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

The 2026 State of the Industry session at Unified was cautiously optimistic but did delivered a clear message: the wine industry is not in a temporary downturn, it is undergoing a structural reset. We are deep into this adjustment but there is still work to be done. Declining consumption, excess supply, margin pressure, and changing consumer behavior are no longer emerging risks; they are now realities. They are now the operating reality. What made this year different was the alignment between market data, producer behavior, and financial results. The conclusions echoed the themes in the most recent SVB State of the Wine Industry Report: slower demand, elevated inventories, capital constraints, and the need for sharper business discipline. A Global Market Under Pressure As Mike Veseth, The Wine Economist, noted, wine is now a global commodity. Approximately 45% of all wine crosses at least one international border. While global trade continues to grow, overall consumption is

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

Price-sensitive consumers have kept a lid on wine sales this year, while grape sales are likely to remain slow. As for the moderation movement, a range of factors are contributing. It was a disappointing first half of the year for U.S. wine sales as a shaky economic backdrop quashed the signs of progress that were evident in late 2024. Nonetheless, there has been modest improvement in some areas since spring.  Retail wine sales fell across price segments in the first half but declined at a slower pace in the second quarter than in the first (see Page 3). Following a bleak first five months of 2025, direct-to-consumer sales, while still down, firmed in June and July. Alternatively, exports deteriorated markedly in the second quarter as shipments to Canada collapsed.  Unfortunately, I am not expecting much improvement in the near term.  The economic outlook remains murky, but the Terrain team believes that slow economic growth, a gradually eroding labor market, and sticky

The competition was fierce at this year's PACK DESIGN AWARDS.  Saverglass is proud to celebrate Seven Hills Winery and Bokisch Vineyards for their outstanding packaging choices. We extend our sincere appreciation to our customers and supply chain partners for their hard work and collaboration. Congratulations to everyone involved! Seven Hills Winery (Walla Walla, Washington, USA) BEST CLASSIC FORMAT 3rd PLACE: Defiant Chapter 01, 2024 Vintage: $255 Saverglass Designed MERVEILLEUSE glass bottle | Complete package design by Stranger & Stranger JUDGES' COMMENTS: "Definitely a creative look." "Gorgeous design, love the blue wax and the label. For a cult following, it works. " "They are going for the SQN bottling here and for the same customer. This package tells me what the wine profile is without ever tasting it. This bottle design will look great in a collector's cellar. This feels like a 98pt wine!" Bokisch Vineyards (Lodi, California,

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

In the ever-evolving world of wine, tasting rooms have long been sacred spaces for sampling vintages and educating consumers about winemaking. But recently, the definition of what belongs in a tasting room has expanded beyond the conventional pour. Enter the world of alternative beverages—non-alcoholic wines, wine-based cocktails like Frosé, and low-alcohol spritzers. These trends are carving out significant space, appealing to younger generations, health-conscious consumers, and a broader range of visitors. The rise of alternative beverages in tasting rooms isn’t just a fleeting fad—it’s a response to shifting consumer preferences and lifestyle trends. The adaptability of tasting rooms to these new offerings is a testament to the industry’s resilience. The question now isn’t whether tasting rooms should adapt, but how they can complement the core identity of wine while capturing the attention of a broader audience. Changing Consumer Preferen

Meet Honorary Chief Judge, Jennifer J.B. Kelly! As a wine and spirits executive, certified sommelier, entrepreneur, and wine judge with 15+ years of industry experience, Jennifer J.B. Kelly is perfectly poised to lend her experience to the Sunset International Wine Competition as Honorary Chief Judge. Jennifer has represented some of the world’s most prominent wine and spirits organizations working with both domestic and international portfolios. Jennifer is an aspiring Master of Wine who is currently enrolled in the WSET certification program to earn her diploma. Meet the Other Judges Winemakers • Sommeliers • Buyers • Wine Journalists Professional Wine Judges • Wine Educators Entry Fee: $99 Early bird pricing until May 8 Enter the Competition

Though the Sunset International Wine Competition is in it’s 9th year introducing western wine drinkers to best wines in the industry, this will be the 4th year that we’ve had the category “Best of the Best”. Beyond Gold, Double Gold, Best in Class and Best in Show is the one wine that’s considered the very best of that competition year. Take a look at the Best of the Best of the past three years. The Best of the Best 2022 2018 Wapato Point Cellars Cabernet Franc 2023 2022 Brecon Estate Albariño 2024 2022 Trentadue Montepulciano Entry now open for the 2025 competition The Sunset International Wine Competition will take place June 10th - 12th, 2025. The final deadline for submission is May 22nd, 2025. Enter the Competition

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