Whiskies of the World Awards 2018 Results

October 3, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) – Whiskies of the World is delighted to announce the winners of the 2018 Whiskies of the World Awards. Whiskies of the World is known for its industry standard tasting events in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and San Jose. The Whisky Awards is an additional feature that provides brands marketing materials to promote their products. As only 31% of entrants receive gold medals, the results of these awards are extremely meaningful. Additionally, all judges’ notes are made available to each entrant as important data to develop the brand and determine best marketing strategy.

Whiskies are judged on a 100-point basis with a concentration on aromatics, flavor and finish. Blind judging was performed by a panel of seventeen tastemakers who are all influential figures in the beverage industry. The panel included: David “Bart” Bartlett – Whisky Guru at Beverage World; Steve Beal, World Renowned Whisky Expert and a Keeper of the Quaich; Jeff Boley – Beverage Manager Townsend; Beth Brooks – Pernod Ricard Specialist, Venture Brand Spirits; Jeramy Campbell – Assistant Manage, Seven Grand Whisky Bar; Jennifer Dunn – Brand Ambassador Luxco Brands; Mike Groener – CEO Genius Liquids; Tom Koerner – Spirit Guide, Seven Grand Whiskey Bar; Lana Lindsley – Bulleit Whiskey Ambassador; David Maguire – Co-owner The Austin Shaker; John McEntire – Spirits Consultant Twin Liquors; Greg Randle – Wine and Spirits Business Consultant/Good Taste Report Founder; Mike Raymond – Owner Reserve 101; Kevin Rhodes – Cocktail specialist, The Eleanor/Sourced Cocktail; Ken Seeber – Spirits Consultant Twin Liquors; Kevin Stein – Regional Manager Twin Liquors; Jason Stevens – Director of Beverage, La Corsha Hospitality Group.

“The judges are extremely talented with sensitive palates and work hard to evaluate each product,” explains Douglas Smith, Whiskies of the World Event Director. “The evaluation of whiskies is taken very seriously. Our judges not only taste and make notes, but also discuss and consider many angles. We are proud that our awards reflect the experience and integrity of our excellent judging panel.”

THE 2018 BEST IN SHOW WINNER (Tie):

Sons of Liberty Uprising American Single Malt – Pedro Ximénez Finish (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
Whip Saw Rye (Whiskey Rye greater than 4 Years)

THE 2018 BEST IN CLASS WINNERS:

Bourbon less than 3 years:     Balcones Texas High Rye Bourbon
Bourbon 3-6 years:     Bower Hill Barrel Strength Bourbon
Bourbon greater than 6 years:     Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
Bourbon Wheated:     Balcones Texas Wheated Bourbon
Corn Whiskey:     Ironroot Hubris Corn Whiskey
Irish Blended:     Bogart’s Blended Irish Whiskey
Malt American less than 2 years:     10th Street Single Malt Whisky
Malt American Smoked less than 2 years:     Westland Peated
Malt Bourbon Cask:     Glenmorangie 18 Year Old
Malt Non-Bourbon Cask:     Penderyn Myth
Malt Peated Medium:     The English Smokey Single Malt
Malt Peated Heavy:     Port Charlotte 10
Rye less than 2 years:     Minor Case Rye
Whiskey:     FEW American Whiskey

THE 2018 GOLD OUTSTANDING RECIPIENTS:

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (Bourbon greater than 6 Years)
Trail’s End Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bourbon greater than 6 Years)
Bower Hill Barrel Strength (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Ardbeg An Oa (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
Ardbeg Corryvreckan (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
Port Charlotte 10 (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)hiskies of the World Awards 2018 Recipients

THE 2018 GOLD RECIPIENTS:

Blood Oath P4 (Bourbon greater than 6 Years)
Widow Jane 10 Year Old Bourbon (Bourbon greater than 6 Years)
Bower Hill Single Barrel (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Law’s Whiskey Four Grain Bourbon- Bottled in Bond (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
The Burning Chair Bourbon (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Bogart’s irish Whiskey (Irish Blended )
The Quiet Man Traditional Irish Blended Whiskey (Irish Blended )
10th Street Single Malt Whisky (Malt American less than 2 Years)
Kurayoshi 12 Year Old (Malt Non-Bourbon Cask)
Penderyn Myth (Malt Non-Bourbon Cask)
Amrut Fusion Single Malt (Malt Peated Light)
Black Adder Chimera (Malt Peated Light)
The English Smokey Single Malt (Malt Peated Medium)
Fukano 2018 (Rice Whisky)
Axe and the Oak Colorado Mountain Incline Rye (Rye less than 2 Years)
Minor Case (Rye less than 2 Years)
Bower Hill Reserve Rye (Rye greater than 4 Years)
Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010 (Single Malt Scotch )
Glencadam 10 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie 18 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glengoyne Sherry Cask (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Lasanta (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Tayne (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
The GlenDronach 18 Year Old Allardice (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Ardbeg 10 Years Old (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
Ardbeg Grooves – General Release (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
The Glenlivet Nadura (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
Ardmore Peated Single Malt (Single Malt Scotch Peated Medium)
Dry Fly Cask Strength Wheat Whiskey (Wheat greater than 2 Years)
Dry Fly Straight Wheat Whiskey (Wheat greater than 2 Years)
FEW American Whiskey (Whiskey)
Dry Fly Straight Triticale Whiskey (Whiskey Creative)

