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

Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Takes Top Prize  November 18, 2025 — Winners have been announced in the 2025 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Red Wine and Best of Monterey County AVA. Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “warm and spicy” with “fig and nutmeg.” Other descriptors included “meaty,” “prosciutto,” and “dried rose petal.”  With entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine.  In other competitions, this terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challen

The countdown is on, our Holiday Open House & Marketplace is less than 1 week away, happening Saturday, November 22nd from 11AM to 3PM! We’re thrilled to welcome back some of your favorite Grand Cru member wineries and craft artisans, along with a few new faces you won’t want to miss. Returning Favorites + Exciting First-Timers What’s waiting for you:  Taste 40+ wines from our family of small producers  Discover one-of-a-kind gifts and treats from local craft artisans  Kids crafts table for little hands  We’re dog friendly — bring your furry friends along  Sip coffee samples from Bella Rosa Coffee  Delicious bites from Benny's Smash Burgers and Three's a Platter Mobile Charcuterie (available for purchase)  Complimentary valet parking Featured Wineries: Bienvenue • Black Kite • Bucher • Boars' View • Copper Six • Cormorant • Jeff Cohn Cellars • Morét-Brealynn

Enartis S.r.l., a leading company of the Esseco Group and a world leader in providing products and technologies for the oenological industry, announces the signing of a preliminary agreement to acquire 100% of Parsec S.r.l., an Italian centre of excellence based in Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), internationally renowned for designing and manufacturing advanced, integrated control systems for the wine sector. The effectiveness of the agreement is subject to the completion of the procedure required by Italian law. The integration of Enartis and Parsec will create a global player capable of offering wineries worldwide a complete and smart management of their production processes, combining the advantages of cutting-edge oenological solutions with advanced, automated process management, from grape reception to bottling, on a single platform. This strategic union, following the acquisition of the Portuguese company Winegrid in 2023, will mark the birth of a globally unique hub of expertise. T

Sunset Magazine, the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle, announced today its call for entries in the 2025 Sunset International Spirits Competition. Judging will take place November 4-5, 2025. Winning producers will be featured in a Spring release of a Spirits Special non-print, digital edition with supporting microsite. Promotions for Spirits Award Special Issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters and Sunset social sites. The edition will be promoted and available for 12 months or until the 2026 Spirit Awards winners are announced. Wine & Spirit Competitions Management & Productions (WSCM&P) will manage the competition. “When you combine the reputation and influence of Sunset with the an experienced panel of judging professionals — including award-winning distillers, Master Sommeliers, beverage retail buyers and key media — this becomes a must-enter competition for any distillery looking for exposure to an ideal audience,” say

Wakefield Taylors Wines and 1800 Milenio Take Top Honors July 14, 2025 — Winners have been announced in the 18th annual Women’s International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWWSC). The competition, which took place recently in Santa Rosa, Calif., was founded on the premise that the majority of wine purchased for home consumption is bought by women. The IWWSC judging panels consist entirely of professional women in the wine and spirits industries — winemakers, distillers, marketers, buyers, sommeliers, educators and journalists.  This year, Wakefield Taylor Wines 2024 Estate Riesling and 1800 Milenio Extra-Aged Añejo took top honors. Wakefield Taylor, a heritage winery in Australia’s Clare Valley (a region known for quality Reislings), wowed judges with its “mouthwatering citrus blooms” and “gentle salinity.”  A representative from 1800 Mileno remarked, “1800 Milenio is backed by 11 generations of tequila-making e

2025 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition Announces Call for Entries  Santa Rosa, Calif., (March 20, 2025) — Sunset Magazine, the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle, announced today its call for entries in the 2025 Sunset International Wine Competition. Established in 2012, the Sunset International Wine Competition was the most successful launch of a wine competition in U.S. history.  Winning producers will be featured in a Fall release of a Wine Special non-print, digital edition with supporting microsite. Promotions for the Wine Award Special Issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters and Sunset social sites. The edition will be promoted and available for 12 months up until the 2026 Wine Competition Awards winners are announced. Wine & Spirit Competitions Management & Productions (WSCM&P) will manage the competition.  “When you combine the reputation and influence of Sunset with the most experienced wine ju

Garrison Brothers Distillery and Ledson Winery Take Top Honors  (March 17, 2025) — Winners have been announced in the fourth annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A merlot from Ledson Vineyards & Winery (Sonoma County, Calif.) and a small batch bourbon from Garrison Brothers Distillery (Hye, Texas.) 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 25-26, 2025. 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!” Competition this ye

Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling Takes Top Honors November 15, 2024 — Winners have been announced in the 2024 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging,Two K Farms Cidery and Winery 2022 Bubbly Riesling took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Sparkling Wine. Coming in at 97 points, judges praised the wine for its “Mouth watering citrus and honeysuckle”; “Lingering tropical finish”; and “Perfect bubbles.” They also called it “Well balanced.” With a record number of entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine. In other competitions, terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challenge, judges taste wines alongside other wines of the same appellation. W

Understanding Terroir How is your wine represented? Entry Deadline is Friday, 10/25 2024 Harvest Challenge  A win in the Harvest Challenge as the BEST WINE in your AVA can put your wine into a ï»¿whole new sales category. Terroir is a French term that refers to the environmental factors that impact wine production, and it can affect many aspects of wine, including:  Flavor profile: The soil type, climate, and topography of a region all contribute to the flavor profile of the wine. For example, sandy soil tends to produce drier wines, while clay-based soils produce bolder wines.  Texture and mouthfeel: The soil type and topography of a region can impact the texture and mouthfeel of the wine. For example, chalky soils can give wine a mineral flavor and a chalky texture.  Balance and acidity: The climate, particularly the amount of sunshine, temperature variations, and rainfall patterns, can impact the balance of sugars and acids in the grapes.  Wine