Wine Enthusiast Magazine Announces the
Winners of its 2006 Wine Star Awards
And
the winners are?
Wine Persons of the Year:
David Pickens and Olive Garden Wine Team
American Winery of the Year:
Harlan Estate
European Winery of the Year:
Torres
New World Winery of the
Year: Clarendon Hills, Australia
Winemaker of the Year:
Olivier Humbrecht, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, France
Importer of the Year:
Moet Hennessy USA
Distiller of the Year:
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky
Retailer of the Year:
Beverages & More, California
Wine Region of the Year: Alexander Valley,
Sonoma, California
Lifetime Achievement:
Jess Jackson
Wine Enthusiast Magazine is pleased
to announce the winners of its annual Wine Star
Awards for 2006, recognizing excellence in the
wine and spirits industry. Feature articles on
each of these winners from ten different categories
will appear in the December 15th ?Wine Star Awards?
issue, which will be published on November 20th.
The recipients will be honored at a gala dinner
and awards ceremony at the New York Public Library
on Monday, January 29, 2007.
There were 50 nominees, five in each of the ten
award categories, and the winners were selected
for their outstanding contribution to the world
of wine and spirits, with special attention to
achievements in the year 2006. This year, the
prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award will be
presented to Jess Jackson. Our winners? are global,
from as close as California and Kentucky, and
as far as Alsace, Australia and Spain.
Wine Persons of
the Year: David Pickens
and Olive Garden Wine Team
Wine Enthusiast Magazine is recognizing Olive
Garden for its extensive and effective efforts
to introduce wine to the casual dining public.
Believing that wine is an integral part of an
authentic Italian dining experience, Olive Garden
has implemented innovative and far-reaching programs
to train both staff and public. Beginning in 1998,
Olive Garden created the annual ?Wine Ambassadors?
program, and in 1999, the company established
their Culinary Institute of Tuscany, a food and
wine immersion program. All Olive Garden staff
participate in on-going wine education programs,
and this training is reinforced by an ever-changing
wine list and a tableside sampling program featuring
more than 30 different wines, which provided more
than 30,000 free tasting samples to customers
last year. Wine Enthusiast Magazine congratulates
the Olive Garden for their success in making wine
accessible and enjoyable to thousands of customers
across the US.
American Winery
of the Year: Harlan Estate
Bill Harlan didn?t have to start a winery?but
he was driven by a vision, and anyone who knows
Harlan understands that visions are what fuel
this passionate man. He had two inspirations:
his love of Bordeaux wines and the opening of
Robert Mondavi Winery in 1966. It wasn?t until
1985 that Harlan and his winemaker, Bob Levy,
were able to clear land at the Oakville property
in Napa and plant their first grapes. Today, Harlan
Estate has become, to many, the greatest Cabernet
house in California. The winery has set the highest
standards in Napa Valley, and serves as an inspiration
to winemakers all over America.
European Winery
of the Year: Torres
Torres traces its roots in Penedes, Spain back
to 1870, and four generations later, Miguel A.
Torres serves as its President, with members of
the fifth generation already hard at work, keeping
the family tradition alive. The company produces
3 million cases of wine and 1 million cases of
brandy per year, with 60% of sales exported to
140 countries around the world. One of the most
prominent and most widely known wine producers
in Spain, Torres made its mark with Sangre de
Toro, one of the first Spanish wines to be distributed
world-wide. Today, they are producing elegant
wines such as the ultrapremium Mas la Plana, and
has established itself with notable achievement
in California and Chile, as well. For its global
reach in introducing people, to the pleasures
of Spanish wine, Wine Enthusiast Magazine is proud
to recognize Torres.
New World Winery
of the Year: Clarendon
Hills, Australia
Clarendon Hills produced its first vintage in
1990. Within four years, Clarendon had become
not only Australia?s most highly rated winery,
but also one of the highest rated anywhere in
the world. The company was founded by Roman Bratasiuk,
whose vision was to produce pure expressions of
the grape and vineyard, as well as wines that
age well and complement the dining experience.
Clarendon wines are distinctive in Australia,
as their wines are strictly Old World in approach:
100% single vineyard and 100% single varietal.
Clarendon produces 16 wines, focusing on Grenache,
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Its ripe
and concentrated wines offer an unusual combination
of Old World elegance with the power of New World
Australia.
Winemaker of the
Year: Olivier Humbrecht,
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, France
Born in 1963 in Colmar, Olivier Humbrecht became
co-owner and winemaker of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht
in 1989. The winery has 40 hectares under vine
and an annual production of between 12,000 and
16,000 cases. Olivier is the latest member of
many generations of Humbrecht winemakers, dating
all the way back to 1620. He is the only Alsatian
winemaker to have achieved the prestigious Master
of Wine certification, and is a passionate advocate
for the wines of Alsace and the benefits of biodynamic
farming. Critical acclaim has judged Olivier?s
winery to be one ?that truly captures the taste
of Alsace more accurately and intensely than any
of its neighbors.?
