NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA—The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has announced the winners of the 2021 Culinary Awards. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, a distinguished panel of judges visited each restaurant before the event to chat with the chef, taste his/her dish and shoot a professional photograph of the entry. The votes were compiled, and the winners were revealed during NOWFE’s Grand Tasting events on Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12 at The Sugar Mill.
“It was so wonderful to have our chefs and attendees back together at The Sugar Mill this year,” said Aimee Brown, NOWFE Executive Director. “Our chefs presented dishes that proved to be outstanding and a diverse culinary representation of all that our City has to offer.”
This year’s winners are…
BEST OF SHOW
SAVORY – Chef Amarys Koenig Herndon and Chef Jordan Herndon, Palm & Pine
Corner Store Tuna Crudo with Big Shot Pineapple Nuoc Cham and Shrimp Chips
SWEET – Marielle Dupre & Nicole Eiden, Windowsill Pies
Brandied Cherry Pie
SOUPS AND STEWS
GOLD – Chef Matt Farmer, Trenasse
Fowl Gumbo – Chicken, Duck and Turkey, Housemade Andouille with Garlic Rice and Turkey Crackling
MEAT & POULTRY
GOLD (tie) – Chef Jesus Arguelles, Red Lotus at L’Auberge Baton Rouge
Korean Bulgogi with Crawfish Fried Rice and Housemade Kimchi
GOLD (tie) – Chef Tom Wolfe, Rib Room at the Royal Orleans
Crispy Pork Belly, Sultana Risotto, Sweetened Goat Cheese, Rocket and Tamarind Molasses Glaze
SEAFOOD
GOLD – Chef Valeriano Chiella, Domenica
Smoked Scallop Carpione: Bottarga, Calabrian Chili, and Preserved Lemon
SILVER – Chef Jason Caronna, Rizzuto’s Ristorante
Seared Diver Scallop and Pork Belly with Malbec Caramel over a Mascarpone – Creamed Corn Risotto with Crispy Fried Okra
BRONZE – Geordie Brower, Palace Café
Crabmeat Cheesecake
SEAFOOD (Raw)
GOLD – Chef Brett Monteleone, Junior’s on Harrison
Scallop Crudo with Cantaloupe Miso, Togarashi Candied Peanuts, Watermelon Radish and Micro – Cilantro
SILVER – Chef Ciera Fultz, Vyoone’s
Citrus Tuna Tartare with red onion avocado and mango, garnished with microgreens and edible flowers, and served with housemade red potato chips
BRONZE – Poke Loa
Fresh Ahi Tuna Bowl with white rice, spring mix, zucchini noodles seasoned with tamari, sesame oil, and chili paste topped with crab salad, seaweed salad, sesame seeds, baby cucumbers, sweet onion, edamame, furikake, and red tobiko
HONORABLE MENTION – Legacy Kitchen Craft Tavern
Salmon Poke: Salmon Belly with Spicy Ponzu, Sesame on a Fried Wonton with Mango and Micro Cilantro
HONORABLE MENTION – Poke Loa
Salmon Poke Bowl with seaweed salad, crab salad, baby cucumbers, sweet onion, green tobiko, and macadamia nuts
LAGNIAPPE
GOLD – Chef Corey Thomas, Shaya
Vegan Devils on Horseback – dates Medjool, walnut tehwiche, and mushroom “bacon”
SILVER – Chef Ross Dover, Restaurant August
Charred Carrot Agnolotti with Crispy Garlic, Cream Cheese, and Sage
BRONZE (tie) – Chef Prince Lobo, Addis Nola
Bayentu-Misir Wot, Atakilt, Gomen, Keysir with Shiro and Injera
BRONZE (tie) – Chef Brandon Felder, Centerplate
NOLA Carbonara- Housemade Squid Ink Spaghetti, Champagne Cream Sauce, Crispy Pork Belly, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Sous Vide Egg, and Golden Pea Shoot Petals
HONORABLE MENTION – Chef Nathaniel Zimet, Boucherie
Jerked Avocado Tamale with Charred Squash Cream and Cured Salmon Belly
HONORABLE MENTION – Chef Peter Isaac, Briquette
Salmon Pate on Toasted Bread Rounds
HONORABLE MENTION – Oceana Grill/Mambo’s
Crab Cake Bites with Crawfish Mushroom Cream Sauce
LAGNIAPPE (Sandwich)
GOLD – Chef Martha Wiggins, Café Reconcile
Fried Chicken Sandwich- Pickle Brined Thigh, Crab Boil Mayo, Bibb Lettuce, and House Made Dill Pickle on a Grilled Sweet Potato Rosemary Bun
SILVER – Chef Tung Nguyen, Em Trai Sandwich Co.
