33rd Annual Winesong Event on Mendocino Coast Raises $700,000 for Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

October 16, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

FORT BRAGG, CA – After a spectacular weekend of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving, this year’s 33^rd annual Winesong was declared a resounding success, with increased auction sales and more guests than ever participating in the auctions. Held on the Mendocino Coast on September 8^th and 9^th, highlights included A Pinot Noir Celebration, the Grand Tasting event and a Live and Silent auction. Winesong is the main fundraising event benefiting the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, all proceeds go towards supporting the local Hospital that serves the entire Mendocino Coast, plus rural inland areas covering nearly half the distance to Highway 101.

Winesong 2017 kicked off on Friday, September 8th with a sold-out insider’s view of spectacular Pinot Noirs at ‘A Pinot Noir Celebration’ hosted by the Little River Inn. Guests enjoyed Pinot Noir tastings and delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, along with a chance to “talk shop” with the winemakers from Mendocino County, Napa and Sonoma Counties. On Saturday, September 9^th, attendees to the Grand Tasting strolled the enchanting Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and beyond, and bites from nearly 50 fine food purveyors. The celebration continued in the Auction Tents with the always-entertaining main attraction, the Live and Silent Auctions, where nearly 150 lots were on offer – including spectacular wines from a selection of prestigious wine producers, rare and hard-to-find vintages, special vertical and horizontal collections, original paintings and art from highly acclaimed artists, and domestic and international vacation packages.

Bidders at the Live Auction under the big tent helped raise significant funds, with a projected gross of more than $700,000 coming in from the two-day event. After covering production expenses, the Winesong net return will be used to assist the Mendocino Coast District Hospital purchase needed equipment. Some of the most coveted items were the big international trips and spectacular wine auction lots. Leading the way for bidding was a 10-day trip to South Africa, which was doubled at $21,000 per trip! Trips to Italy and Amsterdam each garnered $18,000. An unparalleled 20-bottle collection of Chateau Gruaud Larose Grand Cru went for $16,000 and a rare wine lot featuring companion vineyards from Chateau Pichon Longueville went for $17,000. Another highlight was the “Fund-A-Need” to help provide comfort and care to patients by way of upgraded beds and patient room improvements. The goal was $200,000, which was surpassed by a combination of day of bidders and pre-event gifts to raise $205,000, with 100% of these donations going directly to the Hospital.

“This year’s Winesong had a different layout than in the past, and one of the main purposes was to encourage general admission ticketholders to register for bidder paddles and join the fun,” says Jamie Peters, Event Director for Winesong. “And I’m happy to say that it worked! We had more new bidders than ever and are encouraged ourselves to continue to make it easy and convenient for all guests to participate in the auctions as well as the beautiful tasting.”

Other highlights from the live and silent auction include:

Lot 12: Artist of the Year art piece – “Barn Song” – a 30” x 30” Bas Relief – $14,000
Lot 16A: A surprise lot courtesy of Ann & Dick Grace that includes dinner for 4 at The French Laundry and large format wines from Grace Family Vineyards – $12,000
Lot 22: “Sweethearts in Paradise” – a trip for two couples to Barbados – $13,000
Lot 24: 45” x 60” giclee on canvas by the late Lowell Herrero – $15,000

“We were thrilled with the results of Winesong 2017,” states Michelle Roberts, Executive Director of the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation. “The live auction tent was filled with energy as generous donors responded to the call to action to help us fund vital equipment at Mendocino Coast District Hospital. We thank everyone who helped make the day a success. The generosity around this event is truly awe-inspiring.”

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System and a Patient Bedside Monitoring & Alert system.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

MICHELIN New York City Guide and Launch of Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery Awards Coming to New York City

October 12, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

New York, New York (PRWEB) – Michelin and Robert Parker Wine Advocate are pleased to announce that, in conjunction with the release of the 13th edition of the MICHELIN Guide New York City for 2018, the inaugural Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery Awards will be introduced honoring the best wineries in USA.

At this occasion a gala dinner will be prepared by some of the most renowned chefs from Michelin starred restaurants around the country.

