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“Iconic Women in Italian Wine” tasting: Who, Where & Why?

May 15, 2022 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) –  This unique event encompassed so much more than the sum of the individual women: two leading international female journalists, the female managing director of Vinitaly International, and seven renowned Italian women wine producers collaborated to create an event that set aside the natural competition between the players and focused instead on personal stories, camaraderie, and the aspiration all these women hold for the future of Italian wine.

Why has this event never happened before? An interesting question answered best by Monica Larner. “When Stevie Kim presented me with this idea, I was excited on many levels; however, most compelling was the opportunity to present beautiful Italian wines with a colleague whose magazine shares market space with my own. (Robert Parker) Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator have never collaborated on anything. With smug certainty I suspect our male colleagues would never pull resources together in this fashion for such a ground-breaking collaboration with important benefits. Post-pandemic we are all burning with a desire for new beginnings and being together. Inclusivity, camaraderie, creating togetherness. All seven of these individualistic and talents producers instantly recognised the importance and immediately agreed to participate.”

Stevie Kim pointed out that this event was the definition of ‘iconic’: “Two women wine critic titans collaborating for the first time, with seven Italian women who are giants in their industry, is a true demonstration of what it means to be iconic: ‘widely recognised and acknowledged for distinctive excellence.’”

Opening the event, Alison Napjus explained the real gravitas that informed the idea for the discussion. “Women are better communicators, using more words and more expressive words, with a better ability to listen and to empathise. These women are all around trailblazers, winery leaders, winery founders, wine makers. We all have to find new ways to connect and communicate after the pandemic pivot we all faced. This event gives us the chance to explore, as women, three particular themes in Italian wine; heritage/family, territory, wine ambassadors.”

The women winery leaders came from 5 different regions and their age gap spanned 40 years. The idea of women in wine is not new, women are everywhere in the industry, but the gathering to share stories and important vintages, to exchange experiences, ideas and ask questions with leading wine writers was ground-breaking. The honesty and open attitude of all the women involved was clearly part of the magic in the room and what will attract young and savvy wine lovers to the unique soulfulness of Italian wine.

Chiara Boschis of E. Pira & Figli in Barolo, commented ““What do I have of iconic in my life? I am not an iconic woman, I work like a donkey all day, but this vineyard, Cannubi, this is an iconic place, and the diversity in the area is incredible. When I first got together with my friends, the Barolo Boys, I was the only girl, but we all wanted to shine a light on all the differences of our area and understand the potential of our terroir.” She shared the 2010 vintage BaroloCannubi, a year that was important because her brother joined her, with his daughters who are all studying enology and will bring a new generation of women to the winery. “Wine makers usually work alone. When we start to work together, recognising everyone’s unique terroir, we start to learn new things and appreciate all the traditions, we find more opportunities.”

Elisabetta Foradori from Trentino expressed her perspective, in a different way. “I actually love making cheese, it’s another kind of fermentation. I’m a farmer. Our country has a beauty and a richness of variety and we have a mission to transfer into a bottle this pure message of the different terroirs. We have a great responsibility to save and improve the genetic variety and express the terroir in the most healthy and connected way possible. Be creative and responsible farmers for the future.” Her pomegranate logo represents 100s of tiny seeds, packed together in one beautiful container, 100’s of ideas, creative thinking, and out of the box innovation.

Arianna Occhipinti, from Sicily, youngest of the group, added her experiences as an explorer with a model for young winemakers. “Frappato is the original grape from Vittoria where I grew up. I needed an important grape to grow up as a wine maker. Thanks to the character of this grape, I learned to make wine. Now I vinify parcel by parcel to get better expression of the soils, the limestone, the tufa, the red sand. Now I have treasure, for me it is important to show what Vittoria really is, the fresh wines we can make even in the deep south of Sicily.”

Marilisa Allegrini spoke of her learning curve after the death of her father and finding her way in the world away from the winery. “Valpolicella was known for inexpensive wines in the 1980’s, and Amarone was a niche wine for high end consumers, so it was a challenge for me to communicate. The first time I went to America, the importer wouldn’t let me go out to promote the wine until I wrote down absolutely everything about the wine. Many people said they didn’t want a Valpolicella on their wine list, so I knew I had to communicate everything to make this area known and understood.”