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Bao with a Crispy Wonton Chip
BRONZE – Chef Casey Levy, Mahony’s
Chilled Shrimp, Avocado & Beer Battered Blue Crab Louie Po-boy
DESSERTS
GOLD – Chef Matt Farmer and Martha Gilreath, Trenasse
Pop Pop Fizz Fizz with blood orange curd, gin compressed peaches, cardamom shortbread, orange blossom, and juniper mousse with pop rocks
Named USA Today’s 10Best for Best General Food Festival and Best Wine Festival, the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has showcased the culinary excellence in our community for over 29 years alongside national and international wines at wine dinners in many of the city’s finest restaurants; at VINOLA, a premium tasting event; at dozens of culinary Labs and demonstrations; and ultimately at the Grand Tastings. NOWFE is a non-profit organization with proceeds going to causes that support culinary education. It has raised more than $1.5 million for local non-profit organizations. www.nowfe.com.
Eve Gets In On: The 47th Annual US Amateur Wine Competition with Cellarmasters LA
What do you know about home winemaking? Or better yet, what do you know about judging home winemaking efforts? I learned about both when I was installed as a judge for the 47th Annual US Amateur Wine Competition put on by Cellarmasters LA. Check out the Competition Score Sheet (photo) that covered a lot of information. These winemakers are not just looking for a medal, they also want to learn from the reasons why we awarded a particular Gold, Silver, Bronze, Honorable Mention or none at all.
From fellow judge and friend, Denise Lowe, Goddess of Wine I learned that “The Cellarmasters have been doing it for a long time, and they’ve got their system worked out. The most important difference between professional competitions and home winemakers is that you want to encourage the winemakers to improve, so whatever ranking you decide on (Gold, Silver, Bronze, No Medal), your notes should reflect your decision, and you are free to suggest improvement ideas, if you so choose. The winemakers get copies of the scoring sheets, so they see how the decisions were made.”
In the past competitions I’ve worked on it’s been more like speed dating: aroma, taste, evaluate, score and move on as you usually have quite a lot to taste in a flight. Once you have completed evaluating your flight you then go back and discuss each wine with your panel – and be prepared to defend any medal you may have awarded. All of the judges, and this was the same for Cellarmasters, have to agree on the medal, and in some rare cases when a wine is faulty, the non-medal.
So this is how it was for me with Cellarmasters. Before we got started with our panel and the serious work of studying our wine samples, we got a great lesson on how to use the Cellarmaster Home Winemaking Competition Score Sheet with member Andy Coradeschi. We were to start with 20 points for each wine and take away half or full points if a wine didn’t hit the mark in several categories. If you look at the photo you can see all of the categories we were to study and evaluate. The area on the right side of the form, the empty boxes, are for us to share some of our thoughts with the winemakers that would be getting a copy of all of our notes. Some were thoughts on how to improve the wine, and some were specific positive and negatives we wanted to make sure they knew. (I asked if I could take some blank score sheets home to share with wine friends that may want to use in any wine tasting, of course they said yes.)
We had about 17 wines per day to judge, red Rhônes the first day and whites the second. Didn’t seem like very much to me, but in using the score sheet and being aware that the winemakers would be reading them, I took quite a bit of time really thinking about what I thought of a particular wine, and of course, if the winemaker may benefit from my notes. Many of the wines were sent in solely for feedback and it was a learning process for the winemakers. (Another long-standing judge confirmed this.) It was a great learning process for me as well and I look forward to honing my skills again with the group.
And on the wines, just a splash, we had a killer blood-orange colored Black Muscat. It was our final wine on the last day and it hit all of the sweet spots for our panel. Yep, we gave it a Gold Medal.
The Cellarmasters Mission Statement: The Cellarmasters of Los Angeles Home Winemaking Club is dedicated to educating, improving, and spreading the craft of home winemaking. The Club has sponsored and presented the Annual U.S. Amateur Home Winemaking Competition for the past 47 years.
