: www.AmericanHighwayReserve.com.

About Brad Paisley:
Brad Paisley has earned his place in country music history as one of the genre’s most talented and decorated male solo artists. Over the past 21 years, his songwriting and unmatched showmanship have won him numerous awards, including three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards and 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, among many others. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Paisley has written 21 of his 24 No. 1 hits, and in 2008 became the first artist to achieve 10 consecutive Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles. The 2010 CMA Entertainer of the Year’s past works have amassed over 4.6 billion worldwide career streams. Paisley continues to collaborate with Peyton Manning in a multi-year ad campaign with Nationwide insurance. In 2015, the global superstar partnered with Boot Barn® to develop Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley, an exclusive line of jeans, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts and woven shirts. A prolific entertainer, Paisley’s first prime-time special, Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special, aired on ABC in December 2019 and has garnered over 18.1 million viewers to date. Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, are co-founders of nonprofit organization The Store, a free-referral based grocery store, which aims to empower low-income individuals and families in the Nashville area. For more information, visit www.thestore.org.

BradPaisley.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

About Bardstown Bourbon Company:

Founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin in the heart of Bourbon Country on 100 acres of active farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company, 1500 Parkway Drive, Bardstown, Ky., is one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced whiskey distilleries. Celebrating the art of making high-quality, authentic bourbons, the innovative distillery produces custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for prominent brands including High West, Belle Meade, Hirsch and many others through its one-of-a-kind collaborative distilling program. Bardstown Bourbon Company honors tradition and drives innovation with their exceptional destination experience for visitors, offering the only full-service restaurant located within a distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, The Kitchen and Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Balcones Distilling Announces Collaboration with the Legendary ZZ Top

November 30, 2021 by evebushman

WACO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, ZZ Top, and Balcones Distilling announced today their collaboration on a one-of-a-kind whisky. Integrating a strong mutual Texas heritage and love of whisky, the partnership focuses on a grain-to-glass approach to create a new whisky named Tres Hombres, the title of the band’s first top 10 chart album that was released in 1973. In tribute to the band’s enduring legacy, Tres Hombres is made using three distinct grains: roasted blue corn, barley and rye.

Founded in Houston in 1969, ZZ Top have been synonymous with all that is Texas for more than five decades of recording and relentless touring. Renowned for their signature blues-rock sound, ZZ Top reached new heights of success in the 1980s with massively attended performances and some of the highest-grossing international concert tours of all time, making them one of the most prominent groups of the decade. In the 50+ years since the band’s founding, ZZ Top has created 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million albums worldwide. Along the way, they’ve been named Official Heroes of the State of Texas and have won three MTV Video Music Awards.

Commenting on the band’s association with Balcones and the launch of Tres Hombres, Carl Stubner, ZZ Top’s manager, remarked, “ZZ Top’s love of Texas runs deep and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate that than by creating something together with Balcones – The Original Texas Whisky. Tres Hombres exemplifies what can be achieved when brands care deeply about their respective products and legacy.”

Jared Himstedt, head distiller at Balcones Distilling, added, “It was incredible to collaborate with the ZZ Top team to develop an exclusive whisky that celebrates ZZ Top’s and Balcones’ shared Texas roots. To actually get to taste through the blending process with ZZ Top and make a whisky that synthesizes our joint vision for Tres Hombres was an honor. ZZ are Texas and Rock legends, and we can’t wait to share Tres Hombres with folks.”

Tres Hombres will be available nationally for pre-order at balconesdistilling.com/treshombres and at Keg N Bottle. The product will roll out to liquor stores across Texas and select other states in mid-November. To learn more about Balcones Distilling, please visit BalconesDistilling.com. To learn more about ZZ Top, please visit ZZTop.com.

About Balcones Distilling

Balcones is The Original Texas Whisky. Driven by a passion to create something original and authentic, Balcones Distilling marries centuries of distilling tradition with the bold flavors of Texas. Balcones is synonymous with quality and innovation in the whisky industry, known for emphasizing high-quality ingredients and drawing influences from all over Texas. To date, the distillery has earned over 550 national and international tasting awards and accolades for their whiskies and spirits. Balcones will be available in 48 states by the end of 2021 and is one of the fastest-growing whisky brands in the country.

