Eve's Wine 101

Virginia Wineries Association Announces Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists

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RICHMOND, Va., /PRNewswire/ — The 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition marks another record-breaking year for the Virginia Wine industry. With 614 entries from across the state, 66 wineries in the Commonwealth were awarded with 142 gold medals.

In its 41st year, the competition has garnered a reputation for being one of the most stringent in the nation while highlighting the most outstanding wines, ciders and meads being produced in Virginia. Medals are awarded after a series of rigorous blind tastings by a prestigious panel of judges, led by competition director Jay Youmans, Master of Wine. To receive a gold medal, a wine must receive an average score of 90 points or higher on a 100-point scale.

“The Virginia Wineries Association is thrilled to announce this incredible number of gold medal winning-wines,” said Virginia Wineries Association President George Hodson. “The gold medals span eight regions and are crafted with over 20 grape varieties all grown in Virginia, producing quality wines expressive of their farms and the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Youmans added, “The overall quality of the wines was the highest we have seen. Leading the way are the red blends, many of which are produced in a Meritage style, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng and Cabernet Franc.”

These categories spotlighted by Youmans account for over half the medals with 28 red blends, 24 Petit Verdots, 16 Cabernet Francs and 11 Petit Mansengs taking home gold medals. In addition to the top wine categories, nine ciders also earned a Gold Medal.

Along with the diversity in styles of wine, the gold medal winning producers are located across Virginia. The Central Virginia region was awarded 72 medals, Northern Virginia received 39 and the Shenandoah Valley received 20. The remaining medals can be found in the Blue Ridge, Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, Southern Virginia and Virginia Mountain regions of the state. For a full list of gold medalists, visit: www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup/awards.

On February 23, the Virginia Wine Board hosted Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gala at Richmond’s Main Street Station and unveiled the competition’s top awards—the Governor’s Cup® Case, consisting of the 12 highest-scoring red and white wines, Best in Show Cider and the coveted Governor’s Cup®.

Beginning March 1, Virginia Wine fans eager to taste the winning wineries can sign up for the complimentary Gold Medal Wine Trail, a mobile passport that features the 66 gold medal winners. As users check-in at participating venues, they will unlock access to exclusive prizes and special offers. For more information or to pre-sign up for the Gold Medal Wine Trail, visit: vawine.info/gold.

About the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition

The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup® is held in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board. All entries must be made from 100% Virginia-grown fruit to be eligible. Each wine is ranked based on a unified scoring system. For more information about the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition and for a full list of winners, visit: www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup.

PR%F Awards V – Spirits, Wine And Beverage Competition (Eve Serves as a Judge too!)

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Powered by Food and Beverage Magazine, Delta Sky Club, Palms Casino Resort-Las Vegas and Harrah College of Hospitality at University Nevada Las Vegas.

Competition will be held Nov. 8 and 9, 2023 – Las Vegas
All our judges are beverage buyers from across the US – airlines, cruise lines, resorts, casinos, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, big box retail chains, liquor stores, distributors, online retail and more.

Each SKU is automatically entered into two competitions – Masked (double-blind) and Unmasked (The Total Package, where our buyers get to see your bottle, logo, marketing and price point.) A chance to win TWO separate medals.

Women Owned Brands and Certified KOSHER Brands receive a honorary medal of recognition.

Each entrant receives an “entered” graphic, if you win a medal, a “winners” graphic, access to our logo, brand, and medal graphics – AT NO CHARGE. No licensing fee is required to tell the world you won a coveted PR%F Award. We even provide you graphics for easy promotion.

Plus, be a part of the social media and online magazine distribution of Food and Beverage Magazine, and PR%F the Magazine-Everything Beverage Winners Edition. Click here to see our 2022 Winners Edition at www.proofawards.com

More than 300 categories including Ready-to-Drink, Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Alcohol-Free), coffees, teas, waters, and functional beverages.

All entries must be in by October 8, 2023.
All bottles must be in by October 8, 2023.

$495 per SKU – enters your brand varietal into two separate competitions.
Special Packages for five (5) SKUs or more.