The MICHELIN Guide, known for its distinct red cover and coveted star designation, provides dining recommendations throughout the world based on the scrupulous reviews done by the “famously anonymous” Michelin inspectors. The 2018 US editions of the famed guide, which include San Francisco and the Bay Area, Chicago, Washington, DC and New York City, will be released starting in early October and will culminate in the New York City selection, to be announced on Oct. 30.

The gala will be the first collaborative event in the U.S. between Michelin and Robert Parker Wine Advocate, since Michelin’s stake in the highly regarded wine ratings publication in July. The gala will provide guests with an unforgettable dining experience, combining cuisine by chefs from Michelin starred restaurants and wines that have been rated highly by the Robert Parker team. “The United States is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, and the MICHELIN Guide’s aim is to help travelers as well as locals discover and experience them,” said Michael Ellis, international director of the MICHELIN Guide. “This event will be a great opportunity to recognize the talents of these great chefs, as well as to celebrate the MICHELIN guide New York City 2018”.

In addition, this very special event will also host the Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery Awards. This new series of winery awards will highlight the best wineries in the country. Annually, one winery from every major fine wine region of the world will be awarded a Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery Award. To be eligible, that region must have at least one winery producing at least one “extraordinary” wine (rated 96-100) within the consideration period. Representatives from nominated wineries will be in attendance.

“Each year our review team travels the wine world seeking out greatness,” commented Robert Parker Wine Advocate Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, “The Extraordinary Winery Awards will bring to the attention of our subscribers those wineries that sit qualitatively above all others within their regions.”

More information about the gala dinner are available on the website: MichelinGuideGala.com

About the MICHELIN Guide
Thanks to the rigorous MICHELIN Guide selection process that is applied independently and consistently around 28 countries, the MICHELIN Guide has become an international benchmark in fine dining. The selections of all restaurants in the guide are made by Michelin’s famously anonymous inspectors who dine in the areas regularly. These local inspectors are trained to scrupulously apply the same time-tested methods used by Michelin inspectors for many decades throughout the world. This ensures a uniform, international standard of excellence. As a further guarantee of complete objectivity, Michelin inspectors pay all their bills in full, and only the quality of the cuisine is evaluated. To fully assess the quality of a restaurant, the inspectors apply five criteria defined by Michelin: product quality, preparation and flavors, the chef’s personality as revealed through his or her cuisine, value for money, and consistency over time and across the entire menu. These objective criteria are respected by all MICHELIN Guide inspectors, whether in Japan, the United States, China or Europe. They guarantee a consistent selection so that a star restaurant has the same value regardless of whether it is located in Paris, New York or Tokyo.

About Robert Parker Wine Advocate
For more than 39 years, The Wine Advocate, and later RobertParker.com, have been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by the internationally recognized, Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries – France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 300,000 professional wine ratings and reviews, in addition to articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews and much more. For more information, visit http://www.RobertParker.com.

Diplomático Rum Nominated for Prestigious Wine Star Award

September 28, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

New York, New York (PRWEB) – Diplomático Rum proudly announces a top nomination for Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Award as Spirit Brand of the Year. Recognized as one of the finest rums in the world, Diplomático holds the DOC Rum certification from Venezuela and has become one of the international standards when speaking of premium and super premium rums. The Wine Star Awards are considered one of the most prestigious awards in the alcoholic beverage industry, and Diplomático Rum is honored to be recognized in the awards’ only spirits category.

Each year, the editors of Wine Enthusiast honor the individuals and companies that have made outstanding achievements in the wine and beverage world. This year, the awards will take place on January 29 in Miami at the Nobu Eden Roc Hotel. Diplomático Rum’s nomination is recognized in good company; the other nominees include Bruichladdich, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Jefferson’s Bourbon and Luxardo.

“I am thrilled to announce the nominees for the 18th Annual Wine Star Awards,” says Adam Strum, Editor and Publisher. “Each year, I work with our global editorial team to tap top individuals and companies notably driving trends and creating impact in the consumer and trade wine, spirits and beer spaces. I look forward to celebrating the winners as we once again host the Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards at the stunning Nobu Eden Roc Hotel.”

