NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The winners of Wine Enthusiast magazine’s 18th annual Wine Star Awards, celebrating individuals and companies that have contributed significantly to the success of the wine and spirits industry, have officially been announced. As the scope of beverage culture and business has evolved, so too has this iconic awards event. Today, the Wine Star Awards honors industry game-changers from all facets and in all categories of the industry, from winemakers CEOs, and mixologists to sommeliers, brewers and marketing directors. These winners are united by their fearless passion for change.
“We’re thrilled to announce these highly esteemed sixteen Wine Star Award winners of 2017,” says Editor & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast, Adam Strum. “Over the last eighteen years, Wine Enthusiast has strived to anticipate what’s next in the world of wine and beyond and these recipients embody that vision. We will be honored to present these winners with the Wine Star trophy in Miami at the new Nobu Eden Roc Hotel.”
And the 2017 Wine Star Award winners are…
• Person of the Year – Jim Clerkin, President & CEO, Moët Hennessy North America
• American Wine Pioneer – Nicolaus “Nicky” Hahn, Founder, Hahn Family Wines
• Winemaker of the Year – Christophe Baron, Vigneron, Cayuse Vineyards
• American Winery of the Year – Kendall-Jackson Winery, Santa Rosa, California
• European Winery of the Year – Fontanafredda, Piedmont, Italy
• New World Winery of the Year – Vasse Felix, Margaret River, Australia
• Wine Region of the Year – Southwest France
• Importer of the Year – Vintus Wines
• Retailer of the Year – Safeway, Inc.
• Innovator of the Year – Bruce Hunter, Managing Director, Shaw-Ross International Importers
• Sommelier/ Wine Director of the Year – Chris Tanghe, MS, Chief Instructor, Guild of Sommeliers
• Spirit Brand of the Year – Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal
• Mixologist of the Year – Sother Teague, Co-Owner, Coup & Beverage Director, Amor y Amargo
• Brewery of the Year – Founders Brewing Co.
The winners will be honored at the 18th annual Wine Star Awards Dinner in Miami, Florida at Nobu Eden Roc on Monday, January 29th, 2018. To attend or RSVP please contact Jen Cortellini at jcortellini@wineenthusiast.net. To read in-depth profiles of the Wine Star Award winners, pick up the Best of Year Issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine hitting newsstands on December 5th, 2017 or online at WineMag.com. To join the social conversation follow @WineEnthusiast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #WineStar.
About Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Enthusiast’s approach to wine and spirits is accessible and unpretentious, and enjoyed by novices and experts alike. Published 13 times per year, the magazine’s audience is at nearly one million strong. The magazine and its Buying Guide with more than 200,000 ratings and reviews make up the most comprehensive database in the industry available for free online at www.WineMag.com.
