Afternoon Brief: Global Wine Recovery on the Horizon

The wine industry could be back on an upward trajectory in as little as 12 months, according to one study...

Turning The Tables on Becky Garrison

By Carl Giavanti Becky Garrison is a satirist, journalist and author. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2014, she has been covering the PNW craft

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

Best of the Best Awarded to Garrison Brothers Distillery’s Guadalupe Whiskey December 18, 2023 (Santa Rosa, Calif.) — Winners have been announced for the 2023 Craft Distillers Spirits Competition, which took place in Santa Rosa, Calif., earlier this month. Taking the top spot this year is Guadalupe, a Texas straight bourbon whiskey finished in a port cask from Garrison Brothers Distilling in Hye, Texas. Judges described Guadalupe as “Very elegant”; “Warm finish”; “Delicious.” Garrison Brothers Master Distiller Donnis Todd says, “What sets Guadalupe apart is the unique Texas climate, with its dramatic temperature fluctuations, and our careful selection of the right wet port barrels. This combination is key to Guadalupe’s distinctiveness. Our goal was to capture and highlight the port notes, offering bourbon enthusiasts the same thrilling experience I get when discovering these exceptional barrels in our barns. “The visc

Best of the Best Awarded to Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. Barrel Aged Shine  December 21, 2022 (Santa Rosa, Calif.) — Winners have been announced for the 2022 Craft Distillers Spirits Competition, which took place in Santa Rosa, Calif., earlier this month. Taking the top spot this year is Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. Barrel Aged Shine, a limited production release from the Blairsville, Ga., producer.  The distillery is named for famed bootlegger Jack “Mimm” McClure, whose great-grandson, Tommy Townsend, founded the company using the secret family recipe. Judges described the Barrel Aged Shine as “sexy,” “earthy,” “rich,” “velvety” and “full of holiday spices,” At the end of the competition, the Shine took a Best Whiskey, Best of Class, double gold medal as well as Best of the Best honors. The distillery’s Sorghum Rum also won Best of Class honors (see list below).  Debra

MARCH 1, 2022 – Winners have been announced in the first-ever Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A Cabernet Sauvignon from Adobe Road Winery (www.adoberoadwines.com) and an XO Cognac from Sire Spirits (www.sirespirits.com) topped their fields to be named Best of the Best. The competition was established, 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 country. Judging took place February 20-22 and, says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine Competitions Management & Production (winecompetitions.com), “Typically, a strong first-year competition can expect about 500 entries. We were thrilled to receive more than 1,250 submissions — producers were clamoring to get in!” Even with a large number of entries, competition was s

When Janie Brooks Heuck, Managing Director of Brooks Wine in Amity, Oregon, was asked how she came into this industry, she responded with a melancholy laugh... The post Janie Brooks Heuck: Taking on Challenges and Committed to Giving Back appeared first on Wine Industry Advisor. Url:https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2021/01/19/janie-brooks-heuck-taking-challenges-and-giving-back?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=janie-brooks-heuck-taking-challenges-and-giving-back Published Date:Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:00:05 +0000