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 16k 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.
Tommy Bahama Spirits Wins A Remarkable Six Awards At The 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including Double Gold
CASHMERE, WASH. (PRWEB) – Coral Cay Beverage Group is thrilled to announce that Tommy Bahama Spirits was recognized with a remarkable six (6) medals at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). The SFWSC honored Tommy Bahama Mango Vodka with Double Gold (Unanimous “Gold” by 30+ judges), Tommy Bahama Copper Finished Vodka a Gold Medal, Tommy Bahama Island Gin a Silver Medal, Tommy Bahama No.2 Rum a Silver Medal, Tommy Bahama Cucumber Vodka a Bronze Medal and finally Tommy Bahama Rye with a Bronze Medal. With these six new medals, Tommy Bahama Spirits extends its run of medalling with every Spirit it enters in every competition.
About San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the oldest and most reputable competitions of its kind. Every year, esteemed judges from around the world come together to engage in the blind tasting process that ensures every entry is judged fairly. The judges of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are seasoned experts of their industry, each with a well-defined story and trusted palate.
About Coral Cay Beverage Group
Coral Cay Beverage Group utilizes every known distillation known to science including, cold distillation to achieve the brightest flavor and aromatic essences from each individual botanical. Currently producing distilled spirits, Ready to drink vodka + sparkling water, wine spritzers, ready to serve cocktails and craft beer. Coral Cay Beverage Group takes Luxury Relaxation to a new level with products in 4/5 of the top trending beverage categories. To learn more about Coral Cay Beverage Group, please visit: https://www.coralcaybeveragegroup.com/, and follow along on Facebook.com/SipTheIslandLife + Instagram @TommyBahamaSpirits.
About Tommy Bahama Spirits
A lifestyle with no deadlines or demands, where one has the space to reconnect with simple pleasures; the world of Tommy Bahama offers the chance to breathe freely, live spontaneously, and relax in style. To this iconic brand, we add the bespoke beverage selections of Coral Cay Beverage Group, exclusively producing Tommy Bahama Spirits. A portfolio comprised of hand crafted spirits, a lineup of Travelers to take with you wherever relaxation happens!
Texas Whiskey Festival Crowns Best Texas Whiskeys
AUSTIN, TEXAS (PRWEB) – The Texas Whiskey Festival announces the winners of the annual competition of the best Texas Whiskeys.
Each year the Texas Whiskey Festival hosts a competition to determine who has the best Texas Bourbon, Rye, and Malt Whiskey. With a panel of judges, we conduct the competition with a method known as blind judging. The brands and specific whiskeys they are tasting are unknown to the judges. “Our panel of judges smell and taste their way through each whiskey, rating the aroma, taste complexity, and finish,” says Co-Founder Jake Clements.
Bourbon: Grain to Glass
- Gold – Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Texas Straight Bourbon
- Silver – Silver Star Spirits 1849 Straight Bourbon
- Bronze – Balcones Distilling Texas Pot Still Bourbon
Bourbon: Aged and Bottled in Texas
- Gold – Rebecca Creek 10 year Straight Bourbon
- Silver – Milam and Greene Triple Cask Straight Bourbon
- Bronze – Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery Select Bourbon
Rye Whiskey: Grain to Glass
- Gold – Balcones Distilling Texas Rye 100
- Silver – Gulf Coast Distilling Giant Rye 100
- Bronze – Ranger Creek Distilling .44 Texas Rye
Rye Whiskey: Aged and Bottled in Texas
- Gold – Treaty Oak Distilling Schenley Reserve Rye
- Silver – Yellow Rose Distilling Rye
- Bronze – Oak & Eden Rye & Spire
Malt Whiskey: Grain to Glass
- Gold – Ranger Creek Distilling Rimfire Mesquite Smoked Single Malt
- Silver – Andalusia Whiskey Co. Stryker Smoked Single Malt
- Bronze – Balcones Distilling Lineage Single Malt
Other Whiskeys: includes whiskeys aged in used barrels, blended whiskey, and light whiskey.