Elena Fucci from Mt. Vulture in Basilicata felt much the same as she struggled to put her region on the map. “For me it is a dream to be with these special women in wine today. My journey started in 2000, when my family considered selling the vineyard because we weren’t making wines, just selling the grapes to the consortium. I decided to change the course of my study so the house where I was born and lived with my family would not be sold. I went to university to study enology and winemaking. No one knew where Basilicata was. I had 6 hectares and a single grape: my wine, my life, my Titolo. I travel a lot to explain my region and my wine, modern but not modernist wine, I work to respect and understand the territory where we are. The vintage I am sharing is 2012 because ten years ago I had no idea what would happen to me and my wine in these ten years since 2012 and how much communicating it would take.”

Heritage and legacy were addressed by Albiera Antinori with her family’s Tignaello and Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta with her legendary Sassicaia. Antinori said, “For me, looking at the history of the past 50 years since the start of Tignanello, and the diversity and uniqueness of wines that can be made in Italy — the terroir and the story are the future, terroir still to be discovered, every day you get surprised by wonderful areas with local varieties, an elegance, a minerality, they’ve got the sun inside. Even traditional vineyards have been replanted so new things will be coming up, but we must be centered on quality, personality, history and the story we can explain.” Regarding sustainability she added, “It’s a complicated word to use, it can mean different things. For me it is a puzzle made of many things, with the final objective of leaving something better for the next generation. Not only in the winery but also for our workers, our sales force, we need one certification in Italy for sustainable, for economic sustainability as well.”

Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta looked at the idea of safeguarding Italian wine history from outside investors and influences. “It’s not easy, there are real issues for family businesses, you have to have a strong sense of pride, family values and the family project. A responsibility to the next generations, we want to pass on what we got in an even better shape than when we received it. We are guardians. We have to combine financial goals with the family goals. Having a long-term view means we focus less on making short term cash, but we have to involve the family members to keep everyone interested, our estate is not only wine, we have other ventures and interests and my cousins and I have different interests on the estate. Consultancy helps deal with family generation change issues to and now we have the Primum Familiae Vini group which is a good place to share issues, know-how and support others in similar situations.

Summing up, Allegrini said, “We must put the agricultural product into the cultural context of Italy as a place of art, history, architecture, and beautiful landscape.” Larner added, “This is the real way to help Italian wine be more competitive, to communicate differently and better, to tell that story, down to the soil, down to the producer, down to the winery, down to the vineyard, down to the very last rock.” Stevie Kim remarked, “Everybody wants to be like Antinori, this is the problem I face as an agency, everyone wants that beautiful 26 generation story on their home page. Every winery has to find their own original story, not only the romance of generations and terroir, not only bio and organic and so on, but it has to be economically sustainable as well as. Each winery has to find the uniqueness of their story.” Najus concluded that, “You can teach people about wine, but to find the story is much harder.”

Looking back on this momentous event, Stevie Kim commented, “This session was never about men versus women or pigeon-holing anyone on the basis of gender, regionality, or points of view. Rather, Iconic Women in Wine at Vinitaly 2022 took a good long look at how to improve communication, highlight success and exalt the unique power of women to unite in challenging circumstances for a common good. Larner and Napjus absolutely found the story that needs to be told in order to secure the future of Italian wine in the global market.”.
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About Alison Napjus: Alison Napjus divides her time between New York, where Wine Spectator is based, and a second home in Tampa, Fla. She regularly travels abroad, both personally and professionally. After graduating from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, Napjus moved to New York to take a position as a manager at Tribeca Grill restaurant. She joined Wine Spectator in 2000 and was promoted to Senior Editor in 2012 and Tasting Director in 2016. She is lead taster for the wines of Spain, France’s Champagne and Alsace regions, South Africa and wines from regions throughout Italy. As Tasting Director, she oversees the scope and content of Wine Spectator’s annual reviews of more than 15,000 wines, working closely with the tasters and tasting coordinators in the New York and Napa offices.

About Monica Larner: Monica Larner is a Los Angeles native, her family moved to Rome when she was 11. After high school in both Italy and California, Monica earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in journalismfrom Boston University and New York University respectively. She worked for the Italian daily La Repubblica, followed by the Rome bureau of BusinessWeek and two years as a staff writer with Italy Daily of the International Herald Tribune where she penned her first wine column. Monica is an active member of the Ordine dei Giornalisti and a certified sommelier with the Italian Sommelier Association. In 2003, Monica was approached by Wine Enthusiast to be the magazine’s first Italy-based correspondent, where her proudest achievement is the 185-page special collector’s Wine Enthusiast “Wines of Italy” edition that showcases her decade-long body of work. She was awarded the “Best International Journalist” Silver Grape Leaf three by the Comitato Grandi Cru d’Italia. Gambero Rosso recognized her as a “Leader of Italian Excellence,” and the Italian Trade Commission acknowledged her distinguished service to Italian wine. In 2013, she joined The Wine Advocate as the Reviewer for Italy.