Upon formal registration, email Michele@proofawards.com for further instructions on where to send samples, photos, and other deadlines, etc.

Online Registration:

Click here to begin registration.

Middle West Spirits Receives 12 PR%F Awards

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COLUMBUS, OHIO (PRWEB) – Middle West Spirits has been awarded 12 medals in the PR%F Awards powered by Food and Beverage Magazine. Middle West’s Sherry-Finished Bourbon received two Century Awards, meaning it received a 100-point perfect score from all judges.

The competition includes two categories. Masked is the double-blind tasting competition where brands are judged on taste and sensory perceptions like color, aroma, taste, and finish. It’s followed by the Unmasked competition where the judges evaluate each brand for its total package—they see and feel the bottle, read the ingredients, hear the story, and see the overall marketing package. The rating system is Century Award (100 Points voted unanimously), Double Gold (96 to 99 points), Gold (91 to 95 points), Silver (85 to 90 points), and Bronze (79 to 85 points).

Middle West Spirits awards include:

“We’re passionate about pursuing the perfect pour, and this recognition for a substantial number of spirits in our portfolio shows we’re delivering a high-quality tasting experience,” said Ryan Lang, founder, CEO and distiller, Middle West Spirits. “We simply want to make the best product possible, and we’re proud the judges could taste the difference.”

For more information about Middle West and its spirits, please visit MiddleWestSpirits.com.

ABOUT MIDDLE WEST SPIRITS
Middle West Spirits is built around a passion for crafting the highest quality spirits. That’s why Middle West hand-selects unique, local grains that go into every batch and controls every step of the production process––from distillation to aging to packaging––all in its Columbus, Ohio distillery. By always pursuing the perfect pour, Middle West delivers a difference you can taste. Its spirits have earned top honors by the 2022 ASCOT Awards, 2022 PR%F Awards, Beverage Tasting Institute, and more. Through its world-class distillery and production facility, Middle West has also built strategic partnerships to bring other celebrated spirits brands to life. In addition to the distillery, guests can enjoy the full Middle West experience at Service Bar, its acclaimed restaurant in Columbus. To learn more about Middle West Spirits, visit middlewestspirits.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

ABOUT PR%F AWARDS
PR%F Awards is the premiere spirits, wine & beverage awards program held annually in Las Vegas. Hand-selected judges, all buyers, from across the US rate and merit spirits, wine and beverages to win medals and accolades while giving our judges a chance to be introduced to hundreds of emerging new brands. PR%F Awards and PR%F-The Magazine are owned and operated by The Original Brand, LLC. Go to http://www.proofawards.com or call 888-959-7260.

FireFly Farms Celebrates 20 Years of Awards for Its Sustainable Artisan Cheese

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ACCIDENT, MD. (PRWEB) – FireFly Farms, a producer of handmade cheese from Mountain Maryland, celebrated 20 years in the artisan cheese business last year and nabbed another seven awards for its line of cheeses in national and international competitions.

“The past year has been busy – we remodeled the creamery, moved our Deep Creek market, launched a new website, participated in an international festival, and still managed to stay on top of the cheese making!” said FireFly Farms Director of Operations, Dan Porter. “It’s not easy, but everyone who works here, from the newest apprentice to the most seasoned cheesemaker, is passionate about what we do, and I think that makes a big difference.”

“We keep finding new ways to improve our process,” said FireFly Farms President Mike Koch, “whether it’s adjusting the amount of salt, refreshing a recipe, or tweaking the curd-cut temperature to accommodate seasonal milk changes – every little thing counts. Even after twenty years of cheese making, you know you still have a lot to learn, but of course every year we get better at the craft!”