- Gold – Austin 101 Light Whiskey (made grain to glass in Texas)
- Silver – Remington Family Distillers Remington Revival
- Bronze – Rebecca Creek Small Batch
“These are their winners, but remember the best whiskey is the one you like,” says Co-Founder Jake Clements. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite distillery to decide on the people’s choice.
Thank you to the Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co for hosting us. A big thank you to our talented judges.
- Marianne Eaves, KY’s First Female Master Distiller, Founder of Eaves, LLC Whisk(e)y and Spirits Consulting and Curator of Eaves Blind.
- Gabrielle Pharms, Veteran journalist with bylines in/on Bourbon Plus, Whisky Advocate, Imbibe Magazine, UPROXX, and more.
- Tom Koerner the former Spirit Guide and General Manager of Seven Grand Whiskey Bar and Las Perlas Mezcaleria, Current Brand Ambassador for Mezcal Unión
About the Texas Whiskey Festival
The festival’s mission is simple: To help promote and enhance the brands of the many great distilleries throughout Texas. We want to promote and educate whiskey lovers about the whiskeys produced in our great state. We’re doing it all while having fun, drinking great whiskey, and building memorable experiences. As an organization, we know that Texas has some of the best distilleries and whiskeys globally. The Texas Whiskey Festival is an opportunity to showcase that. For more information, please visit https://txwhiskeyfest.com.
Kozuba and Sons Distillery Emerges as Industry Leader with Award-Winning Craft Spirits
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (PRWEB) – The Kozuba family began their humble distillation journey in Poland when Zbigniew “Papa” Kozuba, now Founder and Master Distiller, was tinkering with traditional Polish cordials. In 2014, Papa and his sons Matthias and Jacob Kozuba moved the operation to the states to build upon tradition, innovate, and grow their spirits business in the American market. Since their move, the Kozuba family has become one of Florida’s most well-respected and premier, family-owned craft distilleries. True to their reputation, Kozuba & Sons Distillery was named 2020 Florida Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition.
The New York International Spirits Competition 2020 Florida Distillery of the Year award recognizes the leadership of Kozuba & Sons Distillery, their expert craftsmanship and high-quality spirits created at their St. Petersburg-based facility. “We are very honored to have received this award,” Matthias Kozuba, Founder, CMO and Distiller says. “We have seen a lot of growth in the past six years, and we are proud of the premium spirits we craft, as we honor our family tradition.”
Kozuba & Sons Distillery utilizes recycled water, distributes spent grain to local farmers to eliminate waste, and operates their steam-heated stills by way of a gas-powered boiler to limit energy consumption. These measures reduce their overall emissions and set a positive example for the spirits industry. In addition, their B Square Vodka, Coast Vodka, and Camo Box Vodka all feature “bag-in-box” Better Planet Packaging. This packaging creates less pollution and has higher levels of recyclability. Along with their sustainable packaging, Kozuba & Sons Distillery aims to educate and encourage consumers to learn about sustainable packaging, recycled materials, and reducing package waste in the spirits industry.
“As a small, family-operated craft distillery, we are thoughtful with our approach to distilling our spirits, as well as the environmental impact of our operation,” says Papa. “From our packaging to our water use and energy conservation practices, we take a holistic approach to sustainability.”
Kozuba & Sons Distillery has received numerous accolades this year that honor their craft distillery and premium spirits. The arts and culture newspaper, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, bestowed upon them the “Best Distillery” award in their Best of the Bay Awards issue. And the New York International Spirits Competition yielded impressive results for their Kozuba High Wheat Rye Whiskey 6 Years Old, with a Gold Medal. They also received Bronze Medals for their Starkus Light Whiskey, Cranberry & Juniper Vodka, and corn-based Vodka. Now, as the 2020 Florida Distillery of the Year, Kozuba & Sons Distillery offers a variety of award-winning spirits, including vodka, whiskey, bourbon, and traditional Polish cordials.