Nino Curbelo, Diplomático’s Export Manager in North America says, “We are honored to be chosen as a Wine Star Award finalist by Wine Enthusiast, a company so influential in the world of wine & spirits. For years Diplomático has prided itself in the excellence of our rums. From our unique and diverse distillation methods to our sustainable production processes, we strive to make rums that consumers can feel good about drinking. We are proud to accept this nomination as a testament to the quality of our rums,” said Curbelo.

About Rum Diplomático (http://www.rondiplomatico.com)
Rum Diplomático, a brand inspired by the character of Don Juan Nieto Melendez, is a super-premium rum hailing from Venezuela. Located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the Diplomático Distillery (producing top-quality spirits since 1959) combines traditional methods with modern technology to produce the finest of rums. The production area boasts great conditions for sugar production including fertile lands, abundant water and favorable weather. Their team of award-winning Master Blenders work diligently to create unique and complex rums. The product range consists of the New Tradition Range: Planas (aged up to 6 years), Mantuano (aged up to 8 years) and Reserva Exclusiva (aged up to 12 years), and the Prestige Line: Single Vintage 2002 and Ambassador, both are aged 12 years and finished in sherry casks for one and two years respectively.

Vintage Eve Circa 5/2014: Six out of 661 Questions for Wine 661

September 19, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

To keep myself busy while caring for my injured-yet-again spouse, satisfied more by angry single malt Scotch than the doctor prescribed Vicodin, I called Tanya Green, the new owner of Wine 661 to find out what new things they are offering the SCV wine drinking public, myself copiously included.

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Okay Tanya, I have been to this location before, when it was Wine Savor and now as Wine 661. Jeff Jacobson, chair of the SCV Wine Classic, suggested that I talk to you as he holds you in high regard as the new owner. Want to tell West Ranch Beacon readers what your wine story is?

My “wine story” is pretty simple…I love wine so I bought a wine bar, but my passion for wine began by going tasting. I love listening to the experts explain how the grapes were grown and fermented; why I’ll taste certain things because of the composition of the soil, that fruit grown on mountain tops develops thicker skins because of its proximity to the sun and therefore has more character than thin-skinned grapes.

I also have a strange fascination/respect for grapes that are difficult to grow, so those are the wines I’m most interested in. Everything about wine fascinates me from the farming of the grapes to the finished product, which makes owning a wine bar, like being a kid in a candy shop! I love it!

I understand you are serving beers as well as wine; what are some of your customer’s favorites from both?

To me, it was important to be able to carry something other than wine just in case a “beer guy” was dragged in by his wife. That’s why I spent months tasting beer from all over the world to put together, what I think, is the best beer list in town.

I carry rare, hard-to-get beers and artisan ales from Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Oregon, Santa Barbara and Maine. Each of my beers has won some sort of award from “Best Hefeweizen” to “Best Beer in the World.”

Schonramer Gold, for example, is a German Pilsner that won “Best Beer in the World” for 13 straight years and had to be removed from the contest to allow another beer the opportunity to win. I’m proud to carry a beer that good, and, I personally have grown to love beer as much, if not more, than wine.

My personal favorite is a cork-finished 750ml bottle of Belgian Farmhouse Ale called Saison Dupont. It’s gold and hoppy and has lots of personality. I pride myself on carrying beers that no one else carries and in most cases, beers that no one’s even heard of.

This may be off-putting to Coors Light lovers but I don’t mind. I want adventurous drinkers in here. Those that know what they like but can get excited to try something new. Nothing excites me more than transforming a Coors Light drinker into a beer snob!

What’s new now that you’ve taken over?

Wine 661 was a great spot long before I took it over. The ambience is comfortable and cozy and in my opinion, the best in the Valley, but I can’t take credit for that.

What I can take credit for, is a great appetizer list; including some amazing gourmet cheeses from all over the world (my fave is the five-year aged Gouda and the Spanish Blue cheese) as well as artisanal meats from near and far.

I’ve also changed the beer and wine lists and am proud of both. I promise to always rotate my beer and wine inventory so that my regulars never get bored and to carry both inexpensive as well as high-end beer and wines.