THE 2018 SILVER OUTSTANDING RECIPIENTS:

Balcones Texas High Rye Bourbon (Bourbon less than 3 Years)
Bio Whiskey (Bourbon less than 3 Years)
Ironroot Harbinger XC Straight Bourbon (Bourbon less than 3 Years)
David Nicholson Reserve (Bourbon greater than 6 Years)
Uncle Nearest Premium 1856 Aged Whiskey (Bourbon greater than 6 Years)
Bower Hill Barrel Reserve (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
FEW Bourbon (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Bourbon (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Garrison Brothers Small Batch (2018 Release) (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Iron Wolf Ranch Select Bourbon (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Old Forester 86 proof (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Yellowstone Select (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Balcones Texas Wheated Bourbon (Bourbon Wheated)
Lambay Whiskey Small Batch Blend (Irish Blended )
Alley 6 Single Malt Whiskey (Malt American less than 2 Years)
Sons of Liberty Wheated American Single Malt (Malt American less than 2 Years)
Whiskey Del Bac Classic (Malt American less than 2 Years)
Westland American Oak (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
Westland Sherry wood (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
Whiskey Del Bac Distiller’s Cut (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
Westland Sherry wood (Malt American Smoked less than 2 Years)
Whiskey Del Bac Dorado (Malt American Smoked less than 2 Years)
Amrut Classic Single Malt (Malt Bourbon Cask)
The English Original Single Malt (Malt Bourbon Cask)
Penderyn Madeira (Malt Non-Bourbon Cask)
The Quiet Man Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Malt Non-Bourbon Cask)
Amrut Peated Cask Strength Indian Single Malt (Malt Peated Heavy)
Alley 6 Rye Whiskey (Rye less than 2 Years)
Corsair Ryemaggedon (Rye less than 2 Years)
FEW Rye (Rye less than 2 Years)
Title No 21 Rye (Rye less than 2 Years)
Law’s Whiskey Secale Straight Rye- Bottled in Bond (Rye greater than 4 Years)
Glenmorangie 19 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Signet (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Cadboll (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Duthac (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Lambay Whiskey Single Malt (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
The Glenivet Nadura Oloroso (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
The Glenlivet Code (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Ardbeg Uigeadail (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2011 (Single Malt Scotch Peated Heavy)
Port Askaig 110 Proof (Single Malt Scotch Peated Medium)
Charbay Doubled & Twisted Whiskey (Whiskey)

THE 2018 SILVER RECIPIENTS:

Axe & The Oak Colorado Mountain Bourbon Whiskey (Bourbon less than 3 Years)
Ironroot Harbinger (Bourbon less than 3 Years)
Ironroot Promethean (Bourbon less than 3 Years)
Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon (Bourbon 3 to 6 Years)
Dry Fly Straight Bourbon 101 (Bourbon Wheated)
Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bourbon Wheated)
Woody Creek Distillers Colorado Straight Bourbon (Bourbon Wheated)
Balcones True Blue 100 (Corn Whiskey)
Ironroot Hubris (Corn Whiskey)
Second Glance American Whiskey (Corn Whiskey)
Virginia Distilling Chardonnay Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky (Malt American less than 2 Years)
Balcones 1′ Texas Single Malt (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
Sons of Liberty Battle Cry American Single Malt – Sauternes Finish (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
10th Street Peated Single Malt Whisky (Malt American Smoked less than 2 Years)
Corsair Triple Smoke (Malt American Smoked less than 2 Years)
Corsair Wildfire (Malt American Smoked less than 2 Years)
Fifty Stone Single Malt Whiskey (Malt American Smoked less than 2 Years)
Brenne Estate Cask (Malt Non-Bourbon Cask)
Penderyn Celt (Malt Peated Medium)
Balcones Texas Rye 100 (Rye less than 2 Years)
Devils River Rye Whiskey (Rye less than 2 Years)
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye (Rye greater than 4 Years)
Bruichladdich Classic Laddie (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glencadam 13 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glengoyne Bourbon Cask (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie The Original (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
The Glenlivet – Founder’s Reserve (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Glenmorangie Spios (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old (Single Malt Scotch Non-Bourbon Cask)
Devils River Barrel Strength Whiskey (Whiskey)

THE 2018 BRONZE RECIPIENTS:

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt (Malt American greater than 2 Years)
The Glenlivet Nadura (Single Malt Scotch Bourbon Cask)
Rebecca Creek Fine Texas Whiskey (Whiskey)
Rebecca Creek Texas Ranger Whiskey (Whiskey)
Seven Stills Chocasmoke (Whiskey)

Category Clarification:
Malt: Includes Single Malt (all from same distillery) and Blended Malts (100% malt but from different distilleries). To help define the product some have been listed as Single Malt Scotch, or Single Malt. However, for Best in Class purposes, these are the same category.
Bourbon Cask: Malt whisky which has been aged in bourbon cask
Non-Bourbon Cask: Malt whisky that has significant influence from casks other than bourbon. Most commonly, sherry casks.
Cask Finished: Either matured in a non-bourbon cask, or finished in a non-bourbon cask or blended with a non-bourbon cask.