About Kozuba & Sons Distillery
Founded in 2005 in Poland, Kozuba & Sons is a family-run distillery that produces premium spirits. Now at home in St. Petersburg with over 15 years of experience, the Kozubas are focused on sharing their passion with the American market, beginning with Florida. Kozuba & Sons’ handcrafted, small-batch spirits are made from the finest ingredients using meticulous processes. Each bottle possesses the trademark Kozuba essence: a striking combination of quality, craftsmanship, and taste. To learn more about the Kozuba & Sons Distillery, please visit http://www.kozubadistillery.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram: @KozubaDistillery
Oregon’s Domaine Serene Becomes the World’s Most Awarded Winery at Decanter’s 2020 World Wine Awards
DAYTON, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Domaine Serene is far and away the most awarded winery in the world at the prestigious Decanter 2020 World Wine Awards. This year, the Dundee Hills winery took home 23 medals including ‘Best in Show’ for their 2016 Domaine Serene Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 97 points. The winery also brought home four Gold medals, 17 Silver medals, and one Bronze medal, with five wines earning a remarkable 95 points or more. Domaine Serene was not alone in its success with additional rave reviews coming for Château de la Crée and Maison Evenstad, also owned by proprietors Grace and Ken Evenstad. Their two Burgundian wineries were bestowed with an additional nine medals including seven Silvers. Standing at the top, their 2017 Maison Evenstad, Premier Cru Beaurepaire Santenay, earned 95 points, besting several Grand Cru Burgundies in the tasting.
Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is widely considered to be the world’s most important international wine competition, making this recognition yet another big win for Oregon’s burgeoning luxury wine industry. With an elite international panel of judges, the DWWA began the painstaking task of evaluating over 16,500 wines from 56 countries in August. Over the course of 28 consecutive days, 118 expert wine judges, including 37 Masters of Wine and nine Master Sommeliers, bestowed the honor of most awarded winery to Domaine Serene.
“Ken and I are thrilled that Domaine Serene has received such incredible recognition across the board. To be the most awarded winery in the world at the DWWA is a testament to the quality of our vineyards and to the talent, hard work and dedication of our team,” said Grace Evenstad, Co-Founder and Owner of Domaine Serene. “To receive ‘Best in Show’ for our Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir is especially gratifying. We named the vineyard after our son, Mark Bradford Evenstad, and it was the first vineyard that we ever planted at Domaine Serene almost thirty years ago. Planting its high elevation slopes and west facing aspect went against advice from the local vintners, yet we knew it had the potential to make world-class wine and so we planted it anyway. It has always been one of my favorite wines and I have long appreciated the power, structure, and longevity of our Mark Bradford Pinot Noirs. We are thrilled that it has received such critical acclaim at such an important competition.”
“In its 17th year, the DWWA is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Judged by the top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous blind judging process and regional experts,” said Bree Stock, Master of Wine and Education Manager of the Oregon Wine Board. “It’s an enormous feat for a region like Oregon, that represents a fraction of US global exports, to receive ‘Best in Show’ along with the breadth of medals in such a prestigious competition. This award raises the profile and awareness of our region’s wines not only to Decanters’ highly informed consumer audience, but also to the global wine experts on the judging panel. Congratulations Domaine Serene.”
Domaine Serene took home a total of 23 medals from the elite London-based contest. In addition to being awarded ‘Best in Show’, the winery earned four Gold Medals for the 2016 ‘Aspect’ Pinot Noir, 2017 Clos de Lune Vineyard Chardonnay, and 2016 Etoile Vineyard Chardonnay, each earning 96 points, with its 2016 Two Barns Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 95 points. The Dundee Hills winery also brought home 17 Silver medals and one Bronze medal, more details can be found here. Domaine Serene wines have now earned 95 points and above by major critics an astounding 115 times! This is in addition to being awarded #1 Ranked Pinot Noir in the World by Wine Spectator in 2013 and in 2016 #1 Pinot Noir in the World by Decanter and #1 White Wine in the World by Wine Spectator, for its ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay. This universal acclaim from an array of critics solidifies Domaine Serene as America’s Most Acclaimed Winery.
“We are humbled by this great honor and thank our members, distributors and customers supporting our pursuit of quality over the years. To celebrate these awards, we are making some of the medalists available for tasting at our winery Clubhouse in the Dundee Hills and at the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge in Lake Oswego. We are also opening up our wine library to new and existing wine club members so that they can share in the enjoyment of these cherished wines in their homes.” said Ryan Harris, Domaine Serene President.
For more information, to visit our locations or to join the wine club or mailing list, please visit www.DomaineSerene.com or call 503-864-4600 and follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
About Domaine Serene
The Evenstads settled in the Northern Willamette Valley in 1989. Their spirit and passion to produce wines that rival the great wines of Burgundy led them to purchase and plant a hilltop estate that had just been logged in the now famous Dundee Hills.