The seven awards in this anniversary year included recognitions at the American Cheese Society’s judging and competition, the World Cheese Awards, and a first-ever showing at the Mundial do Queijo in São Paulo, Brazil:

  • Merry Goat Round was awarded at the World Cheese Awards
  • Merry Goat Round Spruce Reserve was awarded by the American Cheese Society and at the World Cheese Awards
  • Cabra La Mancha was awarded by American Cheese Society
  • Black & Blue was awarded at the World Cheese Awards
  • Cave Dweller was awarded at the Mundial do Queijo do Brasil
  • Carpenter’s Wheel, produced in collaboration with Crown Finish Caves, was awarded by the American Cheese Society

“We’ve won a lot of awards over the years,” says Dan Porter, “but that’s really not what matters to us. Our commitment is to handcrafted, artisan cheese that uses fresh milk from local farms. People taste and value that even when they don’t know that they’re eating a medal winner.”

“I think our customers really value our focus on sustainability”, said Mike Koch. “When your milk comes from farms just down the road, when your cheesemakers raise chickens and cows at home, when you can share whey with a pig farmer and when you brush shoulders with folks every day who are making a living off the land, it really drives home the need to take care of what you have for the next generation. Our solar panels, whey-recycling program, local sourcing – it all comes from a recognition that we need to be leaders in our community.”

Long hailed as one of the best places to visit in Mountain Maryland’s Garrett County, the FireFly Farm’s market location in Accident, MD expanded this year, moving just a few blocks down the street. As before, it features FireFly Farm’s award-winning cheeses as well as other specialty, hand-selected items from the region and around the world.

Meanwhile FireFly Farms’ second market in historic Whitehall Mill in Baltimore is receiving recognition for its natural wine selection, one of the best in the city. “I suppose you could say I have a passion for wine and cheese,” says Jesse Galdston, general manager of FireFly Market in Whitehall Mill. “We pride ourselves on searching out hard-to-find bottles, whether a library release of a 1994 German Riesling for under $50, (sorry, sold out!) or naturally fermented champagne, we’ve always got something interesting to pair with your cheese.”

In addition to the two market locations, FireFly Farms cheese is nationally available through its distribution partners and can be found in several major grocery chains specialty retail stores, restaurants and via several online partners. For information or to purchase FireFly Farms’ cheese, please contact the creamery directly or visit its newly relaunched website and ecommerce platform at http://www.fireflyfarms.com.

“We’re excited to be expanding our geographic reach and making our cheeses accessible to anyone, no matter where they live,” said Mike Koch. “Our new monthly cheese subscription allows us to curate something special every month for our customers – as well as feature complimentary products from other exciting food businesses.”

About FireFly Farms: FireFly Farms was founded in 2002 and offers nationally & internationally award‐winning goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses that express the distinct regional flavors of Mountain Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau. Each cheese is artfully handcrafted and aged with precise detail, resulting in exceptional flavor and texture. FireFly Farms is prides itself on using agriculturally sustainable, locally‐sourced fresh goat’s and cow’s milk and time‐honored, traditional methods of cheese making.

Jasper Hill Farm’s New Creamery Yields Winning Results

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GREENSBORO, VT. (PRWEB) – The American Cheese Society (ACS) announced competition winners last night at their annual conference in Portland, Oregon after a two-year hiatus. Jasper Hill accepted its fourth ACS Best of Show win, this time for their raw milk Whitney cheese, which was entered in the new Raclette-style category. The Jasper Hill team also shared in a 2nd Runner-up Best of Show placement for Greensward—a cider-washed, soft, bark-wrapped cheese made in collaboration with Murray’s Cheese. They were joined on the podium by two companies tied for 1st Runner-up; Beecher’s Handmade Cheese won for their Flagsheep Bandaged Cheddar, and Goat Rodeo Dairy for their Bamboozle, a cider-washed soft cheese made from goat and cow milk. More details about the competition and its results can be found within the organization’s own press release.

“I think that we’re at an inflection point in our industry,” said Mateo Kehler of Jasper Hill Farm. “We’ve been through so much the past few years, and this for us [winning Best of Show] is just epic. It is our opportunity to push the boundaries in our market to win new consumers. I would call you all to that effort. I think that when we win consumers for specialty cheese, whether it’s a Whitney, or any of the amazing cheeses that you produce, we all win and we can all win together”. Kehler also highlighted the place-based nature of this raw milk cheese, made from the farm’s own herd of grass-fed cows using natural cultures. The transformative power of artisan cheese to reinvigorate rural landscapes is a model for what he calls an “agriculture supported community”, which is a re-framing of the Community Supported Agriculture concept.