Join us for the upcoming Whiskies of the World Texas Expos for a seventh time in Austin on Thursday, September 20th, for the first time in Dallas on Friday, September 21st and for the fourth time in Houston on Saturday September 22nd. We will also be returning to Atlanta for a sixth time on Friday, November 2nd.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com.
Follow Whiskies of the World on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Whiskies of the World LLC: Whiskies of the World LLC, an IWSC Group North America event, began in San Francisco, CA in 1998. Under the direction of whisky enthusiast and event director, Douglas Smith, the event has expanded into Texas and Georgia. The IWSC Group is a global leader of alcoholic beverage events, including the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.

The Garagiste Festival Wins ‘Best Wine Festival’

October 1, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival has been named the US’ “Best Wine Festival” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards.

Launched in 2011 in Paso Robles, the Garagiste Festival was the first to define, and shine a spotlight on, the American “garagiste*” wine movement and features the wines of commercial artisan winemakers who make under 1500 cases. At its festivals across California – from Paso to Los Angeles to Sonoma to Solvang – The Garagiste Festival has introduced hundreds of outstanding under-the-radar California artisan winemakers to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media.

“When we came up with the idea eight years ago, we were pretty sure we had lightning in a bottle, but at that point it was just intuition,” said Doug Minnick, Co-founder of The Garagiste Festival. “Fortunately, there was an amazing core of people who understood our vision – from the wineries who poured, the sponsors who supported us, the volunteers who helped make it happen and the fans who bought tickets to what was then an unknown event. We sold out that first festival – and every festival since then.”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana” ‘strange and wondrous,’ and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. The non-profit festival, which celebrates its 21st festival in Paso Robles in November, has raised over $125K to support the education of future winemakers through the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

“We are eternally grateful to our supporters, a network that has continued to expand and which has had a real impact not only on the wine world, but also, through the Garagiste Scholarship Fund, on the future of winemaking,” continued Minnick.

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Jill Barth, a Provence Wine Master; Karen MacNeil, one of the foremost wine experts in the U.S.; and June Rodil, a Master Sommelier were chosen for their knowledge of wine and the American wine scene.

“We have always been focused on quality and pushing the boundaries of convention, and we have never lost our healthy dose of irreverent optimism,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Stewart McLennan. “Thank you to everyone who voted for us as the Best Festival in the US for validating that optimism, and to the 10Best Editors for nominating us. The Festival, like the wineries who participate in it, sprang from humble beginnings and has flourished as a true labor of love.”

The US’ Best Wine Festival marks its 21st festival, and 8th anniversary, at its home base in Paso Robles, November 9th through the 11th, with three days of events, including a Grand Tasting that showcases over 60 micro production winemakers (20% pouring at the festival for the first time), tasting seminars, a Rare and Reserve tasting, a Keep It Rockin’ After Party, and more. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-8th-annual-paso-garagiste-wine-festival-tickets-49769338431?aff=web.

For full schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/2018-paso-fest. For special discounts and updates on Garagiste Festival events and news, sign up for The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/, or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook (http://on.fb.me/1rgBC80).

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, * “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

*Garagistes (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

Robert Hall Winery hosts “The Fishing Pig” harvest celebration

September 30, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles, Calif. – Mark your calendars for a harvest land and sea celebration at Robert Hall Winery. Winemaker Don Brady is hosting “The Fishing Pig” party savoring the indulgence between the bounty of Central Coast’s briny seafood, luscious pork goodness and fruit-forward Paso Robles wines.

On October 20^th, from 5:00pm until 8:30pm, “The Fishing Pig” celebration will feature locals’ favorite purveyor of fresh seafood, Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant in Morro Bay. Tognazzini’s will be providing an array of freshly caught seafood including oysters, shrimp, crab cakes, as well as smoked ribs, pork tacos, pulled pork sliders, and sausages.

Guests will also be treated to a vast array Robert Hall’s award-winning wines at specialty tasting bars, have the opportunity to do a barrel tasting with Brady and participate in a blending session, all while enjoying fantastic food. There will be a raffle prize to win a Double Magnum of Robert Hall wines. The party also features live music from Central Coast favorite and Grammy Award winner, Louie Ortega.

“With ‘The Fishing Pig’ event, wine lovers get an opportunity to enjoy a truly special fish, seafood and pig barbecue in a timeless setting,” said Brady. “We will have our latest Robert Hall selections and a few favorites available to sip on the terrace, overlook the vineyards, cut loose and have some fun.”

Tickets are available now on the Robert Hall website, and are $75 for members and $95 for nonmembers.