Tell readers what’s on your menu and any specials:

The most popular items on my menu are my cheese and chocolate flights. For the “Cheese Flight,” I’ve paired three red wines with gourmet cheeses that compliment them. Cave-aged blue cheese is paired with a phenomenal Merlot. The semi-hard, Manchego from Spain is paired with a complex and delicious Tempranillo and finally a 5 year aged Gouda is paired with a California Zinfandel. The “Chocolate Flight” is the same idea; three reds paired with three different E.Guittard chocolates with different cocoa contents. I think of it as delicious and fun.

Your employee Kirsten is a delight. She poured us some very different water to go with our wine, what’s that about?

The water at Wine 661 has taken on a life of its own. I’ve always loved spa water infused with various fruits (the combinations are endless) so I take filtered tap water and infuse it with cucumber and lemon. It’s refreshing and different and people freak out over it. I serve it chilled in a frosted 750 ml wine bottle over ice. I recently had a customer visit a resort in Hawaii where similar water was served by the pool. When she tried theirs, she told the pool-side waitress that ‘while it was good, it wasn’t as good as the water at Wine 661.’

Tell us what your customers can expect as far as service?

I don’t think anyone can possibly care about their guests as much as the owner so I try to be here six days per week to ensure that everyone who walks through the door has a good experience. I like to have a good time and not take myself too seriously, and I think the service here reflects that. We’re pretty down to earth so people will always feel comfortable and at ease. We get to know our guests and over time we become like family with many of our regulars. I try to remember everyone’s name although I usually find it easier to remember their wine preference. The service here is personal and nowhere near stuffy. There is a certain sophistication that comes with serving and selling wine but this is a casual environment meant for a having a great time and good laugh!

Well, now that now that your palate is whetted by the wine, beer and water at Wine 661, in the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Now…go!

Halter Ranch’s Lucas Pope: The First Vineyard Manager Named to Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40

September 18, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles, Calif. – Halter Ranch Vineyard in Paso Robles, is proud to announce that its Vineyard Manager, Lucas Pope, has been named to Wine Enthusiast’s coveted 40 Under 40 List in the upcoming October 2017 issue. Pope is first vineyard manager to ever make the list.

“I couldn’t be more pleased that the work — that our entire team at Halter has quietly been doing for years — is being recognized by the editors at Wine Enthusiast,” says Pope, 35.

The 40 Under 40 list is normally made up of winemakers, sommeliers, and wine media influencers. Pope was named to the list for his, and Winemaker Kevin Sass’s groundbreaking and innovative work in helping Halter Ranch beat back Red Blotch, a slow-progressing disease that over time can destroy grapevines, which is running rampant in Calfornia. Not only has Pope helped lead Halter’s efforts, he has been proactive in consulting and sharing his best practices with other wineries throughout California, notes Wine Enthusiast.

“Not only has Lucas and Kevin (Sass) helped guard our vineyards, we’ve also managed to keep improving markedly Halter’s wine quality, with every vintage, while doing it,” says Skylar Stuck, Halter Ranch’s general manager. “It all begins in the vineyard, and this award honors the creative work we’ve been doing there.”

About Halter Ranch Vineyard
Halter Ranch Vineyard, a historic property on the west side of Paso Robles, draws on both innovation and rich tradition in crafting world-class wines. Located in the heart of California’s Central Coast, the winery specializes in estate-grown Bordeaux and Rhône Valley varietals and blends. It has earned California’s prestigious SIP certification (Sustainability in Practice) for its environmentally responsible viticulture and winemaking practices. Their primary wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, CDP (a Rhône style blend), Grenache Blanc, Rosé and the Estate Reserve, Ancestor (Bordeaux-style blend). To learn more about the winery and vineyard, please visit www.halterranch.com.

Alta Colina Wins Sunset Magazine’s Travel Award

August 28, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The Paso Robles winery and its vintage-trailer vineyard-camping experience is honored with a Best of the West award in the August issue.

August 2017 (Paso Robles, Calif.) – Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery is pleased to announce it has won a 2017 Sunset Magazine “Best in the West” Travel Award – and is the only winery to be honored this year.