Whitney, made in the increasingly popular raclette-style, is a semi-firm cheese with a washed rind, designed especially for melting. The winning batch, judged in late May, was made in early February. The farm’s own milk was transformed within Jasper Hill’s newly renovated farmhouse creamery, which features two authentic copper-lined vats that had been used to make Comte in the Jura Mountain region of France. The creamery’s new equipment, which includes the ability to prepare natural culture inoculations, has allowed the Jasper Hill cheesemaking team to more rapidly develop a cheese that only first hit the broader specialty market in early 2021. Whitney has a velvety-smooth, pliant texture with signature notes of toasted nuts, cured ham, and sweet cream. It pairs beautifully with natural white wines, cured meats, and pickled shallots. A product information page can be downloaded here.

Jasper Hill was also pleased to accept Best in Class ribbons for their raw milk Alpine-style cheese, Alpha Tolman, and their iconic soft-ripened bark wrapped cheese, Harbison—the ACS’s 2018 Best of Show Winner. Sherry Gray, Eligo, Willoughby and Winnimere also placed top three in their respective classes. Notably, all the Jasper Hill-made washed rind cheeses took a home an award, representing 5 of the 7 total medals for the company this year.

Other international cheese contests are back up and running post-pandemic. Jasper Hill picked up a Best in Class medal for Harbison (among others) at the World Championship Cheese Competition, A Double Gold (top 3 in show) for Willoughby (among others) and Creamery of the Year at the New York International Cheese Competition, Gold Medals for Sherry Gray and Harbison (among others) at the International Cheese Awards, and a Good Food Award for Highlander. A cumulative summary of major awards for Jasper Hill Farm can be found here.

More information can be found on Jasper Hill Farm’s website: http://www.jasperhillfarm.com.

CUTWATER SPIRITS SURPASSES 2,000 AWARDS ACROSS PORTFOLIO

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SAN DIEGO /PRNewswire/ — Today, nationally-renowned distillery and RTD cocktail category leader, Cutwater Spirits announces an exciting milestone, surpassing over 2,000 awards across its portfolio of canned cocktails, non-alcoholic mixers and bottled spirits. Established in 2017, Cutwater has earned prestige as the most awarded canned cocktail brand in the U.S. Noteworthy wins in 2022 include top brass from prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Denver International Spirits Competition. The 40 medals recently garnered at the Ascot Awards upped the brand’s overall awards total to 2,067.

Awards for Cutwater at the 2022 ASCOT Awards include Best of in the following categories: Mezcal (Mezcal Joven), American Agave Spirit (Mezcal Reposado) and RTD Cocktail (Tiki Rum Punch) as well as Double Platinum for Cutwater Mezcal Joven, Mezcal Reposado, American Rye Whiskey, Bourbon Whiskey as well as for the following RTD cocktails: Lime Margarita, Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita, Tiki Rum Punch and White Russian. The ASCOT Awards are led by noted spirits authority Fred Minnick and an esteemed panel of industry judges.

“We are honored to have the breadth of our portfolio consistently acknowledged by the most prestigious awards organizations in the world,” says Co-Founder and Master Distiller, Yuseff Cherney. “While we are extremely proud of each individual medal we bring home, it is very exciting for our team to celebrate crossing the 2,000-award milestone as a testament to our hard work, attention to quality, and breakthrough innovation.”