Balcones distills all of its beloved spirits inside the historic Texas Fireproof Storage Company building in downtown Waco, Texas. At the heart of the distillery are four copper pot stills built by Forsyths, considered some of the best artisans in Scotland. Guests can now visit and tour the facility, with tastings and events held regularly, and see why Balcones is always Distilled to Appreciate. Visit BalconesDistilling.com for more information.

818 Tequila Partners With S.A.C.R.E.D. to Support Agave-Producing Communities in Mexico

November 4, 2021 by evebushman

Fast-Growing Tequila Brand Also Transitions to State-of-the-Art Distillery to Further Sustainability Efforts

LOS ANGELES, /PRNewswire/ — 818 Tequila, the award-winning, sustainable tequila brand founded by Kendall Jenner, announced its partnership with S .A.C .R.E.D. — a nonprofit that supports Mexican communities where heritage agave spirits are made. The rapidly-growing spirits maker has also moved their production to Grupo Solave‘s state-of-the-art distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. 818’s new distillery partner is notable for combining traditional tequila-making methods with environmental-impact innovation. This move allows 818 to continue to scale without sacrificing attention to tradition and sustainability as they roll out across the U.S.

Founded by Lou Bank, S.A.C.R.E.D. (Saving Agave for Culture, Recreation, Education and Development) hosts educational tastings and fundraises to underwrite programs that help replant agave, build libraries, ensure water security and repair damage done by earthquakes. In conjunction with S.A.C.R.E.D., 818 Tequila created the 818 Bricks Program which uses raw, post-production agave fibers, water waste and adobe soil to create bricks that can be used for building local community infrastructure like tasting rooms and schools. S.A.C.R.E.D. helps with brick production, as well as identifies the infrastructure projects for donation that serve as a value-add to local communities.

“I’m honored to work alongside 818 Tequila, especially on making adobe bricks out of agave waste and using those bricks to support Mexican communities,” said Lou Bank, Founder and Executive Director of S.A.C.R.E.D. “It’s our mission to support the people who make agave spirits, in hopes of sustaining the multigenerational wisdom and practices they inherited from their progenitors who made tequila, mezcal, and other heritage spirits. Our goal is to support the communities that are integral to agave production by working with them directly and asking them what they need.”

“As we continue our mission to find actionable ways to support Amatitán and the broader Mexican community where our tequila is produced, we’re honored to work with S.A.C.R.E.D., who has established tremendous relationships with the people producing heritage spirits in the region for generations,” said Mike Novy, 818 Tequila president and COO. “At 818 Tequila, we want to create a new standard for sustainability while also giving back to those who are so integral to our tequila-making process. Establishing a long-term partnership with Lou and his team at S.A.C.R.E.D. to expand upon the incredible work they’ve already done in Mexico really drives our mission.”

Furthering its sustainability initiative with S.A.C.R.E.D., 818 has also transitioned to work with Mexican family-owned Grupo Solave at its state-of-the-art distillery based in Amatitán, Jalisco that will allow the brand to better meet the incredible demand for its spirit. Grupo Solave sets an impressive standard for earth-first tequila production, while maintaining a commitment to traditional methods. The production process at the distillery is powered by waste using biomass boilers, which both extends the life cycle of the agave and reduces CO2 emissions.

Crafted from 100% Blue Weber Agave in Jalisco, Mexico, 818 Tequila comes in three varieties – Blanco, Reposado and Añejo and is available in select markets across the U.S. For more information and to find a local retailer or restaurant partner, visit www.drink818.com.

About 818 Tequila
Founded by Kendall Jenner, 818 Tequila is an award-winning, hand-crafted tequila brand committed to uplifting the women and men who make it. Produced using traditional methods in Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico at a family-owned-and-operated distillery, the brand has won 16 awards across six major industry competitions, including Best Reposado Tequila from the World Tequila Awards; Platinum Award from the SIP Awards; Chairman’s Trophy from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge; Triple Gold from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards; Top 100 Spirits from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge; Double Gold from the SIP Awards; Gold Medal from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards; and an Innovation Award from the SIP Awards. Sustainably produced from tequilana weber blue agaves, 818 Tequila features three variations – a Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. For more information follow @drink818 on Instagram or visit www.drink818.com.