Importer of the
Year: Moet Hennessy USA
Moet Hennessy USA was formed in 2005 by the merger
of Schieffelin & Co with Clicquot Inc. and
Millenium Import LLC. The company represents and
markets Moet Hennessy?s portfolio of brands in
the U.S., as well as several brands previously
distributed by Clicquot. As part of LVMH, Moet
Hennessy?s brands define elegance, tradition and
prestige around the world. Their portfolio includes
the Champagnes of Moet & Chandon, Krug, and
Veuve Clicquot; the wines of Chateau d?Yquem,
Casa Lapostolle, Terrazas de los Andes and Cloudy
Bay; and the spirits of Hennessy, Grand Marnier,
Belvedere, Chopin and Glenmorangie. Sales from
their ultrapremium collection topped more than
$1 billion this past year. Moet Hennessy USA is
remarkable not only for the depth and breadth
of their portfolio, but also for the imaginative
support of their brands.
Distiller of the
Year: Buffalo Trace Distillery,
Kentucky
Buffalo Trace Distillery founded in 1775 and based
in Franklin County, Kentucky, is the oldest continuously
operating distillery in the US. As the most award-winning
bourbon distillery in the world, Buffalo Trace
sells a diverse portfolio of premium-aged bourbons;
every autumn since 2000 they have released limited
quantities of five superpremium bourbons. These
small-batch spirits, aged between 8 and 10 years
in charred American oak casks, are one of Buffalo
Trace?s main claims to fame. Buffalo Trace was
purchased by Sazerac in 1991, who immediately
undertook major renovations, both enlarging and
modernizing the distillery. With constant experimentation
and innovation, this distillery's goal is to create
nothing less than the perfect whiskey, not only
in America but in the world.
Retailer of the
Year: Beverages &
More, California
Founded in 1994 as Beverages and More! but renamed
BevMo! by its customers and owners, this extraordinary
retailer is the leading beverage-lifestyle superstore,
providing friendly and knowledgeable service to
thousands of customers every year. With 58 superstores
in California and Arizona, it also operates the
world?s #1 ?bricks and clicks? wine, beer and
spirits website, BevMo.com. BevMo! is known for
its huge and varied selections, at all price points,
with a selection of over 3,000 wines, 1,500 spirits
and 800 beers. In addition, the stores offer a
wide selection of related products such as specialty
foods and wine accessories, making it a one-stop
shopping experience for its customers.
Wine Region of the
Year: Alexander Valley,
Sonoma, California
The Alexander Valley is the most diverse grape-growing
region in California?s most diverse wine county,
Sonoma. This long, narrow valley, home to more
than 50 wineries and 200 producers, earned its
reputation with rich, fruity Zinfandels and field
blends in the 19th century. Alexander Valley Chardonnays
were the first in the state to be vineyard-designated,
and today the region produces remarkable Sauvignon
Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Pinot Blanc, Syrah
and Sangiovese and its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon
competes with the best of Napa Valley. Alexander
Valley remains a consistent source of both sound,
inexpensive value wines, and upscale, ultrapremium
bottlings.
Lifetime Achievement:
Jess Jackson
Born during the Great Depression, Jess Jackson
has enjoyed a number of diverse occupations, ranging
from farmer and policeman to land-use lawyer.
In 1974, Jess and his family bought an 80-acre
pear and walnut orchard, which he converted to
vineyards, and soon he began selling grapes at
local wineries; in 1982 Jess released the first
Kendall-Jackson wine. Jess and his family still
run the day-to-day operations of the winery. The
family grows grapes on 12,000 acres of California
coastal vineyards, continually evolving techniques
to raise the quality of the wines. Today, his
Jackson Wine Estates operates 24 wineries and
vineyards around the world, selling an estimated
5 million cases of wine a year. Among his major
achievements, Jess was one of the first and largest
winemakers to introduce America to varietal-specific
wine, not only increasing the public?s understanding
and appreciation of wine, but also making it affordable.
For
further information, contact Aileen Robbins,
arobbins@dunnrobbinsgroup.com
or 212-929-7700
For ticket sales, contact Tara Ferdico,
tferdico@wineenthusiast.com
or 914 345-8463
About
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Founded in 1988, Wine Enthusiast Magazine?s mission
is to educate and entertain readers about wine
and the wine lifestyle in an accessible and user-friendly
way. Wine Enthusiast Magazine has grown to become
one of the world?s most respected and quoted publications
in the field of wine and spirits. The magazine
is an important source of ratings and reviews
of both wine and spirits currently available in
the marketplace, vital to both consumers and to
the trade. With a readership of 500,000 per issue,
Wine Enthusiast Magazine is available in fine
wine shops, tasting rooms and major bookstores
nationwide. In addition, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
develops signature events for both consumers and
the trade. The magazine and ?Buying Guide? are
also available online at http://www.wineenthusiast.com/mag
###
WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE
103 Fairview Park Drive
Elmsford, NY 10523
http://www.wineenthusiast.com/mag