This year, Cutwater’s agave-based bottled spirits – Mezcals and Tequilas – have taken the awards circuit by storm, bringing in 42 total medals since January 2022. Following are some of the most notable honors:

  • San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Cutwater Tequila Blanco & Tequila Reposado (Gold)
  • International Wine & Spirits Challenge: Cutwater Mezcal Joven & Mezcal Reposado (Gold Outstanding)
  • TAG Spirit Awards: Cutwater Tequila Reposado & Tequila Anejo (Double Gold)
  • ADI International Spirits Competition: Cutwater Tequila Reposado (Best of Category)
  • Denver International Spirits Competition: Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Dark Rum (Best of Show) Cutwater Tequila Blanco & Tequila Reposado (Gold)

Agave spirits are a true passion for Cherney, and Cutwater Mezcals are the most recent addition to spirit category added to the brand’s portfolio. Made from 100% wild Cenizo Agave, Cutwater released Mezcal Joven in April 2021 and debuted its Mezcal Reposado earlier this year. Cutwater debuted Tequila Blanco in October 2019 followed by Reposado and Añejo in 2020. To create its tequilas, Cherney forged a unique partnership with the Orendain family-owned and operated distillery in Jalisco, MX. Cherney oversees every step of the tequila production process and Cutwater has its own dedicated distillery space and copper still within the distillery (NOM 1110). While developing Cutwater’s tequilas, Cherney was inspired to explore other agave-based spirits and developed Cutwater Mezcal Joven in Durango, working closely with distillery owner Gaston Martinez and his Master Mezcalero (CRM: D614G).

In 2022, Cutwater’s diverse portfolio of over 25 RTD cocktails featuring distilled spirits across nearly every spirit base earned 124 awards. Following are some of the most notable honors:

  • ADI International Spirits Competition: Cutwater Lime Margarita, Cutwater Mild Bloody Mary, Cutwater Orange Vodka Smash, Cutwater Tequila Paloma, Cutwater Whiskey Mule (Gold)
  • LA Spirits Invitational: Cutwater Lime Margarita, Cutwater Orange Vodka Smash, Cutwater Strawberry Margarita, Cutwater Vodka Mule, Cutwater White Russian (Double Gold)
  • Denver International Spirits Competition: Cutwater Bali Hai Pina Colada, Cutwater Orange Vodka Smash, Cutwater Prickly Pear Ranch Water, Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary, Cutwater Tequila Paloma, Cutwater Whiskey Mule (Gold)

To date, Cutwater Spirits has earned 2,067 awards across its portfolio, reinforcing its position as an industry leader. Cutwater continues to innovate and release new, bar-quality canned cocktails and bottled spirits. Follow Cutwater Spirits on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest.

About Cutwater Spirits: Cutwater Spirits, the most awarded canned cocktail brand in the U.S., is a San Diego-based distillery known for its award-winning lineup of over 25 canned cocktail classics made from its portfolio of over 20 bottled spirits that span nearly every spirit category including tequilas, vodkas, rums, gins, whiskeys, mezcals and liqueurs. Co-Founder and Master Distiller Yuseff Cherney began distilling as a side project under Ballast Point Brewing. He started canning cocktails because he wanted to make drinks he could enjoy while doing the things he likes to do (mostly fishing and hiking). In 2017, Cutwater Spirits was established as a separate entity from the brewery and now operates from a 50,000 square foot distillery and production facility, which includes a world-class tasting room and restaurant. To date, Cutwater has earned over 2,000 awards across its portfolio of products and is distributed in 50 states. Learn more at www.CutwaterSpirits.com or follow @cutwatersprits on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Mark Guillaudeu Wins the Best USA Sommelier Association Finals

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KANSAS CITY (PRWEB) – Best USA Sommelier Association (BUSA), a not-for-profit created by top industry professionals to support and promote the role of the sommelier in the United States, is pleased to announce the winner of the USA National Finals held on June 14, 2022, in Hermann, Missouri. After nine hours of exams during which the six finalists competed in French, Spanish and English (meeting the requirements of competing in a non-native language), the six judges chose a new U.S. national champion sommelier: Mark Guillaudeu.

The daylong competition included challenging blind tastings of classic wines, as well as fortified wines from around the world, and aged spirits; a tough theory examination that required intimate knowledge of wine grapes and regions, spirits, cocktails and cigars; and a high-paced service exam. Guillaudeu will represent the United States in the world competition to be held in Paris in 2023. Two runners-up were also chosen: first runner-up, Dustin Chabert, the previous U.S. national champion, and second runner-up, David Bérubé.