About Vinitaly: the grand Vinitaly 2022 was held from April 10th to the 13th. Vinitaly 2022 counted 88,000 visitors of which 25,000 were top international buyers from 139 different countries. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” which was held on the 9th of April, one day prior to Vinitaly, united international wine professionals in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 130 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly travels to several countries thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the 21st edition of its Certification Course. To date, there are 271 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of which 15 are also Italian Wine Experts.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: brand ambassador, cheese, covid, critic, farmer, grape, Italy, robert parker, terroir, valpolicella, variety, vineyard, vinitaly, wine advocate, Wine tasting, wine writer, winemakers

Vinitaly International Academy Welcomes 21 Italian Wine Ambassadors

May 5, 2022 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) The 23rd edition of Vinitaly International Academy was a joyful week full of intensive learning experiences, networking, tasting, studying, and a little bit of good old panic. VIA is the gold standard of Italian wine education and this year showed off the course to its fullest potential. With the in-person return of both faculty members, Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar IWE, the course rebounded from COVID restrictions with a subscription of over 50 international students and a tasting list over three days that encompassed close to 140 wines in preparation for a grueling exam that has a typical pass rate of 25%.

This edition of VIA saw an enthusiastic, passionate and seriously studious group of selected students with a broad base of experience in the wine sector spanning buyers, retailers, educators, writers, enthusiasts, sommeliers, and those very new to the world of Italian wine. VIA aims to create the longest table, welcoming everyone who is curious about Italian wine to join the conversation.

The course offers students a hybrid learning format, with a series of online lectures in preparation for the in-person event in Verona, where students are immediately immersed in the Italian wine world, with unique experiences such as an opportunity to taste the wine of the historic families of Valpolicella at the famous Antica Bottega del Vino at a private event, as well as master classes hosted by various wine consortiums from all over Italy. Professor Attilio Scienza, the VIA scientific advisor, also attended the course and delivered spectacular lectures with up to the minute research in vine DNA and history, specifically for the benefit of VIA students.

Students faced a challenging 4-part exam on Thursday 7 April, which resulted in the inauguration of 21 new Italian Wine Ambassadors, the most successful class to date. Congratulations to all the participants, all of whom have now become members of the VIA family, intent upon spreading the love for Italian wine across the globe.

The list of Italian Wine Ambassadors, Verona Flagship Class of 2022: Peggy Baudon, Bev Bourdin, Julian Di Donato, Noell Dorsey, Jodie Hellman, Cedric Izri, Elissar Kurban, Jules Lamon, Chunxia Liu, Michael Markarian, Hee Sung Park, Gabby Rossouw, Christpher Sachs, Thomas Sartori, Erik Schneider, Rodrigo A. Sepulveda Schulz, Emiliano Stratico, Scott Thomas, Jessica van der Schee, Ezra Wicks, Ashlee Brianne Howell.

About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA’s main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIA’s scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar teach the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. To date there are 292 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of which 15 are also Italian Wine Experts.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: covid, Italy, Master of Wine, sommelier, valpolicella, vinitaly, wine education, Wine tasting, wine writer

Nine Additional Distilleries Join the Texas Whiskey Trail

March 20, 2022 by evebushman

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, bar menu, blend, bourbon, cocktail, cocktail menu, covid, craft cocktail, culinary, distillery, gin, gold medal, rye, scotch, single malt, spirits, tasting, tequila, texas, tour, vodka, whiskey

Visit Temecula Valley Attempts to Break World Record for Longest Toast Relay

March 19, 2022 by evebushman

TEMECULA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Visit Temecula Valley is putting a call out to the public to join them in an official attempt to break the world record for the longest toast relay on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Old Town Temecula.

More than 500 individuals have already registered to participate. Organizers are estimating approximately 50 groups with 40 people in each as their goal. Many local businesses and organizations have stepped up with their own groups, including Retire Temecula, Bunco Babes, Temecula Valley Wine Society, and several wineries.

The deadline to register is March 31. Participants must be 21 years of age or older and pre-register. A non-alcoholic beverage will be available as an option. All participants will receive a commemorative glass and lanyard, special offers from local businesses, and bragging rights.