Today, Domaine Serene produces wines from six individual vineyard estates, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In Oregon, the Evenstads own nearly 1,000 total acres of land in the hills of Yamhill County, with 275 acres planted to vine.
Working every job in the winery for many years, Grace and Ken Evenstad built Domaine Serene from the ground up with a focus on producing high quality wines through innovation and a focus on excellence. The Evenstads have gained a true appreciation for the attention to detail required to make exceptional wines.
In 2015, Ken and Grace Evenstad fulfilled a lifelong dream of producing wine in Burgundy, France by acquiring Château de la Crée, the respected wine estate located in the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: the renowned Côte d’Or. They own 25 acres of prime vineyards in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay and Maranges. This made them the first Oregon-based vintners to own land and produce wines in Burgundy.
In just under three decades, the Evenstads have propelled Domaine Serene onto the global stage as one of the world’s most acclaimed and respected wineries. Domaine Serene’s wines represent the achievement that is possible in Oregon, one of the finest regions in the world for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Largest Consumer Spirits Competition Pivots to In-Home Kits, Sets New Records
IRVINE, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — SIP Awards has grown into a movement that is gaining traction across the spirits industry. The only competition with consumers as judges, the SIP Awards provides small and big brands — local and international — an opportunity to receive unbiased consumer feedback.
From its inception 12 years ago, the SIP Awards International Spirits Competition brought together consumers at local venues to taste and judge spirits and mixers. This year, in the wake of a global pandemic, SIP Awards had to quickly evolve and pivot their annual event into an at-home tasting experience. “At first we didn’t know how COVID-19 would impact our event but time was not on our side and we needed to find a way to have consumers evaluate spirits safely.” – SIP Awards Founder & CEO Pouya Hashemi
In comparison to last year’s event with 146 judges, the SIP Awards 2020 revolutionary digital experience hit a record-breaking 212 judges who evaluate spirits in the comfort and safety of their homes. With more judges providing feedback, this contributed to a more accurate and broader rating method for the spirit and mixer brands.
Breaking industry standards, the first of its kind, at-home tasting kit included a signature NEAT Tasting Glass and 12 curated samples ranging from a bargain $2 bottle to an ultra-premium $1,600 bottle. Judges are carefully vetted and extensively screened to ensure there is no affiliation with marketing, wholesalers, or distributors tied to the spirits industry. Utilizing innovative technology, SIP Awards integrated a unique barcoding system to identify the location of the brand samples. Leaving no room for error, this system tracks the sample from the kitting process and delivery to the evaluation provided by the consumer judges.
Despite the pandemic, the number of entrants for this year’s competition increased, keeping to the tradition of setting new records. Making history, a diverse combination of 981 spirits and mixer brands from around the world participated in the first ever at-home spirits tasting competition.
Winning a SIP Award is a milestone for brands that speak directly to their target audience, consumers. Awards include Bronze, Silver, Gold, Double Gold, Platinum, and Best of Class in over 100 categories. The most sought after, Consumers’ Choice Award, honors a brand’s unwavering commitment to their Legacy, Craft, and to the ever-important Consumer Palate, by placing in the SIP Awards two or more consecutive years.
“By having the ability to taste new products and brands, consumers are more open to purchasing those that they enjoyed most. As we continue to see more new products and brands, The Innovation Award was introduced as a way for our consumer judges to really honor and highlight brands that are doing something different and unique in the marketplace.” – SIP Awards Director, Cher Holmes
The SIP Awards have uniquely positioned themselves in an exploding spirits industry and yet again, introduced new standards that continue to revolutionize the spirits competition realm.
For a complete list of the SIP Awards categories, winners, photos, and info visit: https://sipawards.com
About the SIP Awards
The SIP Awards provides a unique 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 offers a platform for brands to showcase their products to their most discerning audience. To learn more about the SIP Awards competition or for a complete list of this year’s winners, visit https://sipawards.com.
Crittenden Estate of Australia Wins Top Honors in 2020 BRIT/FIVS International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (PRWEB) – The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) in partnership with FIVS, a global public policy federation serving the wine, spirits, and beer sectors, are pleased to announce the winners of their 2020 International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition. Topping this year’s competition is Crittenden Estate of Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, based on the winery’s on-going programs addressing the three elements of sustainability – environmental, economic, and social – as well as its wine’s flavor.