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About Robert Hall Winery

Robert Hall Winery is known for wines that enhance the great moments of life and encourage the spontaneity of the unexpected. Winemaker Don Brady sources fruit from all 11 Paso Robles AVAs ensuring the best quality wine from the best quality fruit. Guests love the casual and comfortable tasting room, picnicking under the large oak trees and cooling down with a tour of the wine cavern. Become part of the family at roberthallwinery.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

PRESQU’ILE WINERY SCORES HIGH AMONG USA TODAY’S 10 BEST TASTING ROOMS IN THE UNITED STATES

September 26, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Presqu’ile, the contemporary-styled minimalist estate winery poised high in the hills of Santa Maria with stunning ocean and vineyard views, announces their 2^nd place win in USA TODAY’s 2018 National Readers Poll of 10 Best Tasting Rooms across the United States today. Presqu’ile proudly served as the only representative and entry from Santa Barbara County, a region rich with over 200 wineries and tasting rooms.

Winemaker Dieter Cronje and Matt Murphy in Presqu’ile Vineyards | Photo courtesy of Bob Holmes

“Our mission at the Presqu’ile tasting room is to share our passion for the wines from Santa Maria Valley and our estate vineyard in a relaxed, elegant setting while providing world-class hospitality,” states Matt Murphy, co-founder and president. “The nomination for the top 10 Best Tasting Rooms and second place finish in the poll is a testament to the hard work our team puts in daily to deliver this experience. They are an extension of our family and do an incredible job living up to our high expectations for the guest experience at Presqu’ile. A huge thanks to our friends and extended family who voted for us; we are so appreciative of the support.”

Nominees for USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties and included experts Jill Barth, a Provence Wine Master; Shana Clarke, Wine Editor for inside.com and contributor to Eat Sip Trip; Karen MacNeil, one of the foremost wine experts in the U.S.; and June Rodil, a Master Sommelier were chosen for their knowledge of wine and the American wine scene.

All voting is digitally submitted by the public, and the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest is accessible on the 10Best.com website. 10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The team of local travel experts is a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields – and their cities – but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about and the content is constantly updated. 10Best.com averages 5 million visitors per month.

The Murphy family’s efforts have established Presqu’ile as one of the Santa Maria Valley’s defining wineries, recognized for making balanced and sophisticated cool-climate wines. From directing the planting of the Presqu’ile Vineyard to overseeing the design and construction of the state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery, shaping the elegant stylistic identity of the winery’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, to shaping the tasting experience, the Murphys’ collective vision has established Presqu’ile as one of California’s leading wineries. And thanks to USA TODAY it is now a must stop on anyone’s wine-bucket list.

ABOUT PRESQU’ILE WINERY:

Located in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria Valley, Presqu’ile (pronounced press-KEEL) is a small, family-run winery dedicated to making exceptional cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Presqu’ile is a multigenerational collaboration between Madison and Suzanne Murphy, their three adult children, Matt, Anna and Jonathan, and their daughters-in-law, Amanda and Lindsey. No strangers to agriculture, four generations of the wine-loving Murphy family have been farming land in Louisiana for almost a century. Led by eldest son Matt Murphy, the family founded Presqu’ile—the Creole word for “almost an island”—both as a tribute to a beloved Gulf Coast family gathering place that was lost in Hurricane Katrina, and because they envisioned Presqu’ile as an island-like haven amid the vines. Also on the team is rising star winemaker Dieter Cronje.

The Santa Maria Valley is one of the most distinctive winegrowing appellations in the world. With one of the longest growing seasons in all of California. The Santa Maria Valley is a true cool-climate winegrowing region, yielding wines of extraordinary elegance and purity—qualities that define the world’s best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. To preserve the complexity of these grapes, the Murphys worked with acclaimed San Francisco-based Taylor Lombardo Architects to create a gravity-flow winery designed to Matt and Dieter’s specifications. And to ensure that each wine reflects its vineyard, Dieter practices a naturally minimalist approach to winemaking, with a focus on whole clusters, native yeasts and modest new oak. As a result, Presqu’ile’s wines are pure and purposeful, conveying the authentic charm, complexity and signature Santa Maria spice that have made the wines of the Santa Maria Valley famous among enthusiasts of elegant and balanced wines. In addition to being featured by USA TODAY, Presqu’ile Winery has received accolades in numerous publications including Vinous; Santa Barbara News-Press; The Daily Meal; Santa Barbara Independent’s “Tastings To Do;” Condé Nast Traveler’s “Beautiful Wineries in California;” Must Do Travel Show and the Travel Channel.

AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW: Click here for USA TODAY’S 10 BEST TASTING ROOMS

PRESQU’ILE WINERY

5391 Presqu’ile Drive

Santa Maria, CA 93455

Phone 805.937.8110

www.presquilewine.com

Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association: 3rd Annual People’s Choice Blind Tasting and Awards Celebration

September 12, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

TEMECULA, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association (TVWA), has announced the third annual People’s Choice Blind Tasting and Awards, taking place on Sunday, October 28 from 1:00-7:00 PM. This year’s event will be held at Fazeli Cellars, and include a walk around “blind” tasting, followed by an awards celebration featuring last year’s winning wines, culinary creations from Fazeli’s in-house chef Anthony Bartolotta, and an awards program with live entertainment. Photos of last year’s sold out event can be found HERE.