Event in-kind sponsors include the City of Temecula, Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, Monte De Oro Winery, Oak Mountain Winery, Peltzer Winery, and Wilson Creek Winery.

Visit Temecula Valley is producing this event as part of their Live Glass Full brand launch, showing Temecula Valley as a wine-plus award-winning travel destination. Visit Temecula Valley is hopeful their new brand will welcome visitors back and increase tourism spend to pre-COVID numbers.

For more information and to register to participate, please go to VisitTemeculaValley.com/thegreattemeculatoast.com.

About Temecula Valley & Visit Temecula Valley
Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is a year-round vacation destination pouring award-winning wines as well as craft beers and spirits. It’s where people live glass full behind the scenes and under the spotlight.

The emerging and evolving culinary scene, small town atmosphere, and outdoor recreation and entertainment in Temecula Valley Wine Country, Old Town Temecula, and Pechanga Resort Casino culminate to create a spirited destination inspired by the vine.

Temecula Valley is located in the center of Southern California just 60 minutes from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Springs; 90 minutes from Los Angeles.

Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors. The Visitor Center is located in Old Town Temecula. For visitor information and assistance, please call (888) 363-2852 or go to VisitTemeculaValley.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: California, covid, Temecula, winery

WoodCraft Bourbon Blender is Taking Craft Bourbon Back to Its Roots

March 14, 2022 by evebushman

Cincinnati, Ohio – The innovators at WoodCraft Bourbon Blender have created a system that brings the custom bourbon of the 1800s to all bourbon lovers today.  This has translated into a new way of consuming bourbon by giving patrons what they want; their own personal single barrel bourbon by the glass or bottle.

Initial consumer and industry reaction has been so positive that the team is now franchising WoodCraft Bourbon Blender.  The first WoodCraft Bourbon Blender franchise, Barrels & Billets, opened its doors in Louisville, on the famous Whiskey Row, on February 23rd.

This exciting new bourbon experience where guests can blend, create and bottle their very own bourbon will complement Louisville’s thriving bourbon tourism industry by offering guests a fun and unique way to participate in the blending of their own personal bourbon.  Guests will blend with six award-winning WoodCraft bourbons which include a 200 Year Oak, European Oak, American Oak, Cherry Wood, Maple Wood, and Smoked Oak. During the experience, guests will learn the art of bourbon blending before the blending process begins. Once the blending experience is complete, guests can have their recipe bottled onsite.

The franchisee is the  Hillerich family – famous for their Louisville Slugger baseball bats.  They have a link to whiskey as the original family immigrant, J. Frederick, was a barrel maker.  They also have showcased years of expertise with consumer experiences such as their famous Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

“Some may be wondering why a sports and attraction company is getting into the bourbon business, but Barrels & Billets is actually a continuation of H&B’s long history of creating uniquely Louisville experiences for our fans and guests,” said John Hillerich, President & CEO of Hillerich & Bradsby Co.

Co-founders Doug Hall and Joe Girgash created the WoodCraft finishing system to offer everyone the ability to have their own custom bourbon.  Despite the chaos of Covid, they’ve worked through massive regulatory and production issues to make it possible for everyone to have their own bourbon again – one drink or one bottle at a time for a reasonable price. As Doug says, “Owning your own custom bourbon distillery is a ton of fun.  That said, you need to have patience as the process for regulatory approval is painful.”

It took three long years to turn this dream into a reality. Doug leveraged the invention skills from his other company, The Eureka! Ranch, and worked through the many challenges including those outlined below.

  • Working through state and federal rules and regulations
  • Teaching customers how to create their own custom bourbon recipes
  • Creating a way for the custom bourbon to have reliability so that it can be repurchased at later dates
  • Discovering a cost-effective system for creating individual bottles for the custom bourbon

The process is simple. Consumers can create their custom bourbon three ways:

  1. Enjoy a one hour blending experience, while learning about the art and science of master bourbon blending
  2. Work with a 2 minute Artificial Intelligence Bourbon Wizard
  3. Buy a custom Bourbon Blending Kit to do at home guided by an internet accessible video.

However, it doesn’t end here. Doug and Joe are constantly working on next steps.

They will continue to expand the franchising of the free-standing WoodCraft Bourbon Blending Machines in stores, as well as fractional franchising in over 20,000 distilleries, breweries, and wineries.  With a low investment, and small space requirement – franchisees can soon offer custom bourbon experiences and bourbon bottles to their clients.