Founded in 1982 by Garry Crittenden, Crittenden Estate farms 27 acres in Dromana and is proud of its multi-generational family farm commitment to preserving the land while producing high-quality wine.
Among Crittenden’s many sustainable accolades are abandoning the use of chemicals in the vineyard for an innovative program of inter-row cover crops and soil cultivation; a twelve-month composting program to maintain soil health; introducing bees to the property to fertilize desirable fruit trees and supporting a diverse agricultural population of plants and insects while combating wasp species; reducing energy costs by sixty percent cost with the installation of solar panels; and reclaiming and reusing water through Crittenden’s water treatment plant.
The awarded wine was Crittenden Estate’s Cri De Coeur 2017 Pinot Noir, a new, premium wine that showcases Crittenden’s viticulture and winemaking efforts.
“The Crittenden family has taken great pride in working their land for two generations and in that time their wines have won the accolades of Australia’s food and wine critics,” said Dr. Ed Schneider, BRIT’s president and executive director. “The combination of sustainable programs with the family’s love of the land has produced a wine that’s truly outstanding.”
“To win such a prestigious international award, particularly given the caliber of our fellow entrants is very humbling for us,” said Rollo Crittenden, second generation winemaker at Crittenden Estate. “We’re passionate about our sustainability and regenerative programmes and delighted that they have been recognised in this way by BRIT/FIVS. There is no doubt these efforts contribute directly to an increase in the quality of wine we produce, and we will continue to strive further on both our land care and wine advances over the generations to come.”
Additional BRIT/FIVS sustainable awards went to:
Gold Medals
- Vina Cono Sur, Santiago, Chile. Submitted Cono Sur Organic Red Blend.
- C. A. Henschke & Co., Keyneton, South Australia. Submitted Henschke Mount Edelstone 2015.
Silver Medals
- Herdade dos Grous, Albernoa, Portugal. Submitted Herdade dos Grous Red.
- Valdivieso, Santiago, Chile. Submitted Valdivieso Eclat Vigno 2010.
Bronze Medals
- Aresti Chile Wine, Talca, Chile. Submitted Family Collection Red
- Casa Relvas, Evora, Portugal. Submitted Herdade Sao Miguel Reserve 2015
- Luis Felipe Edwards, Vitacura, Chile. Submitted LFE 900 Shiraz
Platinum Multi-brand Award
- Jackson Family Wines, Santa Rosa, California. Submitted Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay
“A big round of applause goes to all of our 2020 winners,” says Greg Hodson, President, FIVS. “From their sustainable programs in the field to their progressive workforce and community programs, to being good leaders and stewards within the global wine industry, we congratulate their achievements.”
When entering the competition, wineries provide a self-assessment of their organization’s accomplishments in sustainable winegrowing, winemaking, and ecopreneurial/social responsibility practices. They describe their organization’s conservation efforts in the field and in their operations; how they have sought to minimize waste, how water is reclaimed, and how the winery extends conservation efforts to its customers and communities. They also are asked to submit a wine sample that best represents their sustainable efforts for a tasting by the judging committee.
Because the BRIT/FIVS award is the only international award of its kind, it is of primary interest to wineries who are taking a leading role in their community/region/country by embracing sustainable practices. Sustainable winegrowing programs are by nature ongoing, so a key component of each program involves its continual improvement process.
Presentation of the BRIT/FIVS glass sculpture award to Crittenden Wines will be made in Fort Worth on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, during BRIT’s Vine to Table award dinner and fundraising event.
The 2021 BRIT/FIVS International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition begins in the summer of 2020. Details of the 2021 competition will be posted on the BRIT web site, http://www.BRIT.org/wineaward and on the FIVS web site, https://www.fivs.org.
Clavey Vineyard and Winery Wins Top Placements with Wine Enthusiast, Sunset International Wine Competition, and Monterey International Wine Competition
NEVADA CITY, Calif. (PRWEB) – Grass Valley-based boutique winery, Clavey Vineyards & Winery, has won top placements from three prestigious establishments: Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Sunset International Wine Competition, and Monterey International Wine Competition.