The event will kick off with an afternoon walk-around blind tasting of the wines Temecula Valley wineries believe to be their “best” bottles. Participants will be asked to submit ratings of each wine, which will be tallied to determine the region’s top three whites and reds. Results of the blind tasting will be announced at a winemaker reception and awards presentation the same evening, recognizing the winning wines and broadly attended by Temecula Valley winemakers. Tickets are $45-$85 and can be purchased at http://www.temeculawines.org/events/. There are limited pre-sale tickets available through September 7, 2018.

“Since 2018 is also the 50th Anniversary of Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, for this year’s event we wanted to get back to what makes Temecula Valley so special – our wines and the people who make them,” said TVWA Executive Director Krista Chaich. “We are excited to once again invite consumers to come taste through our best, and then spend an evening celebrating alongside Temecula Valley winemakers – our rock stars.”

For more information about the People’s Choice Blind Tasting and Awards, visit https://www.temeculawines.org/events/

For sponsorship and media inquiries, contact Devin Parr at prmarketing@temeculawines.org.

ABOUT THE TEMECULA VALLEY WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION

Temecula Valley is the largest and most commercially successful winegrowing region in the South Coast AVA, the viticultural zone spanning more than 2 million acres from Riverside County to the San Diego border. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association has long served as a steward of the Southern California wine community. Comprising 36 wineries and more than 60 winegrowers, the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association is a nonprofit regional organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the quality wines and wine grapes grown in the Temecula Valley and South Coast Appellations. Established in 1984, the Temecula AVA consists of 33,000 acres, of which approximately 1,300 acres are currently planted to commercial vineyards. Known as Southern California’s wine country, the Temecula Valley is located in Riverside County just one hour from San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs and 90 minutes from Los Angeles.

Cass Winery Dinner: Ted Plemons + 5 Courses + 5 Wines

August 17, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

It’s been a few years since the wild and crazy Ted Plemons entertained Cass Winery lovers on the patio of Salt Creek Grille, and I for one won’t be missing it. Not only will Ted, co-partner at the winery, be there he will be introducing no less than FIVE of their latest vintages to pair with FIVE courses created by Chef Ignacio Munoz and Pastry Chef Kristina Waggoner.

The Invitation

L to R: Greg Amsler, Chef Ignacio “Nacho” Munoz, Pastry Chef Kristina Waggoner, Marketing Dir. Jennifer Chadwick

Join Ted Plemons of Cass Winery, as well as Executive Chef Ignacio Munoz and Pastry Chef Kristina Waggoner as they take you on a 5-wine + 5-course menu only at the Salt Creek Grille Valencia Patio on September 12^th at 6:30pm. The price is $95 per person plus tax and 22% gratuity. Reserve by telephoning the restaurant at 661-222-9999.

The Menu

With Winemaker Notes and Awards

First course

Tai Shrimp with Coconut Mango Verde Sauce

Paired with-Cass 2017 Viognier

Gold Medal – 2018 Denver International Wine Competition
Winemaking: Aiming to preserve the intense fruit and aromatics of the variety, this Viognier was fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel. Hand-picked in the early morning, the cold grapes were pressed within moments after coming off the vine. Following juice settling, a long, cold fermentation commenced. Malolactic fermentation was inhibited to preserve acidity, keeping the wine fresh and crisp.

Second Course

Crab Bouquet Salad

Paired with 2016 Rockin’ One Blanc

90 points, Gold Medal – 2018 Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition

Winemaking: Looking to bring an added dimension to the ripe fruit of Roussanne and the texture of Marsanne, the 2016 Rockin’ One was fermented and aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak barrels. Hand-picked in the early morning, the cold grapes were pressed within moments after coming off the vine. The long, slow fermentation helped maintain crucial aromatics, while occasional lees stirring helped lend texture and structure to the wine. Unlike Cass’s other white wines, the 2016 Rockin’ One underwent a partial malolactic fermentation.

Third Course

Almond Crusted Stuffed Chicken with Scalloped Sweet Potato Ring

Paired with 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaking: Cabernet Sauvignon comprises the largest planted acreage at Cass, thus we have the ability to choose fruit from a variety of sites, soils, and clones across the vineyard. Picked in early September, the grapes were fermented into 5-ton open top fermenters and pumped over multiple times per day to achieve maximum extraction, which was necessary to match the ripe flavors of the vintage. Aged for 22 months in French oak.

Fourth Course

Red Chimichurri Hanger Steak with Vegetable Skewer and Peppercorn White Cheddar Soufflé

Paired with 2014 Backbone Syrah

92 points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Gold Medal – 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition

Gold Medal – 2017 Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition

Gold Medal – 2017 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal – 2018 Central Coast Wine Competition

Winemaking: The grapes were fermented into 5-ton open top fermenters and pumped over multiple times per day to achieve maximum extraction, which was necessary to match the ripe flavors of the vintage. Aged for 22 months in French and American oak.