The award – which highlights the wine and its new vintage-trailer campground located on a secluded hilltop in the winery’s estate vineyard – is featured, along with a photo, in the August 2017 issue, on newsstands now.

The Sunset Travel Awards honors the top game-changing and stylish destinations and experiences across the 13 Western states, British Columbia, Alberta and Western Mexico. In addition to being the sole winery honored, Alta Colina Vineyard was the only Central Coast destination in this year’s awards.

The Trailer Pond is situated around a secluded pond nestled in the center of Alta Colina’s organic estate vineyard, and boasts five refurbished vintage trailers by Templeton-based Tinker Tin Trailer Co. Guests wake up to stunning, unobstructed views of Paso Robles’ famous Adelaida District, enjoy coffee among the vines, and savor lazy wine-tasting days strolling through the vine rows.

The vineyard-camping experience – the only one of its kind in California – includes a complimentary tasting of Alta Colina’s Rhône-inspired estate wines, and offers additional tours and experiences, including the Summit Vineyard Tasting , Cellar Door Tasting, and more.

“This one-of-a-kind partnership with Tinker Tin allows us to share, in a wholly unique way, the backbone of Alta Colina’s foundation: our secluded, award-winning estate vineyard,” says Maggie Tillman, Alta Colina co-owner and director of sales and marketing. “We are overjoyed Sunset Magazine has honored us with this award, and hope more people will get to experience our breathtaking views, stylish accommodations, and award-winning estate wines.”

For more information about Alta Colina, and to book your stay at California’s only vintage trailer vineyard campsite, please visit altacolinawine.com.

ABOUT ALTA COLINA
Alta Colina produces world-class Rhône varieties from its vibrant estate vineyard in the Adelaida District of west Paso Robles. With a dedication to organic farming practices, Alta Colina crafts critically acclaimed wines that reflect and honor the land. For more information, please visit, altacolinawine.com, or visit the tasting room at 2825 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles.

Follow Us:

Facebook: @AltaColina
Instagram: @Altacolina, #TrailerPond
ABOUT TINKER TIN TRAILER CO.
Tinker Tin Trailer Company specializes in vintage trailer rentals ranging from the 1920s-1960s used for events, production, camp outs, and more. Their rental collection consists of Vintage Trailer Bars, Vintage Vending Trailers, Vintage Trailer Photo Booths, Vintage campers for overnight stays, as well as Tipis and Tents. Based out of the Central Coast, with USA wide travel- Tinker Tin’s historic vintage trailers are a great addition to any event. www.tinkertin.com.

buzzbox™ Wins Platinum and Gold from 2017 International SIP Awards

August 24, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Palm Desert, California (PRWEB) – buzzbox™ beverages, inc., the first eco-friendly beverage manufacturing company that creates ready-to-drink premium cocktails, received three award recognitions from the 2017 Spirits International Prestige (SIP) Awards. The buzzbox™ Classic Cosmo™ and Cuban Mojito™ cocktails won Platinum, and the Perfect Margarita™ cocktail won Gold in the Pre-Mixed Cocktails (RTD) category.

The 2017 SIP Awards, held in Newport Beach, California in May, was its largest blind tasting competition to date with over 670 spirit brands competing for the awards based on merits of taste, aroma and finish by unbiased consumers. Judges are carefully vetted to guarantee reliable results, and were presented with undiluted and chilled spirit samples in unmarked glasses.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the prestigious SIP Awards for our premium, all-natural ready-to-drink cocktails,” said Rod Vandenbos, founder and CEO of buzzbox™ “All three cocktails that we entered were awarded, and we received three out of the 10 awards in the pre-mixed cocktail category. This is not only a testament to our convenient, single-serve premium beverages, but to our top-quality flavor as well.”

Headquartered in Palm Desert, California, buzzbox™ creates single-serve cocktails in recyclable, eco-friendly packaging with no preservatives or artificial flavors. Vegan Friendly, Kosher, Gluten Free and Non-GMO, buzzbox™ cocktails are the world’s first and finest eco-friendly cocktails. The proprietary packaging allows for its beverages to be poured over ice or consumed directly from the box with an attached straw, making it the first “complete drink experience” in a green and energy efficient package.

buzzbox™ is now in the running for the 2018 Consumer’s Choice Award (CCA), which is presented to brands that demonstrate the ultimate quality to consumers year after year.