About S.A.C.R.E.D.
S.A.C.R.E.D. is a U.S.-based, 501c3 not-for-profit that improves quality of life in the rural Mexican communities where heritage agave spirits are made. Since their founding in 2017, they’ve gifted more than 35,000 agave seedlings to families in Oaxaca who are struggling to access the plants they need because of the explosion in global interest in mezcal. To learn more about this and their other programs, visit sacred.mx

The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil Receives 14th Consecutive Michelin Star Award

November 1, 2021 by evebushman

RUTHERFORD, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Synonymous with wine country cuisine, The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil today received its 14th consecutive Star award from the MICHELIN Guide California. The globally recognized rating Guide is one of the most universally respected culinary authorities of exceptional dining. The 2021 Guide rates Auberge du Soleil among the top restaurants in California, designated as “an international culinary destination and leader in the industry” by MICHELIN.

Renowned for its commitment to sourcing ingredients from neighboring farms and purveyors, Mediterranean-inspired seasonal dishes, award-winning international wine cellar, and spectacular vista views, The Restaurant has attained a rich legacy as a “must experience” stop along any culinary journey to Napa Valley.

“The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil is at the heart of our property experience,” said Bradley Reynolds, Managing Director of Auberge du Soleil. “We are extremely grateful to the MICHELIN Guide for recognizing us with a fourteenth consecutive Star. We dedicate this award to our extraordinary team who consistently deliver impeccable food, wine and service that makes for wonderful dining memories for our guests.”

Robert Curry has served as Executive Chef at Auberge du Soleil since 2005. Widely considered a landmark among California wine country restaurants, Auberge du Soleil is dedicated to maintaining the culinary traditions of both Napa Valley and France. Curry’s dishes showcase flavorful peak-of-season ingredients sourced from a range of local and regional purveyors and farmers with whom Curry has developed long-standing relationships.

Executive Pastry Chef Paul Lemieux has led the pastry team at Auberge du Soleil since 2003. His finely crafted work is evident in the exquisite seasonal desserts he creates including delectable housemade chocolate, involving sourcing cacao beans from select international farms and carefully roasting and refining the chocolate in small batches in the hotel’s pastry kitchen.

The Restaurant’s menu items are complemented by pairings from an award-winning wine list. The 15,000 bottle cellar of domestic and international selections is curated by Wine Director, Kris Margerum. The Restaurant’s wine program consistently receives Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence.

The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil is open for lunch, Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring a two-course prix fixe for $60 and three courses for $75. A three-course brunch is offered on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $85, and dinner service is available Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., including three courses for $135, four courses for $155 or a six-course tasting menu for $185. All menus include vegetarian selections available with each course.

The Restaurant, along with the casual Bistro and Bar, is open to the public, and serve as cornerstones for Auberge du Soleil, a Forbes Five Star hotel, flagship for the Auberge Resorts Collection and a long-standing member of Relais & Châteaux, an international association of outstanding boutique properties known for their excellence in hospitality and the culinary arts.

Inspired by the relaxed sophistication of the South of France, and infused with California soul, Auberge du Soleil provides the quintessential Napa Valley adult getaway. The hotel features wine country’s most luxurious accommodations, spectacular valley views, and passionate, intuitive service that sets the standard for gracious wine country hospitality. The property is perennially ranked among the best in the world by influential travel publications.

For more information please visit http://www.aubergedusoleil.com and follow at facebook.com/AubergeduSoleil and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeduSoleil. For Restaurant reservations and availability contact the hotel directly at 800.348.5406 or email ads.restaurant@aubergeresorts.com.

About Relais & Châteaux
Created in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an organization of more than 560 exceptional hotels and restaurants run by independent men and women, all driven by a passion for their profession and dedicated to the authenticity of the relationships they build with their customers. With operations on all five continents, from the vineyards of Napa Valley to Provence and the beaches of the Indian Ocean, Relais & Châteaux members invite all to discover the art of living enshrined in the location’s culture, and share a unique, human story. Relais & Châteaux members have a profound desire to protect and showcase the richness and diversity of the cuisine and inviting cultures of the world. They worked towards this goal, along with the goal to preserve local heritages and the environment, through a UNESCO Manifesto in November 2014. For more information please visit http://www.relaischateaux.com.

About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine and spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 19 hotels and resorts across three continents, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations. For more information about Auberge Resorts Collection, please visit aubergeresorts.com. Follow Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/AubergeResorts and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge.

About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is a privately held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, GSM, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, AS Roma, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit http://www.friedkin.com.