Papapietro Perry Winery and Four Roses Bourbon Take Top Honors (March 6, 2026) — Winners have been announced in the fifth annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A pinot noir from Papapietro Perry (Sonoma County, Calif.) and a small batch bourbon from Four Roses Distillery (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) topped their fields to be named Best of the Best. The competition was established in 2022, in conjunction with Los Angeles-based beverage professionals (representing both the on- and off-premise channels), to highlight the best of the best wine and spirits producers in the world, and to introduce those producers to the largest market of consumers in the United States. Judging took place February 18-19, 2026. Competition this year was stellar, says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine Competitions Management & Production: “Year after year, our judges continue to be impressed with the depth in each category. The quality of product was fantastic!” Wh

Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) announces the next installment of the “Why Wine?” campaign, a movement dedicated to celebrating the authentic story of wine. With consumer preferences rapidly evolving and new competition emerging in the marketplace, the campaign focuses on uniting the industry to ensure wine remains an essential part of a modern, healthy lifestyle.  NVV launched the initiative in summer of 2024. To encourage more involvement and the continuation of the campaign, dozens of “Why Wine?” videos were captured at the Premiere Napa Valley wine auction in February. Industry members shared their personal stories and insights about what makes wine so special. These heartfelt videos are now available for viewing on YouTube at the Why Wine Video Playlist. Also attending Premiere Napa Valley was podcaster Ray Fister of Life Between the Vines who asked the question, “Why is wine important?” to guests and winemakers at the event.  The “Wh

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, Announces Spring Winemaker Dinner Series Featuring Jonata & the Hilt Estate, and Grassini Family Vineyards

The popular intimate gatherings take place this April, and May, highlighting superb wines and education by the winemakers, paired with culinary delights from Angel Oak’s Chef de Cuisine, Diego Seitour […]

Hall Unveils Partnership with Prestige Wine Group to Introduce Its Luxury Wine Portfolio within the U.S. & British Virgin Islands

NAPA VALLEY, CALIF. (April 3, 2024) – HALL, a family-owned winery in Napa Valley that produces  award winning, distinctly sourced, and expressive wines, for their three labels – HALL, WALT […]

Hall, Walt & Baca Wines Launch 2022 Season of Its Celebrity Happy Hour Series

Jimmy Kimmel, Christina Haack, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jason Silva Added to Line-Up  (ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA – January 20, 2022) – HALL, WALT and BACA Wines, a  set of three, family-owned wineries […]

Afternoon Brief, January 21st

A Bottle of Wine Could Cost $5 More This Year as California Winemakers Grapple with a Glass Crisis: California winemakers are grappling with a glass crisis that has sent the price of bottles shooting up, raising fears that they'll have to increase costs for consumers...

Afternoon Brief, August 26th

Sustainable Packaging for a More Wholistic Wine Business: Eco-friendly packaging engages consumers, improves brand image, and is simply better for the environment. WIA feature by Barbara Barrielle, with insights from Fetzer Vineyards...

Afternoon Brief, August 2nd

Terold Purchases Majority Stake in WX Brands: Novato-based WX Brands, a leading global wine company, and Terold, a company owned by members of the Bemberg Family Group, have announced that Terold has purchased a majority stake in WX Brands effective July 30, 2021...