OAK FARM VINEYARDS AND STEELBOUND DISTILLERY TAKE TOP HONORS IN 2024 LOS ANGELES INVITATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS CHALLENGE  MARCH 6, 2024 – Winners have been announced in the third annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A Barbera from Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi, Calif., and a Bourbon from Steelbound Brewery & Distillery in Ellicotville, N.Y., 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 26-28, 2024. Says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine & Spirits Competitions Management & Production, “The competition grew again this year to attract close to 1,100 entries, and our

Even a single exposure of grape vines to fire smoke can lead to the presence of detectable smoke taint in finished wine. Smoke taint is not an easy problem to fix, and depending on the level of contamination it might require the application of several different techniques on the same wine or juice. Smoke taint has also been shown to reappear in wines treated with selective filtration, so the earlier intervention occurs the better the results will be. The following techniques will minimize the potential impact and help protect your wine. Mitigation: 1. Treat with Flash Détente In addition to the more traditional techniques outlined below, treating red grapes with Flash Détente using the TMCI Padovan “Red Hunter” Thermovinification/Flash Détente system can significantly reduce the presence of smoke-related compounds. Studies have shown that reduction of smoke volatile phenols by flash détente can reach 50% or greater depending on the grapes and