The BUSA Finals were judged by six seasoned professionals: Cheryl Stanley (Cornell University), Andrey Ivanov MS, Alejandro Ferris, Doug Frost MS, MW, Evan Goldstein MS and Sara d’Amato.

The 2022 competition was held in Hermann, MO, one of the most important 19th century American wine regions. The competition took place in the historical cellars and the old grounds now owned by the Hermannhof Winery, created by George Husmann, a foundational figure in American wine, in both Missouri and Napa Valley. BUSA would like to thank Hermannhof Winery, the competitors, judges and professional sommeliers who supported the competition finals as well as renowned Chef Bernie Lee of Akar Restaurant in St. Louis for providing remarkable meals throughout.

Please visit the BUSA website for updates on all upcoming events – congratulations to Mark Guillaudeu, Best USA Sommelier 2022, and to all the finalists who competed this year:

  • 2022 Winner – Best Sommelier USA Finals: Mark Guillaudeu (Commis, Oakland, CA)
  • 2022 First Runner-up: Dustin Chabert (Chicago, IL)
  • 2022 Second Runner-up: David Bérubé (Restaurant Daniel, New York, NY)
  • Eduardo Bolaños (The Wine House, Los Angeles, CA)
  • Max Goldberg (Maybourne Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA)
  • Kaysie Rogers (Flagler Steakhouse at The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL)

Sicilia DOC Consortium Announces Sommelier Contest 

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) The Sicilia DOC Consortium recently opened registration for US wine professionals to its first Sommelier Competition. Applicants will need to pass a three-step selection process testing their knowledge of Sicilia DOC wines and indigenous Sicilian varietals as well as their presentation skills. Three finalists will be flown to Sicily in October to compete during Taormina Gourmet for the title, “Sicilian Wine Maestro.”

“We’re excited to engage the critically important Somm audience with our first Sommelier Competition,” says Antonio Rallo, president of the Sicilia DOC Consortium. “Our wines are gaining recognition for their quality and the great value they offer in addition to finding new and expanded distribution. This is a great moment for Sicilian wines in the US.”

Sicilian wines are growing in popularity in the US and increasingly appearing on wine lists of fine dining American restaurants. New generations of winemakers in Sicily are embracing the usage of local grape varieties, working with the island’s diverse terroir and making wine with an organic approach (Sicily has more hectares of organic vineyards than any region in Italy), resulting in growing interest from critics and consumers alike. Since its establishment in 2011, the Sicilia DOC Consortium has worked to strengthen the reputation of Sicilian wines, improving quality, sustainability and market position. The Sicilia DOC Sommelier Competition, culminating in the Finale at Taormina Gourmet (October 22-24, 2022), is the most recent marketing innovation for the Consortium.

Sommeliers and other wine professionals who compete for the ‘Sicilian WIne Maestro’ title will have to prove knowledge of Sicily’s rich history and culture, as well as an understanding of how the island’s viticulture and winemaking are being reshaped by new generations of winemakers.

A judging panel including Sicilia DOC Ambassador Jeffrey Porter, Vinitaly International Managing Director Stevie Kim and award-winning sommelier Tonya Pitts, will evaluate the Instagram submissions. Jeff Porter will lead a virtual webinar on Siciian wines and administer the exam part of the Competition.

The Finals will take place at Taormina Gourmet, one of the leading culinary events in Italy, hosted in the beautiful and historical city of Taormina. The Sicilia DOC Consortium will fly the three finalists to Sicily to compete in a blind tasting and a creative pairing challenge. A panel of Sicilian wine experts will evaluate each finalist’s performance and will crown the first ever “Sicilian Wine Maestro”.

For more information, visit the Wines of Sicilia DOC website or follow Wines of Sicilia DOC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Sicilia DOC
Established in 2011, Sicilia DOC appellation represents a leading force of innovation in the region. Its efforts have been aimed at enhancing the region’s millennial winemaking heritage and local grapes such as Nero d’Avola and Grillo, amongst others, through a sustainable approach promoted by the SOStain foundation which provides producers with education and tools to embrace organic practices. For further information, please visit Wines of Sicily.

