Cheers To The Wine Industry Trailblazers Who Impact What We Put in Our Glasses Every Day

The Wine Star Awards recognize the most inspiring and influential people and companies that have achieved resounding success and paved the way for meaningful change in the beverage alcohol industry this past year.

2022 marked the 23rd anniversary of Wine Enthusiast‘s Annual Wine Star Awards, honoring individuals and companies who make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world.

Once again, Wine Enthusiast, one of the most influential voices in the wine and drinks industry, celebrated the innovation of the individuals and companies that have significantly contributed to the success of the wine and alcohol beverage world with Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards.

“Our 2022 award winners truly encompass the diversity of forward-thinkers within the drinks industry—from social visionaries to CEOs, spirits producers to sommeliers and wine producing regions across the globe. We appreciate the passion and talent each of our winners brings to the table. Cheers to the trailblazers who impact what we put in our glasses every day.” – Wine Enthusiast.

ReserveBar, the established leader in premium and luxury beverage alcohol e-commerce, has been awarded

“Retailer/Marketplace of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast’s Annual Wine Star Awards. ReserveBar co-founders Lindsay Held and Jeff Carton were formally presented the award by Sybil Strum, co-founder of Wine Enthusiast, at the Wine Star awards which took place at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on January 30, 2023.

A pioneer in the spirits e-commerce space, ReserveBar is considered more than just a “delivery service.” Its commitment to providing luxury and premium services to its customers is proven through its innovative “content-to-commerce” and “e-commerce everywhere” distribution strategies. While ReserveBar is fiercely committed to serving its customers, it is also consistently presenting data and business intelligence opportunities to its suppliers and retail partners to help improve distribution processes.

This award acceptance comes on the heels of ReserveBar’s latest launch of Get Stocked, which will serve as a content-centric destination dedicated to exploring and purchasing a curated selection of the best craft beer, ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs), and hard seltzers available.

2022 WINE STAR AWARD WINNERS:

• Person of the Year: Jeff O’Neill
• Lifetime Achievement: William Foley
• American Wine Legend: Randy Ullom.

• Winemaker of the Year: Nicole Hitchcock;
• Wine Executive of the Year: Nicholas Miller;
• Innovators of the Year: Anita Oberholster, Tom Collins and Elizabeth Tomasino;
  

  @2022 WINE STAR AWARD WINNERS; @winemag.com

• Social Visionary of the Year: The Hue Society;
• American Winery of the Year: Hope Family Wines;
• European Winery of the Year: Domaines Ott’

• New World Winery of the Year: Zuccardi Valle de Uco
• Region of the Year: Abruzzo, Italy

It is Wine Enthusiast‘s Region of the Year for reasons that outnumber the surprises it offers—from its unspoiled villages to its stunning natural landscapes, filled with waterfalls, rivers and historic castles. The celebrated wine region is also fast becoming an ambitious destination of slow travel, emphasizing a sustainable connection to local culture, people, gastronomy and music.

One of the oldest wine-growing regions, Abruzzo is located a scenic two-hour drive east of Rome. Unique microclimates sprawl throughout the 36,000 hectares of vineyards growing between the mountains and the sea.

• Importer of the Year: Pacific Highway
• Retailer of the Year: ReserveBar
• Spirit Brand of the Year: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
  When Pat (PJ) Rigney first created the prototype for Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin in 2014, he had visions of a gin flavored with botanicals from around the world, reflecting his own lifetime of travel, but distilled in Ireland, where his own heritage lay. “This is my life’s work,” says Rigney, now managing director and founder of The Shed Distillery, located in Ireland’s western province, Connacht.

• Sommelier of the Year: Tonya Pitts.
  With her enthusiastic, individualized approach and a magnanimous charitable streak, Tonya Pitts is a prime example of how sommeliers can impact the wine world far beyond the confines of the restaurants whose lists they shepherd.
  Pitts currently is wine director of One Market in San Francisco, where she manages a list of around 500 labels.
  

  Region of the Year: @Abruzzo, Italy; photo: @CONSORZIO TUTELA VINI D’ABRUZZO