Fifth Course

Triple Chocolate Blackberry Hazelnut Crème Brûlée

Paired with 2013 Dessert Syrah

Gold Medal, 93 points – 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Notes: Produced from ultra-ripe Syrah from our estate vineyard, our 2013 Dessert Wine is massive and rich, with flavors and aromatics that remind us all of wintertime in Paso Robles. Warm notes of crushed rose petal, dried raspberry, orange-almond liqueur, potpourri, juniper berry, and cinnamon sticks fill the nose. The sticky palate is full of rich fruit, with caramel-coated raisin, candied orange, warm brown spice, and grated chili chocolate flavors on a backbone of well structured tannins that carry through on an endless (and we mean endless) finish.

The Fine Print

Chefs Munoz and Waggoner have created this menu together and both will be in attendance that night – as time allows they may be able to visit with us on the patio.

Date: September 12^th

Private Dining on the Salt Creek Grille Patio

$95 a person (plus tax + gratuity)
Reservations: 661-222-9999

24415 Town Center Drive #115
Valencia, CA 91355

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in 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 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

How Did We Judge the First Global Wine Awards?

July 13, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Nine judges in total, one Executive Director, a local restaurant sommelier, professional photographer and attentive servers = our first meeting in Cohiba Room three at the Tropicana Las Vegas, while avoiding rooms one and two as they held all of the wine that we were very anxious to judge…blind.

Donning my first wine judge lab coat!

Welcome to the inaugural Global Wine Awards in Las Vegas!

Deborah Parker Wong (Tasting Panel, Somm Journal and the Clever Root. See all of the judges bios here) was consulted by Exec. Dir. Eddie Rivkin and then had our entire preliminary round set up to begin the first day. On the second day we would do the “sweepstakes” round, where we would decide which of the Gold medal awarded wines would be our choice for any Double Golds, Best of Show and Judge’s Choice of best overall.

But let me back up to explain how we chose which wines to medal to begin with, and then I’ll return to our judging and sweepstakes.

For nine judges it was decided that we would begin with three panels of three. Within those panels we would select a leader and a note taker. Wines were served to us in “flights” with corresponding sheets that read titles such as Domestic Merlot, Spanish Reds or Wine Made From Fruit – no price points were given. On these sheets each wine was given a four-digit number instead of a name that corresponded with a number written on each glass. We would do one or more flights at a time, as some flights only had less than six or so wines while others had nearly a dozen.

Every judge is different in how they then proceed. Most will sniff each one in the flight and then go back to the start for a sample, spit and make some notes. I didn’t feel confident in being able to recall a sample 12 or so glasses before so I opted to do each at once: sniff, swirl, sniff again, note what I liked in the aroma, sample, hold in my mouth long enough to get the general gist of the wine, expectorate, make some slight notes and select a medal.

This was the cheat sheet (most) of us kept at hand in deciding on a medal:

Anything less than 80 would be a “no medal” wine and usually had a fatal flaw.

80-84 for Bronze

85-89 for Silver

90-95 Gold

96-100 Double Gold

After your panel is done with the flight they then, each taking a turn to start, announce the medal. You may have three people that completely agree, or as is most often the case, don’t. So while I may say Silver minus (which borders on Bronze) the other panelists may say Silver plus and Gold. In one panel the person with the highest medal would then try to convince the others to raise their scores based on the merits they found. Roger Bohmrich MW, one of the judges, puts it this way: “With a panel of qualified tasters, it’s somewhat rare to have one judge say Gold and another No Medal, though it can happen. The more common challenge is to decide whether to elevate a Silver plus into Gold territory.” On another panel the three scores were just averaged out and a numerical score was calculated. (We were rotated to a different panel halfway through.) Most times, in either instance we would taste again. Have I lost you yet? LOL. Hang in there.

By the end of the first day, we had each sampled 90-100 wines. We were then invited out by Exec. Director Eddie Rivkin for a lovely meal at Marche Bacchus. And prepare ourselves for the next day, which would be sweepstakes:

In sweeps all of the wine judges would have an opportunity to sample all of the wines we had nominated for Gold medals. We would then note our favorites, and by a showing of hands, decide which the majority agreed would be awarded with Double Golds and then narrow down again to award, which were Best of Show. Instead of breaking into our panels we sit together for sweeps.

Stay tuned, the next time I write about the Global Wine Awards I hope to be able to disclose the medal winners!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in 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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Global Wine Awards 2018: Prep Work and Prep Fun?

June 29, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

So this happened. THIS. What my footer of every article cries out for… has served as a judge…in the hopes that someone might notice and hire me again. They did. They being Mark Norman (a LinkedIn connection) and Eddie Rivkin (CEO and Exec. Director of the Global Wine and Spirit Awards).