Over the last two years, buzzbox™ has won awards in the ready-to-drink (RTD) category from Craft Spirt Awards, Micro Liquor Spirit Awards, LA International Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

buzzbox™ released its eight (8) premium cocktails in the summer of 2016, which included the Perfect Margarita, Classic Greyhound, Long Island Cocktail, Extreme Coconut Cocktail, the Classic Cosmo, Cuban Mojito, Bloody Mary and Whiskey Lemonade. To purchase buzzbox cocktails visit: http://www.buzzbox.com to find the nearest retail or online store.

About buzzbox™ beverages, inc.
buzzbox™ was founded in 2013 by Rod Vandenbos. The first-of-its-kind beverage manufacturing company creates premium, single-serve, ready-to-drink cocktails in recyclable, eco-friendly and energy efficient packaging. buzzbox cocktails are handcrafted premium drinks, made with only natural ingredients. There are no preservatives or artificial flavors. buzzbox cocktails are produced in aseptic packaging, giving products a shelf life of over 18 months. buzzbox™ is headquartered in Palm Desert, California. For more information or to become a distributor, visit http://www.buzzbox.com.

About the SIP Awards
The SIP Awards provides a unique judging competition for spirit brands to gain exposure, feedback, and recognition from unbiased consumers. As the only blind tasting competition of its kind, the SIP Awards offer a fair platform for top brands to showcase their products to their most discerning audience. To learn more about the SIP Awards beverage competition, venue partnerships, or for a complete list of 2017 winners, visit https://sipawards.com/.

Results of Airline Wine Competition Released

August 23, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Yardley, Pa. (PRWEB) August 2017 – Global Traveler, the only AAM-audited magazine for luxury business and leisure travelers, releases the results of its 13th annual Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition.

Air Canada Unveils New Livery Inspired by Canada (CNW Group/Air Canada)

The competition, held June 8, took place at City Winery in New York City. Expert judges participated in the blind tasting of 32 airlines’ white, red and sparkling wines. The judges hailed from a wide range of specialties, including sommeliers, wine shop owners and winemakers. In total, 28 Champagnes/sparkling wines, 56 white wines and 61 red wines were tasted.

Airlines are required to submit five different wines — two red wines, two white wines and one sparkling wine/Champagne — to be eligible for the overall Best International Business Class Wines on the Wing award or the Best International First Class Wines on the Wing award. For the first time in 2017, Global Traveler awarded gold, silver and bronze awards in each category. This year, the overall winner for Best International Business Class Wines on the Wing was Air Canada, and the winner for Best International First Class Wines on the Wing was Asiana Airlines.

In the white wine category, Best International Business Class White Wine was tied for Jurtschitsch Grüner Veltliner 2016, Austria, submitted by Air Canada, and Steininger Grüner Veltliner 2015, Austria, submitted by Brussels Airlines. For first class, the winner was EL AL Israel Airlines with Vitkin Winery Grenache Blanc 2015, Israel.

The best business-class Champagne was Aeroflot’s Ayala Brut Majeur, NV. The best first-class Champagne was United Airlines’ Joseph Perrier Brut Cuvée Royale 2004. TAP Portugal’s Luis Pato Blanc de Blancs, NV, won Best International Business Class Sparkling Wine.

When it came to red wine, Asiana Airlines reigned supreme in the first-class category with Gran Claustro 2011, Spain, and All Nippon Airways took the No. 1 business-class spot with Drumheller Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Washington.

For the ninth consecutive year, Global Traveler awarded the Best North American Wines on the Wing. North American airlines submitted first-class and business-class wine samples, depending on their domestic flight offerings.

American Airlines was named Best North American First Class/Business Class Wines on the Wing, and also won for its red wine, La Ferme du Côtes du Rhône 2014, France, and its white wine, Domaine de la Chaise Sauvignon 2016, France. Hawaiian Airlines’ Flor Prosecco, NV, Italy, won Best North American Champagne/Sparkling Wine.