About Taormina Gourmet
Taormina Gourmet is one of the most important events in Southern Italy dedicated to the promotion of premium food and beverage. Organized by the Bica Association and Cronache di Gusto, a F&B specialized online publication, it is a three-day event that takes place every year in the city of Taormina, major tourist hub in Southern Italy. High-end wineries and consortiums host masterclasses, tastings, forums and cooking shows that see the participation of many journalists, wine writers and Master of Wine. Its ninth edition will take place October 22, 23 and 24, 2022 at the Hotel Villa Diodoro, Taormina (ME). For further information visit Taormina Gourmet website.

Milam And Greene Releases The Castle Hill Series Batch Two, a Limited-Edition Batch of 13-Year-Old Casks

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BLANCO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Milam & Greene Whiskey is introducing The Castle Hill Series Batch Two, the second release of its limited-edition batch of 13-year-old hand-selected straight bourbon whiskies bottled at barrel proof. The Castle Hill Series celebrates the art of batching well-aged casks, one of the many methods Milam & Greene enlists to create its award-winning range of whiskies. Just 26 vintage barrels were married to create this superb whiskey, making it the most limited release from the acclaimed distillery that was recently lauded for its “Best in Show” whiskey at The American Craft Spirits Association competition.

The Castle Hill Series carries the oldest age statement in the Milam & Greene family of whiskies, and each batch includes the distillery’s most exclusive casks. The series is named for the historic Texas Military Institute, also known as “The Castle,” in Austin, Texas. While the Milam & Greene distillery operations and warehousing are in Blanco, Texas, The Castle is home to Heather Greene’s blending lab, and its old-world elegance serves as an inspiration for the Milam & Greene CEO and master blender.

Greene is renowned for her exceptional whiskey blending skills, and The Castle Hill Series showcases her ability to select the right casks to blend to develop complex flavors. Greene honed her tremendous whiskey blending skills while evaluating Scotch whisky for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Scotland, as well as while working with numerous distilleries around the globe before bringing her talent to Milam & Greene in 2018. Under Greene’s direction, whiskey blending is essential to creating core Milam & Greene whiskies including the Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Port Finished Straight Rye Whiskey.

“The guiding principle in blending The Castle Hill Series is to create a traditional bourbon that whiskey drinkers will love,” says Heather Greene, Milam & Greene CEO and master blender. “Each cask used to create The Castle Hill Series has a different personality. Those personality traits are developed through aging over a long period of time with influences from the environment. We hand-selected each barrel aged between 13 years, 10 months, and 17 days at the youngest, and 14 years, two months, and 13 days at the oldest, to identify specific characteristics that we want in the finished product. The result is a multifaceted bourbon with layers of nutty, spicy, fruity, and oak flavors.”

Milam & Greene The Castle Hill Series, Batch Two Tasting Notes
Milam & Greene The Castle Hill Series Batch Two shines in the glass with a deep burnt amber color. On the nose it is a dichotomy of youthful vigor and aged splendor with scents of warm peach cobbler, brown sugar, and vanillas with hints of almond and milk chocolate. Bottled at cask strength of 111 proof (55.5 % ABV), this potent straight bourbon whiskey features velvety, opulent flavors of caramel, cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, and tobacco with a warming and long finish.

The Castle Hill Series Batch Two Barrel Information
Twenty-six barrels were used to create The Castle Hill Series Batch Two. The ages of each barrel are detailed below:
4 barrels aged 13 years, 10 months, 17 days
8 barrels aged 13 years, 10 months, 18 days
4 barrels aged 13 years, 10 months, 19 days
4 barrels aged 13 years, 11 months, 6 days
2 barrels aged 14 years, 1 month, 20 days
2 barrels aged 14 years, 2 months, 13 days
1 barrel aged 14 years, 2 months, 16 days
1 barrel aged 14 years, 3 months, 6 days

Pricing and Availability
The Castle Hill Series Batch Two is available for a suggested retail price of $149.99 at select retailers that can be found on Milamandgreenewhiskey.com. This whiskey is extremely limited with only 3,000 bottles released around the country. Please call your local retailer to determine local availability. Milam & Greene whiskey is distributed by Southern Wine and Spirits, Empire Merchants, Heidelberg Distributing, Brescome Barton, and Winebow Fine Wine and Spirits.