Hello Eve,

Both the Craft Beverage Corporation (my company) and the Craft Beverage Expo (Kellie Shevlin) have agreed to work with Edward Rivkin (CEO and Exec. Dir. of the Global Wine Awards company) to grow the first annual awards event into a world-class competition. What will be unique about this event will be that as well as a long list of typical awards this competition will have matching awards for craft (wineries under 5,000 cases) and micro production wine (wines produced in quantities under 1,000 cases).

I would like to personally invite you to join the judging panel for the 2018 Global Wine Awards being held June 17th -20th 2018 at The Tropicana Hotel, in Las Vegas. As a judge for the event, The Global Wine Awards will…

Best wishes

Mark

You can bet I replied to Norman and Rivkin in record time and confirmed that I definitely wanted in. Rivkin telephoned me a few days later, to get to know more about me, and being me I made sure he knew that though I knew a bit about wine I wasn’t in the same ranks as the other judges. He knew. He said he wanted a group of wine people that could each bring something different, as they say, to the proverbial table. It was a new competition, so part of the proverbial table covered getting the word out about the competition so more wineries would want to be a part of it. One of the tag lines on social media being used, which would attract my attention if I were a winemaker was: #ISO100pts

The judges were Deborah Parker Wong, David Glancy, Stacie Hunt, Roger Bohmrich, Paul R. Ellis, Dänny Ronen, Cameron Sisk, Cassandra Brown and little old me. Now, I had met Wong, in fact sat right next to her, when I was asked to be a guest judge for L.A. International Wine Competition. She was a pleasure to taste with and learn from, and she made me feel right at home. (It was my first experience as a judge, later I would be invited to judge the Long Beach Grand Cru.)

I also knew Stacie Hunt, in fact I had suggested Rivkin hire her as well to fill out our panel. Hunt had been one of my educators with the North American Sommelier Association (NASA) when I took my American Wine Specialist ® certification classes. I had met her several times at different tastings as well. I knew I would be in good company.

The other judges that I hadn’t met before, well, after reading their full bios on the Global Wine Awards website, I knew just enough about them to realize one thing: they had far more wine education and certifications under their belt than I did. I wasn’t too intimated though as being a judge twice I was always treated respectfully, even when being shown the ropes. I was really starting to look forward to rolling up my sleeves. And about those sleeves:

Can you all please reply with what size lab coat you think you would wear? My plan was to surprise everyone with a really cool embroidered judge’s coat. Then I realized I can’t pull off the surprise without knowing your sizes. Poof there goes the surprise! I will only ask that you wear the lab coats for the part of the session(s) that will be photographed.

#ohboy – you know I forwarded this email to lots of family and friends! A lab coat! Embroidered! With my NAME on it? The amount of social media and press I could get (send out) was blowing my little blond brain up.

Now all I had to worry about would soon be really happening again: how many wines were we to sample? Would I be able to keep up with the other judges in our speed tastings? Would we agree on scores, or as I’ve experienced in the past, will there be discussions at times to see the same attributes or flaws others saw? How many green olives and gray beef would I have to consume to cleanse my palate? Etc. etc. etc.

That ends part one of my little adventure. Look for my next installment where I will tell you how the judging process went, and then in a final installment I hope to share all of the medal winners!

Website: https://globalwineawards.co/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Global-Wine-Awards-1833717633611628/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalwineawardslv/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in 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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

North of the Gate Wine Competition Announces Award Winning Wines

May 30, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PETALUMA, Calif. (PRWEB) – Of the 302 wines entered in the North of the Gate Wine Competition in Petaluma, California an unprecedented 294 were honored with awards. And yet despite the overall quality of the wines entered, this year’s esteemed judging panel of 12 had no trouble at all selecting just one overall winner. This year’s Best of Show was awarded to Lewis Grace’s 2015 Petite Sirah, which also won Best of Show Red, Best of Class, Best of El Dorado County, and a Double Gold award.

The North of the Gate Wine Competition, produced by the Sonoma-Marin Fair held June 20-24, 2018, is known for attracting high end luxury wines. Competing wines come from grapes grown in the wonderful Sierra Foothills all across Northern California to the beautiful California Coast. We have the consistently best wine producing regions in the world. More and more varietals are being grown and this year the judges had a difficult time awarding the best wines since so many were exceptional.

Not only is the competition one of the oldest to include all of Northern California’s unique wine regions, but it also has one of the highest esteemed judging panels. This year four panels of professional wine judges met on April 26 to determine which would be worthy of their accolades.

The Best of Show White Wine was a racey 2017 Albarino from Imagery Estate Winery with bright acidity that enhances its peach and citrus flavors. It has won top awards at many wine competitions and should not be missed.

Rosé wines are making a come back and just in time for summer. This wine judging category has exploded and the Best of Show Rosé Wine was a beautifully colored 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir made by Rodney Strong Vineyards. It is fresh and vibrant with aromas of strawberry and white peach as well as fresh acidity and a lasting juicy finish.

The Best of Show Red Wine also won the top award: Best of Show Wine, highlighting the incredible wine-making skills of two brothers: Trevor and Tyler Grace from the El Dorado region. Their 2015 Lewis Grace Petite Sirah steps out with an intense maroon color and an equally complex boysenberry and cedar nose. The friendly pomegranate opening and chocolate finish complement it’s characteristic peppery kick.