For the seventh year, Global Traveler awarded the Best Alliance Wines on the Wing. The participating airlines were divided by their airline alliance. The overall points for each airline were tallied and averaged to determine the alliance with the highest total. Congratulations to oneworld, represented by airberlin, American Airlines and British Airways.

Competition director Eunice Fried spent months preparing for the blind tasting. Fried, an accomplished wine journalist and respected wine expert, resides in New York City.

Global Traveler is the only U.S.-based publication to conduct such a survey in the United States.

The top airlines in each category are:

BEST INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS WINES ON THE WING
GOLD Air Canada
SILVER Brussels Airlines
BRONZE TAP Portugal
4. airberlin
5. Aeroflot

BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS WINES ON THE WING
GOLD Asiana Airlines
SILVER British Airways
BRONZE United Airlines
4. Singapore Airlines
5. American Airlines

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
GOLD Aeroflot
SILVER All Nippon Airways
BRONZE Delta Air Lines
4. Brussels Airlines/Hainan Airlines (TIE)
5. airberlin

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
GOLD United Airlines
SILVER American Airlines
BRONZE Singapore Airlines
4. Asiana Airlines
5. British Airways

BEST SPARKLING WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
GOLD TAP Portugal
SILVER Alitalia
BRONZE Hawaiian Airlines

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
GOLD Air Canada/Brussels Airlines (TIE)
SILVER Air Serbia
BRONZE United Airlines
4. Singapore Airlines
5. TAP Portugal

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
GOLD EL AL Israel Airlines
SILVER All Nippon Airways/Asiana Airlines (TIE)
BRONZE British Airways
4. Singapore Airlines/American Airlines (TIE)
5. American Airlines

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
GOLD All Nippon Airways
SILVER American Airlines
BRONZE Aeromexico
4. TAP Portugal
5. Brussels Airlines

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
GOLD Asiana Airlines
SILVER Asiana Airlines
BRONZE Singapore Airlines
4. United Airlines
5. British Airways

BEST NORTH AMERICAN WINES ON THE WING
GOLD American Airlines
SILVER JetBlue
BRONZE Delta Air Lines

BEST NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE
GOLD Hawaiian Airlines
SILVER Delta Air Lines/JetBlue (TIE)
BRONZE Virgin America

BEST NORTH AMERICAN RED WINE
GOLD American Airlines
SILVER JetBlue
BRONZE Delta Air Lines

BEST NORTH AMERICAN WHITE WINE
GOLD American Airlines
SILVER United Airlines
BRONZE JetBlue

BEST ALLIANCE WINES ON THE WING
GOLD oneworld
SILVER Star Alliance
BRONZE SkyTeam

For more information on the competition, check out the August 2017 issue of Global Traveler or visit globaltravelerusa.com.

About Global Traveler
With nearly 300,000 readers, Global Traveler connects with U.S.-based frequent, affluent, international travelers. According to MediaMark Research (MRI), GT readers have an average net worth of $2 million and 50 percent are CEOs and owners of companies. Our readers average nine domestic flights per year and 93 percent travel internationally on a regular basis, mostly in first and business class. More than 55 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average 60 nights per year. Four special editions — Leisure Lifestyle Edition, Global City Guidebook, Class Act Guide and The Trazee Book — complement 12 monthly issues. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, the Leisure Lifestyle Awards and the Wines on the Wing awards.

About Global Traveler Digital
Global Traveler’s website, globaltravelerusa.com, which unveiled a new design in late 2016, offers unique daily content catering to the lifestyle and travel interests of our audience of premium travelers. Other digital offerings include eFlyer USA (20,000 double-opt-in subscribers); eFlyer Asia (4,000 Asia-based, double-opt-in subscribers); custom e-newsletters; sponsored content; Publisher’s Picks, GT on the Go and Premium eDeal e-newsletters; and a weekly On the Road with Global Traveler slideshow. More than 80,000 visitors monthly rely on globaltravelerusa.com as their travel resource.

About FXExpress Publications, Inc.
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, eFlyer USA, eFlyer Asia, Trazee Travel, WhereverFamily and several annuals; and also operating globaltravelerusa.com, globaltravelerusa.com/blog, trazeetravel.com and whereverfamily.com.

