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 conversations I have about quality tend to focus on red wine. This is especially true in California, where Napa Cabs have historically garnered high prices, followed up by Coastal Pinot noirs and red Rhones. Honestly, in most places I’ve been where the climate allows for ripening red grapes, the reds are the main event with the whites being more of a warm-up act or even an afterthought. As a result, we know a lot about how to grow red grapes for quality – and less about how to grow whites. Consumer tastes are shifting though, and the big reds of yore are taking a back seat. Drinkers want lower alcohol wines with a lighter style and wineries are taking fewer risks with wine they can turn around in under a year. As a result, white varieties are in hot demand. If you’re a grower who can’t sell your grapes, you may very well be considering grafting some of your reds over to white.  So how do you grow a good white? In many ways whites are harder than their r

Choosing Wine is an Emotional Decision Red, white, or sparkling – when reaching for a bottle on the wine shelf, it’s not just about the grape, origin or vintage. The chosen wine stands out from the crowd and makes an impression visually and to the touch. Labels make all the difference. They highlight the quality of the fine drop, tell stories, and reflect character. On just a few square centimetres, they give a brand a distinctive face in a world of standard bottles. Whether and how this is perceived can significantly influence the product’s success. If the packaging doesn’t appeal, even the best wine inside won’t help. First Impressions Count Let’s be honest. First: the initial impression – the “moment of truth” – is crucial. Second: even well-known brands need to prove themselves on the shelf. Third: the traditional wet-glue label is no longer the benchmark. Pressure Sensitive Labels (PSL) demonstrate that an attractive app

The wine industry is steeped in tradition, but let’s be real—it’s time to shake things up. Younger demographics aren’t buying into the same old wine marketing tricks or outdated experiences. Want to grab their attention (and their dollars)? Then it’s time to think bold, fun, and modern. You Don’t Have to Do It All—Start Small and Stay True to Your Brand Attracting younger wine lovers doesn’t mean you need to overhaul everything or abandon your roots. Instead, consider making a few strategic shifts that align with your brand. Maybe your website keeps the traditional tasting notes, but you have fun with social media. Maybe your weekends are reserved for 21+ reservation-only tastings, but your weekdays are more relaxed and family-friendly. The key is finding what works for you and your audience. Now, let’s dive into some ideas. 1. Flex Your Wine Club Options Your wine club isn’t working for everyone. Sure, your loyal members lov

by Steve Fredricks Last month I was impatiently waiting for my favorite Philly Cheesesteak as I overheard another sandwich lover describing the success of his investment in Dogecoin to his friend. He was touting Dogecoin as a “sure investment” based on his study of the price trend, and was looking forward to spending his yet unrealized gains. I couldn’t help but be reminded of reading about confirmation bias while studying psychology and behavioral economics. Confirmation bias is the tendency to place greater weight on the variables which support the future that most benefits us and to discount information that does not. Mr. Philly Cheesesteak failed to acknowledge the speculative nature of Dogecoin. I hope his friend didn’t choose to invest; shortly after overhearing that conversation, Dogecoin dropped 40 percent. Markets, in reality, are complex beasts with many evolving variables and more determining factors than just today’s price and direction. Histor

(February 10, 2021, Novato, CA) – The California Department of Food and Agriculture Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2020 was released today. This harvest was much smaller than average, but from a volume perspective it was in line with the Ciatti Company’s pre-harvest estimate. That said, this may be the most challenging crush report to analyze. Total tons were down but that was due to both Mother Nature’s lighter yields and issues of smoke exposure that plagued most of the entire Coastal regions where an unknown amount of the crop didn’t get picked. Trying to discern how each of these issues affected the final tons that crossed scales is a question that will drive future discussions in this market place.Those same issues could be examined when analyzing the pricing we see in this report. Pricing was down across the board. Mostly we feel that was due to a sluggish to nonexistent Coastal spot grape market in early 2020. But also, to a lesser extent, that was du

February 10th – Novato, CA – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for  2020 has been released. It is a summary for the supply of the wine and grape industry, containing tons  crushed and prices of wine grapes sold during the 2020 harvest. The Crush Report provides growers and  wineries insight into the inventory position for the California wine business as a whole, and influences  market dynamics for the current bulk wine market as well as the upcoming 2021 harvest. Key Insights by Region     Tons   Crushed   2020  Tons   Crushed   2019  Net   Gain/Loss  Equivalent   Gallons  % Chg  2020 %Δ  to 5Y Avg  North Coast  362,527  524,942  (162,415)  (26,798,000)  -31%  -29%  Central Coast  400,779  480,478  (79,699)  (13,150,000) 

Producers of many consumer products are comfortable selling online. Why not wine? Troly CEO Sebastien Tremblay shares perspective. The global wine market is now facing the nightmare scenario many commentators have been warning about for well over a decade. Smaller producers must stop relying on tasting room visitors to find and convert customers. This treat became existential for a significant number of wineries with COVID forcing an abrupt end to the ongoing reliance on restaurant sales. Low production volume prevents distribution First, it’s important to understand that economies of scale are outstandingly difficult to achieve in the world of wine. Neither land nor capital are easily available to producers ― most of them around the world are small businesses. As a result, low volumes produced mean higher production costs per bottle, which in turn means broad retail distribution is economically out of reach. This leaves the most obvious approach on the table: direct sa

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