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

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

Santa Rosa, Calif., (February 28, 2024) — Sunset Magazine, the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle, announced today its call for entries in the 2024 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 2025 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 judging professionals, including award winning winemakers, Master Sommeliers, Masters of

Santa Rosa, Calif., (February 28, 2023) SUNSET Magazine, the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle announced today its call for entries in the 2023 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 2024 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 combined with the most experienced wine judging professionals, including award winning winemakers, Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, wi

Afternoon Brief, December 23rd

Wine Shipping on SCOTUS Agenda Again: Will the Supreme Court finally make a definitive judgment on interstate shipping next year?...

Les Dames d’Escoffier New York Awards 2022 Scholarships Breaks $2 Million Raised for Future Culinary Leaders

Annual Scholarships to 14 Women in Culinary and Beverage Studies NEW YORK, NY, August 4, 2022 — Les Dames d’ Escoffier New York (LDNY), the nonprofit educational, scholarship, and advocacy organization serving women […]

2022 Sunset International Wine Competition Awards Best of the Best and Best Red Wine to Wapato Point Cellars’ 2018 Cabernet Franc Santa Rosa, Calif., — June 14, 2022—Boasting a record number of entries, the 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition awarded Best of the Best and Best Red Wine to a Cabernet Franc from Wapato Point Cellars (Manson, Wash.). Judges raved: “Beautiful oak”; “Blackberry”; “Righteous herbal”; “Focused.” This is the first time a Washington State wine has taken top prize at this prestigious competition. “It was unexpected but well deserved,” says Debra Del Fiorentino, founder and president of Wine Competitions Management & Productions. “We had some really great wines in the final sweepstakes rounds, and Wapato Point Cellars swoops in and takes it all. Results like this are why competitions are so valuable.” To win Best of Show Red Wine, the Wapato Point Cab Franc ha