Khortytsa Vodka Wins Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

August 3, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

San Francisco, CA & New York, NY – Khortytsa Platinum Vodka took the Gold at the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Founded in 2000, the SFWSC is one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions of its kind. All results can be viewed at: http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/overview.

Photo: Newswire.com

According the SFWSC website, the award is a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship: “Products awarded a Gold medal are exceptional. They are near the pinnacle of achievement in their particular category. They are products that set the standard for all others of their type.”

“The Khortytsa Distillery has been recognized as one of the world’s best distilleries. Only 19 of the world’s leading distilleries have been recognized with this high honor. Moreover, this award comes on the heels of several big wins over the past few months including gold medals at the Denver International Spirits Competition, the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, the New York International Spirits Competition and awards from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.

Gold winner Khortytsa Platinum is the most popular item in the Khortytsa line and retails for $11.99 per 750-mL. There are three other items in the line including Khortytsa Ice, which took a Silver Medal in the competition, and has a bottle color that changes when chilled; it retails for $11.99 per 750-mL. Khortytsa Honey Pepper, offers a spicy zing to a variety of cocktails and retails for $11.99 per 750-mL, and Khortytsa De Luxe, appreciated by vodka connoisseurs, is a “super premium” vodka with a suggested retail of $24.99 for a 750-mL bottle.

Khortytsa Vodka, commonly referred to as Khor, has been gaining ground in numerous markets since its introduction in the United States just a few short years ago. It is currently the third-largest selling vodka brand worldwide.

Ukraine’s famed Khortytsa (Hor-Ti-Tsa) Distillery named after Khortytsa Island, the “heart of Ukrane.” This ancient island’s history dates back thousands of years and reaches the roots of civilization. It is considered a sacred place in Ukraine and is one of the country’s seven wonders.

Built in 2003, the Khortytsa Distillery uses a local organic filter containing schungite (a unique natural mineral) which allows it to get as close as possible to the structure of natural water. The filtration process is further enhanced with special birch and alder-tree charcoal and quartz sand.

About Global Spirits USA

A Fortune 500 Company in Europe, Global Spirits was established in 2008 and has offices in New York, Moscow and Kiev, employing over 5,000 people. The company’s annual volume exceeds 10 million cases, with distribution in over 80 countries. Global Spirits USA markets and distributes strategic brands including: Khortytsa Vodka (3rd largest selling international vodka brand*), LEAF Organic Vodka, and Odessa V.S.O.P. Brandy.

Travel + Leisure Names Écluse of Paso Robles A Top 25 Must-Visit Vineyard

July 20, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles, Calif. – Écluse Wines, a boutique, family-owned winery located on the Westside of Paso Robles, was just named a Top 25 American destination winery by Travel + Leisure magazine.

The recent story, The Top Vineyards All Around the U.S., names Écluse Wines as No. 9 of the 25 wineries listed. Écluse was the only Paso Robles producer to make the list.

“What an honor!” says Steve Lock, winemaker and proprietor of Écluse Wines and Lock Vineyard, along with his wife, Pam. “We have always focused on both the quality of our small-production wines and the intimate experience we love to provide in our tasting room and vineyard for our visitors. We truly feel that this article was really a people’s choice award due to the way the top vineyards were selected.”

To create their must-visit winery list, Travel + Leisure editors used a combination of on-the-ground reporting and an analysis of Yelp reviews. The parameters included quality of wine, winery atmosphere and beauty, service, and overall approachability.

“Whether travelers are heading out to learn how wine grapes are grown or just trying to test out all the samples they can, these favorite vineyards can cater to all different tastes,” Travel + Leisure’s Cailey Rizzo says in the article.

Along with its award-winning wines year to year, Écluse is also the proud recipient of the Sweepstakes Award from the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of American wines in the world, where its 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon was named Best Red Wine. You can enjoy their award winning wines in the tasting room that overlooks Lock Vineyard. Tastings take place in the barrel room, offering a unique tasting experience focused on educating their guests, while highlighting their barrel program and winemaking style.

For more information on Écluse Wines, and to plan your visit, please go to EcluseWines.com.