Winery owner Steve Grace received this highly coveted accolade humbly by sharing, “we are more than thrilled with the results. While it is a small competition compared to some, the judging panel is superb and it’s great to have exposure to that group.”

Case in point, last year Grace Patriot Wines received multiple awards including the Sweepstakes Award for their 2016 El Dorado Rosé of Pinot Noir.

Among the best by county this year were Brassfield Estate Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc for Best of Lake County, Handley Cellars 2015 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir for Best of Mendocino County, My Italian Cousin 2015 Eugenio for Best of Napa County, Oak Farm Vineyards 2016 Tievoli for Best of San Joaquin County, Grindstone Wines 2017 Rosé of Syrah for Best of Colusa County, Lewis Grace 2017 Torrontes was Best for Sacramento County, and Schug Carneros Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon for Best of Sonoma County.

For a complete list of this year’s North of the Gate Wine Competition winners and more information on this year’s judging panel, please visit sonoma-marinfair.org.

Wine tasting of the top medal winners will be available during the Sonoma-Marin Fair in the beautifully landscaped Wine Garden. The best of the best will be poured on Saturday, June 23 during the fair’s annual Taste of the North Gate. Guests can mingle with wine makers, enjoy live music, and partake in a cheese and chocolate pairing. A separate ticket will be required and available for purchase at the gate the day of and in advance online.

The 2018 Sonoma-Marin Fair will be taking the summer fun “Beyond the Milky Way” from June 20-24, 2018. Enjoy 5 fun-filled days of FREE concerts, unlimited carnival rides, the World’s Ugliest Dog ® Contest, action-packed Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Racing, fun games & contests, delicious fair food, and more. For details, visit sonoma-marinfair.org or call (707) 283-3247. Be the first to know about all of the fun by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Plan for an out of this world experience!

Ole Smoky Distillery Receives 2017 “Hot Brand” Award

April 18, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (PRWEB) – Ole Smoky®, the world’s most awarded moonshine company, has been named a 2017 Impact Hot Brand by M. Shanken Communications, a leading publisher in the U.S. Wine & Spirits industry known for such magazines as Wine Spectator, Impact, Market Watch, and Cigar Aficionado.

“It is a huge honor to receive this award,” says Robert Hall, CEO of Ole Smoky. “We are all aiming to build a world class spirits brand, and this award is recognition of all of our efforts. We are proud of what we have accomplished to date, pleasing so many consumers with our great products, and will continue working for greater success in the future.”

The Hot Brand Award is given to both established and upcoming brands that have reached a minimum depletion number of 200,000 cases, and whose volume has grown at least 10% in each of the past three calendar years or at least 15% in 2017.

This award comes at a very exciting time for Ole Smoky. The company is not just growing its moonshine sales, but taking the brand to the next level with the late 2017 national launch of its whiskey product line. Mango Habanero is listed on menus at multiple on-premise locations, the demand for Salty Caramel Whiskey has far exceeded expectations, and Ole Smoky’s 5 year aged Straight Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey is among the highest quality product of its type in the market today.

Ole Smoky’s three distilleries in East Tennessee have been a source of competitive advantage to build awareness and trial of the company’s products, while educating consumers about the deep heritage and authenticity of the brand. Sales have been strongest in the states within a few hundred miles of these distilleries, but are now growing rapidly in many states further afield. This success has inspired the company to start building a 4th location in Nashville, which is targeted to open later in 2018, further fueling the growth of the brand.

“We are very excited to have our efforts in building such a strong brand recognized by receiving the 2017 Impact Award,” says Michael Bender, President of Wholesale at Ole Smoky. “Our numbers have been incredible these past few years. We are motivated to continue setting and reaching higher goals.”

Ole Smoky will receive their award at the Impact & Market Watch Hot Brand Awards Reception, held during the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) 75th Annual Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas on May 1, 2018.

For more information about Ole Smoky and a list of other awards the company has achieved visit http://www.olesmoky.com

About Ole Smoky® Distillery LLC:
Ole Smoky is the leading distiller of premium moonshine in the U.S. and the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee. The company’s roots can be traced to the early settlers of the Smoky Mountains. In 2009, (when the law in Tennessee changed and suddenly, it was legal to make, distill and sell the infamous bootlegger’s hooch), a group of families decided to bring their artistry of superior moonshine making to the world at large.

Over 3.9 million people annually visit Ole Smoky’s 3 famed East Tennessee distilleries: Holler™, Barrelhouse™ and Barn™. The Holler™ see’s over 2 million visitors per year making it the most visited distillery in the world. In 2018, Ole Smoky will open a 4th location in Nashville.

Ole Smoky now retails globally and offers more than twenty creative flavors crafted from authentic family recipes. Ole Smoky can be found in grocery and liquor stores, as well as in on-premise establishments including some of the biggest music and sporting venues in the country.

For more information, please visit http://www.olesmoky.com and find them on social media @olesmoky.

Shine Responsibly®