They are also developing a way for a version of the blending machine to be available in bars and restaurants.  Additionally, they are building on their initial success of Dexter Bourbon and Noble Oak Bourbon and working to develop limited edition releases for franchisees to sell.  And, Doug, as a Canadian-American, is in talks to take the franchising of custom bourbon to Canada, and ultimately, around the world.

WoodCraft Bourbon Blending Franchising is currently not available in all states.  In keeping with Federal and State laws there is a disclosure process that must be followed.  To learn more, please visit www.BourbonFranchise.com

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: American oak, award, bar, Barrel, blend, bottle, bourbon, breweries, covid, craft, distillery, glasses, kentucky, Oak, recipe, restaurants, smoke, tour, wineries

Champagne sales recover in 2021, with cautious optimism for 2022

February 15, 2022 by evebushman

EPERNAY, France – The Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne today announced that total shipments of Champagne in 2021 rose to 322 million bottles in 2021, an increase of 32 percent over 2020. The market in France was up by 25 percent at nearly 142 million bottles, a return to 2019 levels. Exports continued to rise as well to a new record of 180 million bottles globally.

“This recovery is a welcome surprise for the people of Champagne after a troubled 2020 (with figures down by 18 percent), which was driven by the closure of main points of consumption such as bars and restaurants and the shortage of celebratory events across the world,” said Maxime Toubart, president of the Syndicat Général des Vignerons and co-president of the Comité Champagne.

With limited tourism and live events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, home consumption of Champagne appears to have increased. Consumers have chosen to entertain themselves at home, compensating for the generally gloomy mood with new moments of celebration and sharing.

Uncertainty about the duration of the pandemic led the wine trade to reduce stocks in 2020. However, in 2021 they reversed that trend, with the acceleration in consumer demand since April. Problems linked to logistics and transport disruptions also factored into the 2021 figures.

Jean-Marie Barillère, president of the Union des Maisons de Champagne and co-president of the Comité Champagne, said, “Thanks to exports and the consumer’s devotion to fine cuvees, Champagne will reach a record turnover of more than 5.5 billion Euros*.” However, he noted, “The average shipments in 2020-2021, at 280 million bottles and 4.9 billion Euros, remains under the pre-pandemic levels (300 million bottles, 5 billion Euros in 2019).”

Afflicted by the health crisis in 2020 and challenging climatic conditions in 2021, the Champagne region hopes 2022 will pave the way for a new cycle of growth.

*provisional figure to be confirmed

###
The Champagne Bureau, USA, is the official U.S. representative of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, a trade association which represents the grape growers and houses of Champagne, France. The Bureau works to educate American consumers about the uniqueness of the wines of Champagne and expand their understanding of the need to protect the Champagne name. For more information, visit us online at www.champagne.us.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: bar, bottles, champagne, covid, cuvee, France, restaurants

The Nth 2022 Ultimate Whisky and Spirits Experience: Celebrating 10 Years of Flavor, Distinction and Luxury

February 5, 2022 by evebushman

The Nth Ultimate Whisky and Spirits Experience is back with a bang for its glorious 10th anniversary celebrations, to be held once again at the beautiful Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Resort showcasing the very best our beloved Whisky and Spirits industry has to offer.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the past two years have been as troubling, uncertain and disruptive for the Whisky and Spirits industry as they have been for any other. We’ve seen no shortage of events rescheduled, cancelled, or switched to being held online… so it gives us an enormous amount of pleasure to be back in our spiritual home Las Vegas doing what we do best.

As our 10 year anniversary special, and as our triumphant comeback, we’re pulling out all the stops on the 22nd and 23rd of April 2022 and providing an experience unlike any other. If whisky and fine spirits make your world go round, there’s simply no better place to be.

Nth 2022 is more than just a celebration of fine whisky – it’s a voyage of discovery, a journey into the heart of what makes this world-beating spirit so very special, and an opportunity to take your passion to new heights. What’s more, it’s a chance to share this passion with like-minded individuals, new friends, and experts gathered from around the world, joined together by an unrivalled enthusiasm for sheer excellence.

World class exhibitors, resplendent dinners, meet and greets, Master Classes, Super Pours, High Roller Lounge, opening of new releases, High Roller package (for those seeking to truly make the most of their Nth 2022 experience) justifies its reputation as the world’s leading fine Whisky and Spirits event.

