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

Pinot Noir is recognized the world over as a noble grape. With one of the longest lived heritages of the wine grape world, pinot noir has been fascinating winemakers and wine drinkers for well over 1,000 years. Difficult to grow, prone to disease and vulnerable during vinification, making a great bottle of pinot noir is no small feat! These top 6 wines blew the top off of 2018’s Ultimate Wine Competition with scores ranging from 95 to 97 Points.

With over a century of family heritage in California’s Sonoma Valley, Frei Brothers has helped shape the region into what it is today. Named for the two sons, Walter & Louis, of Switzerland born founder Andrew Frei, the 1890 founded winery has had the opportunity to establish roots in the community.

Craft tequila continues to trend with the Extra Anejo category experiencing a huge surge of consumer interest. Aged in oak for a minimum of 3 years, the layers of complexity that a spirit takes on from barrel are highlighted. The best examples retain their agave core and still taste unmistakably like tequila while fully expressing the wood flavors at the same time. 2018’s Chairman’s Trophy winner, Partida Elegante, topped the charts with 95 Points and an Ultimate Recommendation.  

Sake, the Japanese rice wine, continues to grow as a category for imbibers all over the globe. As we continue to receive more sake submissions each year at Ultimate Wine Challenge, 2018 proved to be a strong year for premium sake. These 8 bottles scored an impressive 93 Points or above.