About Milam & Greene
Milam & Greene Whiskey is made by some of the world’s most experienced whiskey professionals, including CEO, master blender, and author, Heather Greene and 30-year veteran and master distiller, Marlene Holmes. The Milam & Greene team distills in Blanco, Texas on small 300- and 1,000-gallon pot stills as well as in Kentucky on classic column stills, using its proprietary yeast and grain recipes. Aging takes place in rickhouses located in four states in different casks for a variety of flavors resulting in the most thorough array of casks made and collected by any craft distiller. These casks become the ingredients from which its award-winning American whiskey range is batched to create perfection. Milam & Greene Whiskey believes in using the best people and ingredients to create delicious, award-winning whiskey for whiskey lovers. For more information visit: http://www.milamandgreenewhiskey.com. Connect with Milam & Greene Whiskey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Prospero Winery & Grapes Celebrates 50 Years of Serving the Pleasantville, NY Community

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PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Prospero Winery & Grapes is very proud and honored to announce that 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of our family owned & operated business. Since our initial start in 1972, Prospero Winery & Grapes has established and relished in the rich tradition of home-based, local winemaking; we believe locals, businesses, and visitors to the Mid-Hudson region deserve to have access to the finest, highest-quality wine and grapes available in the industry. Prospero Winery & Grapes and our Pleasantville, NY winery sources continue to supply expertly-grown grapes and juices for home production, commercial use, and local consumption. As our organization celebrates our 50th anniversary, we’re reaffirming our rooted traditions and sharing an inside look at our generational commitment to quality.

Prospero Winery & Grapes’ origins date back to 1972, when our founder, Tony Prospero, started selling California wine grapes from a fruit stand, in order to help home winemakers produce their own hand crafted wine. From there, he quickly moved into supplying winemaking equipment as well, creating multi-generational relationships with clients and establishing his own reputable branding. Over 25 years later, in 1999, Prospero established his own bonded winery operation, growing his platform and continuing to provide affordable wines to local residents. Our commitment to offering well-known California-sourced grapes, combined with our rich family heritage, has allowed us to launch more community-friendly and environment-conscious projects, including:

  • In 2001, we introduced a yearly Home Winemaker Competition for passionate winemakers and enthusiasts in our local area.
  • In 2018, we installed solar panels at our Pleasantville, NY facility and organized a perpetual “Refill Your Own Wine” program, all in an effort to be more environmentally-friendly.
  • In 2020, we launched a Home Winemaker Competition Dinner fundraiser to support the Blythedale & Maria Fareri Children’s Hospitals. Prospero Winery & Grapes is dedicated to helping these hospitals for years to come. More information about this annual competition dinner can be found at https://www.prosperowinery.com/dinner/ .

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2022, we are proud to share our Prospero family hobby, winemaking, with local home winemakers. At Prospero winery, we strive to create new, expressive wines for everyday enjoyment. We’re proud to welcome more individuals, families, and commercial businesses in the Westchester County and Mid-Hudson region into our family legacy and to share our traditions with you!

Learn more about Prospero Winery at https://www.prosperowinery.com.

About Prospero Winery & Grapes:
Prospero Winery & Grapes is a winery and grape supplier for local winemakers and wine enthusiasts in Pleasantville, NY.  With a rich family tradition in winemaking, its world-class winemakers continue to bring the quality and taste of the Gold Coast to the Mid-Hudson region. Prospero is trusted by wineries throughout the U.S. and Canada as a provider of everything needed to make fine wine. From freshly-harvested grapes and juices to commercial winemaking equipment, Prospero has it all.

Contact: Melissa Prospero
(914)769-6252
335055@email4pr.com

SOURCE Prospero Grapes