A COVID-Secure Celebration In Style

On the one hand, the team behind the Nth 2022 are keen to ensure that the experience exceeds all expectations in a way befitting all good 10th anniversary celebrations. On the other, we want to ensure that all of our guests and delegates feel safe, remain protected, and that guidelines are adhered to with the latest healthcare advice.

Nth 2022 is, after all, an interactive experience; one at which whisky and fine spirits lovers from across the nation and the globe can come together in celebration, and get up close and personal with their favourite labels. As such, Show Founder Mahesh Patel has been working tirelessly to ensure the safest measures have been taken, with no compromises made when it comes to spectacle and sophistication.

The result? An interactive exhibition experience, which surpasses any of the ten years of whisky convention excellence that has gone before. By working alongside Wynn Resorts, and by adhering to a wide array of health and safety guidelines, we’ve designed Nth 2022 in a way that will keep delegates safe without ever interrupting the pleasure and enjoyment that sits at the heart of the event. The Nth 2022 will go ahead exactly as it should: as a joyful celebration of whisky and spirits. After all, you wouldn’t expect – and don’t deserve – anything less.

A Thrilling Array of Vendors and Exhibitors

There are many reasons why aficionados of fine spirits have The Nth 2022 marked on their calendars as an unmissable date, and just as many reasons why guests will be flocking to Wynn Las Vegas from across the globe. Our exclusive High Roller Experience comes with a stunning array of master classes, super pours, gifts, dinners, networking and tasting some of the world’s most expensive new releases of spirits in the world. However, at every Nth Experience the real big draw is the chance to explore what’s on offer from our incredible array of guest vendors and exhibitors, who represent the absolute cream of the crop of the spirits world. As you’d expect from a 10th anniversary celebration, this year’s event has truly gone the extra mile to include representatives from the world’s most prestigious and exciting distilleries.

We’ve invited exhibitors from Scotland, Japan, the USA, France, and even further afield this year, bringing them together for your pleasure right here in Las Vegas. Guests at The Nth 2022 will be able to pick up tips from the masters, peek behind the curtain of some of the world’s greatest producers, and get up-close-and-personal with some absolute wonders from their archives and cellars. From The Dalmore to Bowmore, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich, and from The Macallan to Michters and countless others in between, it’s a deep dive into the greatest names and hidden treasures of the industry.

Super Pours and Once-in-a-Lifetime Drams

If the Nth experience is known for one thing, it’s that it gives whisky connoisseurs the chance to truly tick off their spirits bucket list in flawless style. The Nth 2022 has truly upped the ante when it comes to the list of Super Pours on offer this year, with an awe-inspiring list of whiskies and Spirits being brought out for your tasting pleasure and sensory fulfilment.

We’re keeping the list of Super Pours available at The Nth 2022 under wraps for the time being… but recent years have seen incredibly rare and precious whiskies (such as G&M Private Collection Mortlach 1954, Glenfiddich Grand Cru, Dalmore 35YO, Last Drop 1870 Port, and The Glenlivet Atlantic 1965) being poured to rapturous applause. Trust us when we say 2022 features bottles that are right at the top of the wish-lists of the world’s greatest whisky fans, and they’re surely not to be missed.

Master Classes with Industry Icons

The Master Classes at The Nth have always been one of the biggest draws to this industry-defining showcase of fine spirits, and Nth 2022 is shaping up to be the best yet when it comes to panels and seminars hosted by the world’s most celebrated experts. Delegates at last year’s event were able to join Whisky Master Classes including: The Urquhart Family, The Dalmore distillery, William Grants and many more….

Here’s to Ten More Years!

The past ten years of The Nth have been an incredible journey; a chance to rejoice in the love and appreciation of the world’s finest spirits, educate dedicated whisky fans and deepen the joy that masterful distillation can bring.

On the 22nd and 23rd of April 2022, we’re coming together at The Wynn Las Vegas to not only celebrate the zenith of whisky and fine spirit production, but also to celebrate the journey The Nth has been on.

2022 is going to be a year to remember right across the spirits industry – it’s the year of the comeback, the defiant return to form, and of new ambitions and new ideas. The Nth 10 Year Anniversary experience is sure to be the highlight, and we can’t wait to see you there.

