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

Introducing the Verdi Smart Valve Precision irrigation depends on one thing: knowing that every irrigation is delivered exactly as planned. For specialty crop growers managing multiple blocks, varied valve sizes, and rising production costs, achieving that level of control and visibility has often been difficult. Verdi’s new Smart Valve changes that. Each wireless unit enables remote control, real-time irrigation verification, flow-based scheduling, and water-use reporting, all powered by the Verdi Dashboard. It’s available in a full range of sizes from 1 inch to 4 inches. Built for Today’s Challenges Growers across specialty crops, from orchards and vineyards to berries and vegetables, are dealing with rising input costs, labor shortages, and increasing pressure to optimize resources. Many are navigating tighter margins while striving to maintain quality and compliance. The Smart Valve fills a critical gap in the market for growers who need automation that&rsq

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

San Jose, CA — October 29, 2025 — Liberation Distribution (LibDib), the leading web-based wholesale alcohol distributor, today announced the availability of Alana-Tokaj’s acclaimed portfolio of Tokaji wines in California, Washington, D.C., Florida, and Pennsylvania, with New York coming online soon. Among the releases is the 2013 Essencia, recently awarded 99 points by Wine Enthusiast—the highest-scoring Tokaji of 2025. Only 60 bottles were imported to the United States, making this a rare opportunity for fine-wine Buyers and collectors. “Akin to drinking silk, this is next-level Tokaji,” wrote Wine Enthusiast’s Emily Saladino. “Ripe pineapple, caramel, clementine, and juicy mango flavors marry delicate bergamot on the palate. The seemingly endless finish manages to be simultaneously sweet, tart, and intoxicatingly rich.”  Library vintages from 2006 and 2007 are also available now on LibDib,

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

Mark your calendars! Our Annual Summer Open House + Marketplace is happening Sunday, June 22nd from 11 AM to 3 PM, and we’re not just pouring great wine this year, we’re serving up some of the most exciting food in Sonoma County. This year’s culinary lineup is built for flavor-lovers and it’s one of our most thoughtfully curated yet. Maison Porcella is back — for an exclusive pop-up experience. If you were a fan of their Windsor bistro, this is your chance to enjoy their incredible French craftsmanship once again. Maison Porcella will be serving up exclusive charcuterie boards, bringing their refined flavors and signature style to our event. With their restaurant now closed, this special appearance offers a delicious taste of what made them a local favorite. 🍕 Gabacool Provisions Serving up overly-thought our New York inspired pizzas! 🍱 Shokakko Japanese and Asian-inspired comfort food, reimagined. Plus, local favorites from: Flatbed Farm ￮ Gold Ridge Far

In recent years, US trade policy developments – including broad tariffs and anti-dumping/countervailing duties – have disrupted global supply chains and increased costs across multiple industries. The wine and spirits sector, in particular, continues to experience the ripple effects of trade tensions involving key packaging sources such as China, Mexico, and Canada, along with ongoing tariffs on aluminum and steel. On April 2, 2025, President Trump invoked emergency trade powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), imposing a 10% “baseline” IEEPA tariff on most imported products from most countries, effective April 5. Higher tariff rates on imports from 57 countries were temporarily suspended for all but China, providing a 90-day reprieve. Meanwhile, China was subjected to 125% IEEPA reciprocal tariffs plus 20% IEEPA “fentanyl” tariffs, as well as any other applicable tariffs, such as the 25% China Section 301 tariffs initia

Sonoma, CA, April 22, 2025 – Free Flow Wines announced the winners of the 12th annual KEGGY Awards, honoring wine on tap leaders for their extraordinary environmental impact and commitment to sustainability. For the first time, the awards are being celebrated in April to align with Earth Month, reinforcing Free Flow’s mission to drive a more sustainable future for the wine industry with reusable steel kegs – a truly zero-waste package. Additionally, Free Flow expanded award categories this year to also recognize winery partners who have saved over 50K and 2MM bottles from the landfill.  “We changed the award schedule to Earth Month to reflect one of our core values: sustainability.” said Rich Bouwer, CEO of Free Flow Wines. “It is an exciting time to be talking about our wine on tap partners. Despite ongoing challenges in the alcohol beverage sector, keg shipments through Free Flow Wines have continued to grow—proving that wine on tap is n

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

A well-told story can transform casual buyers into lifelong fans. Your winery’s brand isn’t just about the wine—it’s about the moments it becomes a part of. The way your customers experience your brand, whether visiting your tasting room, joining your wine club, or opening a bottle at home, determines whether they come back for more.  Your Winery’s Story: More Than Just a Bottle of Wine What do you want people to feel when they experience your wine? Not just when they taste it—but when they visit your winery, when they join your club, when they open a bottle at home with friends. Do you want them to feel like they’re part of something special—a family tradition passed down for generations? Do you want them to feel like an insider—someone who discovered a bold, independent winery rewriting the rules? Do you want them to feel inspired—that every sip connects them to the land, the craft, and the passion behind it? Find Your