Spirits & Wine Award Winners, Top Scoring Products, Beverage Industry Trends and Best Wine and Spirits Lists

The world of craft cider continues to flourish all around the world, especially in the Hudson Valley of New York known as the apple belt. Angry Orchard is one of the best known producers of cider, offering a range of products that covers everything from experimental to basic. Once again in 2018 their ciders garnered top marks with the Chairman’s Trophy winner, Iceman Hard Cider, scoring 96 Points, and its close runner up, The Muse Hard Cider with 95 Points. Both ciders also received Tried & True awards for their consistency in quality.

Trends are cyclical, and there’s no exception to that in the world of beverages. Mead, a honey wine often infused with spices, has been around for 7000 years. It has had moments of popularity throughout human history, notably in the ancient Vedic and Greek societies, Celtic and German cultures, and now amongst experimental producers and imbibers of today.

Cava, Spain’s national sparkling wine made by the traditional method of a second fermentation in the bottle, is known for its crisp, dry, and elegant flavors. 2018’s Chairman’s Trophy winner, a rosé from Anna De Codorniu, earned 95 Points. Its blanc de blanc sibling also scored high with 93 Points, and both earned a Great Value award with a price tag of under $15.