For Tickets and Event information please visit www.universalwhiskyexperience.com

https://www.facebook.com/universalwhisky

https://www.instagram.com/universalwhisky/

 

 

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: covid, education, event, Japan, las vegas, las vegas highlights, nth, scotland, single malt whisky, spirits, UNIVERSAL WHISKEY EXPERIENCE, universal Whisky Experience, whiskey, whiskey dinner, whiskey tasting, whisky, whisky event, whisky tasting

Eve’s Pet Peeve: How We Treat Restaurant, Bar and Winery Staff During a Pandemic

January 7, 2022 by evebushman

I recently shared a photo I had found on social media, a sandwich board sign outside of a dining establishment that read:

“Small Coffee” $5

“Small Coffee, please.” $3

“Hello, one small coffee please.” $1.75

This post got mostly positive comments, about how to treat wait staff. However, my caption questioned, “Easier said than done?” No one admitted to being anything but kind to wait staff. But I’ve been guilty of it myself – not thinking, in a rush, irritated over some small infraction I perceived on their part – and more recently I had also heard from many pals in the service industry that kindness had sort of dropped off the customer’s radar even more since Covid.

Though my focus is on how we treat staff at wineries, bars and restaurants, this thoughtlessness – and downright rude behavior – has only worsened over the different mandates businesses have had to enforce. Personally I’m fine with the mask and social distancing, so it mystifies me as to why some customers take their irritation out on wait staff. The restaurant owners I have spoken to say that they have been threatened by closure if they don’t enforce the policies, putting them on the front line of disgruntled people.

My message here isn’t political. (If you know me you know that I never share my own politics.) It also isn’t structured by reviewing all of the ever-changing CDC standards. It is, however, just a reminder to people to be kind to those in the service industry that are just trying to do their jobs – and simply be able to remain open without the threat of being shut down if they don’t follow current mandates.

Now, rant over, here are some examples of what you may not be doing even if you think you are polite enough:

When staff greets you, greet them back. If they ask how you are, respond, and ask how they are. I’ve even gone as far as giving them my name, and the names of the people at the table with me, when they give me theirs. I loved the shocked, yet appreciative, looks that I get every time I do this and that just solidifies that it is the right thing to do.

If your server is in a rush or not as friendly as you like, try to understand what the cause may be. They aren’t purposely being rude to you; but just like you, they are human beings with things going on you may not be aware of. They could very well have someone ill, or recently passed away, in their own family. So slow down with your criticism, inward and outward.

Any service worker is stuck. A customer can yell at them but they can’t yell back. They are getting cursed at, eye rolls and shorted on tips. But if they ever were to treat a customer in any of these ways they would be in jeopardy of losing their job, no matter how warranted it may be.

Honestly, I always see it as a sign of weakness on the part of the customer that does this, as we are all well aware that the employee rarely feels safe in responding in kind. Don’t be that customer.

With the pandemic you should also be already aware of staff and food shortages. This is in no way the fault of the business owner or employees, so you shouldn’t let your frustrations out on them. Their own frustration is twofold, obviously, as they can’t maximize profits with less staff and product.

Your tip, at what should be 20%, is not about the food, it’s about the service. If your server in a winery was outstanding, add in a cash tip even if there isn’t a little line for it on your receipt. (Anytime you can tip in cash it also helps your server.)

If a member of the staff has their nose peeking out of a mask, and this bothers you, dine and drink elsewhere. Same goes for if you feel crowded, or unsafe for any reason.

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.

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: bar, coffee, covid, dining, drink, food, food service, restaurant, server, social media, winery

Slow Wine Announces Its 2022 Us Tour, Welcoming New Wineries From Italy And The United States

January 6, 2022 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB)  – The acclaimed Italian wine organization, Slow Wine, announces the return of its annual multi-city event series in the United States. The series celebrates the publication of the international 2021 Slow Wine Guide, which originated in Italy as the sustainable beverage branch of the Slow Food movement. Events will be held in San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Miami, and New York, between January 24th and February 2nd, 2022.

Photo: from Slow Wine Guide’s Facebook.

The Guide’s Italian wine section continues to grow substantially, as more environmentally-focused wine producers join their peers in the Slow Wine movement. A total of 1,958 Italian producers are featured in the Guide this year. Slow Wine’s United States membership has also grown significantly, guided by US Editor and esteemed wine educator, Deborah Parker Wong, and her team of dedicated field coordinators. For the first time ever, the United States portion of the 2021 Guide will stand on its own as an individual publication, separate from the Italian wineries, boasting 285 wineries from California, Oregon, Washington and New York. Slow Wine is keeping this format for the upcoming 2022 edition, published by Goff Books.