Wine Enthusiast (will appear in late summer issues)
- 2015 Syrah – 90 pts
- 2015 Sangiovese – 91 pts
- 2016 Rose – 89 pts
- 2015 Class III – 86 pts
Sunset International Wine Competition
- 2016 Sangiovese – Gold Award
- 2016 Syrah – Bronze Award
Monterey International Wine Competition
- 2015 Sangiovese – 92 pts
- 2015 Class III – 90 pts
This brings us to 13 awards to date for 2019, including recognition from the esteemed San Francisco Chronicles, West Coast Wine Competition, and the Jefferson Cup Invitational among others.
“My wife Summer and I are excited to bring our boutique winery on a national stage,” says Executive Winemaker Josh Orman. “We are very proud that our family-owned winery is furthering the Sierra Foothill appellation on the wine map. Our dream is to bring more delicious natural wine options to the public.”
From the Sierra Foothills in Northern California, Clavey Vineyards & Winery specializes in unfiltered and unfined wines that are Certified Vegan. With a growing portfolio of award-winning wines, Clavey’s eco-friendly wines are ideal for environmentally conscious wine consumers and those with dietary restrictions.
These wines are now available in several locations including our Tasting Room in Nevada City, the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, and online at http://www.claveywine.com.
For more about Clavey, please visit http://www.claveywine.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
The New York Wine and Grape Foundation Announces Winners of the 2019 New York Wine Classic
NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) has announced the winners of the 34th Annual New York Wine Classic. The New York Wine Classic took place on August 5th – 7th in Watkins Glen, NY and included entries from 113 wineries from across the state. Six Mile Creek Vineyard from the Finger Lakes region took home the most prestigious award of the competition, The Governor’s Cup, with their 2016 Cabernet Franc. Additionally, the esteemed “Winery of the Year” award was presented to Wagner Vineyards of the Finger Lakes region. The Specialty Wine Champion award, reserved for wines made of fruit or meads, was given to Johnson Estate Winery for their Passionate Peach fruit wine.
The Governor’s Cup, a large silver chalice, recognizes the “Best of Show” or top prize in the New York Wine Classic. The “Winery of the Year” award is presented to the winery with the best overall showing based on the level and number of awards in relation to entries. The Governor’s Cup and Winery of the Year winners will be presented with their awards at a special event later this summer.
Known as “The Oscars®” of New York wine competitions, the Classic is organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. This year the competition included 883 New York Wines from across the state. A total of 31 Double Gold, 56 Gold, 278 Silver, and 320 Bronze medals were awarded by a panel of more than 20 expert judges consisting of influential wine writers, wine educators, retailers, restaurateurs and experts from around the state and globe.
“The New York Wine Classic is one of our largest annual events honoring the best of New York Wines. We are thrilled with the turnout this year. The Classic and our annual NY Drinks NY events continue to help New York shine as a truly exciting and innovative wine region,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director, New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
Regional events and wine dinners hosted by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation will run throughout 2019. Event details will be listed on www.newyorkwines.org this summer.
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation is also proud to announce the following “Best of Category” winners:
Best Sparkling Wine
Harbes Vineyard, Blanc de Blancs
Best White Wine
Wagner Vineyards, 2017 Dry Riesling, Estate Grown
Best Rosé Wine
Coffee Pot Cellars, 2018 Rosé
Best Red Wine
Six Mile Creek Vineyard, 2016 Cabernet Franc
Best Dessert Wine
Vineyard View Winery, 2017 Ice Wine
Click here to view the full list of winners from the New York Wine Classic including complete “Best of Class” awards, given to Double Gold or Gold medal wines in classes of at least seven wines.
About The New York Wine Classic
The New York Wine Classic was created and is annually hosted by The New York Wine & Grape Foundation. Open to all New York State wineries, categories include vinifera wines like Riesling and Cabernet Franc, and hybrid wines like Traminette and Maréchal Foch. The contest also includes categories for wines made from labrusca grapes, other fruits, and honey.
About The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF)
The New York Wine & Grape Foundation promotes the world-class image of New York grapes and wines from the state’s diverse regions to responsibly benefit farmers, producers and consumers through innovative marketing, research, communication, and advocacy. Learn more at www.newyorkwines.org.