The Slow Wine Tour will be back on the road in the United States in early 2022, thanks to the dedication of the guide’s Editor in Chief, Giancarlo Gariglio, and his team. The tasting events will showcase more than 75 wineries from Italy and the United States, welcoming hundreds of wine professionals in San Francisco (January 24th), Seattle (January 25th), Austin (January 27th), Miami (January 31st), and New York (February 2nd). Slow Wine will be one of the first international wine organizations to host a large-scale event series in the country post-Covid-19, continuing its vision of uniting the Italian and American wine industries through clean viticulture.

The mission of Slow Wine, a non-profit organization, is to promote “good, clean, and fair” wines, in a time when climate change has never been more evident nor more threatening to winegrowers and winery owners. In a further commitment to sustainable agriculture, Slow Wine partner wineries have signed a Manifesto created by the Slow Wine Coalition, a united global network of wine industry members who are dedicated to supporting a wine revolution driven by environmental sustainability, protection of the land, and rural, social, and cultural growth. The Coalition will meet for the first time in Bologna, Italy, from February 26th to March 1st, 2022 during the Slow Wine Fair for four days of conferences and tastings.

In an effort to modernize the Guide and create additional transparency between the wineries and consumers, the 2021 Slow Wine Guide now features unique QR codes for select wineries, which direct readers to video interviews with the winemakers and the Slow Wine editorial team.

About Slow Wine
The Slow Wine Guide evaluates over 2,000 Italian wineries, and over 300 American – including a small selection from Slovenia – and treats each with the utmost respect and attention. The Slow Wine team prides itself on the human contact it has with all producers, which is essential to the guide’s evaluations. While other guides limit their relationship to a blind tasting and brief write-up, Slow Wine takes the time to get personal with each winery in order to create a well-informed, detailed review of the wines themselves and the people behind the production. Slow Wine selects wineries that respect and reflect their local terroir and practice sustainable methods that benefit the environment. For the first time ever, those wineries that receive the snail or the official Slow Wine seal are 100% free of chemical herbicides, a quality that the Slow Wine Guide continues to passionately support.

About Colangelo & Partners
Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine and spirits brands, and has long-established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on “closing the loop” between creative communications programs, distribution, promotion, publicity and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: California, climate, covid, Deborah Parker Wong, Italy, New York, non profit, Oregon, san francisco, slow wine, sustainable, u.s., united states, viticulture, washington, wine event, winegrower, wineries

New Deal Distillery’s Driftwood Libations offer premium ready-to-drink cocktails

December 29, 2021 by evebushman

PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – After a long day at work, not everyone has the time, patience, or know-how to make a balanced cocktail – but thankfully, New Deal Distillery does. So, let them fix you a drink! New Deal Distillery’s Driftwood Libations line https://newdealdistillery.com/driftwood-libations offers pre-mixed cocktails that only need to be poured, stirred, and garnished – truly bringing bar quality cocktails to your kitchen.

It is no secret that COVID-19 has changed the way that the general population imbibes. The RTD category has exploded in popularity and as consumers’ interest has grown, so has that of beverage producers. This boom led to some truly amazing canned cocktails but there was still something missing from the market. As New Deal’s owner and head distiller Tom Burkleaux explained, “the goal of the Driftwood Libations project was to craft an elevated RTD cocktail, something you might serve up to impress a guest, to celebrate a special occasion, or to truly treat yourself”.

Cue the Driftwood Libations flagship – The Driftwood Manhattan. This cocktail classic is crafted with three-year straight rye whiskey along with house-made vermouth and bitters. All that’s needed is a glass and some ice to enjoy. The success of this ready-to-pour and easy-to-drink cocktail inspired yet another classic, a Brandy Old Fashioned crafted with New Deal distilled Willamette Valley wines. This was soon followed by an Espresso Cocktail that infused house distilled vodka with cacao nibs and Portland-roasted Marigold Coffee, Burkleaux maintaining that “if wide-leg jeans get to come back, so do Espresso Martinis”.

This trio will soon be joined by a Negroni Blanc and Vesper Martini, with more expressions in the works. Looking to buy your friend a round? New Deal Distillery’s Driftwood Libations are now available for shipping to 40+ states: https://shop.newdealdistillery.com/

More about New Deal Distillery:

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

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: artisan, bitters, brandy, canned cocktails, cocktail, cocktails, coffee, covid, distillery, ice, libation, manhattan, Martini, natural, negroni, old fashioned, Oregon, organic, rtd, rye, spirits, vermouth, vesper, vodka, whiskey, willamette valley

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Eve Bushman

Eve Bushman, owner Eve’s Wine 101 and Eve Bushman Consulting.

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