For this year’s ECRM Global Wine, Beer & Spirits tasting awards, we brought in three industry experts to sample products from participating suppliers and select their top three choices across several categories. The panelists included:

Jesse Kirkpatrick, Sommelier - Holman & Finch Shops
Jesse is now a sommelier and manager at Holeman and Finch Bottle Shop in Atlanta, GA. With its focus on guest interaction and education, it is here where she developed a mission to make wine approachable to the masses.

Jack Smith, Spirits Steward & President - Atlanta Scotch Club
Jack Smith is Founder and President of the Metro Atlanta Scotch Club (MASC), boasting some 1,300 members, and has been a consultant to the Whiskies of the World Expo in Atlanta since 2013. He has conducted hundreds of Scotch and Spirits classes and tastings, and serves as the spirits expert/consultant for the Cigar Guys Radio Show in Atlanta where he will be handling a weekly segment called "Jack the Whisky Guy," during which he discusses different whiskies and their flavor profiles.

Jonathan Mattson, Sommelier - Barnsley Gardens Resort
A longtime Atlanta food and beverage professional with a passion for Italian food and wine, Jonathan Mattson utilizes his extensive experience as Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage for Barnsley Gardens Resort & Spa. Mattson is a certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators and an Introductory Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers.

ECRM also held its People’s Choice Awards, in which attendees voted on their favorite products. The winners of each are listed below:

Panelist Winners:

White Wine:
Gold: Champagne Baron Fuente - 2008 Brut
Silver: Yarden, Inc. - 2009, Blanc De Blanc
Bronze: Les Vignerons de Tutiac - 2015 Cote de Bordeaux

Light Bodied Red:
Gold: Vignobles Arbeau - Pinot Noir
Silver: Robinson & Sinclair - Lanzerac
Bronze: Consulting and Marketing Strategy sp. zoo. - Sangiovese Di Todi

Full Bodied Red:
Gold: Sur Valles Wine Group - Potro de Piedra Cabernet Sauv.
Silver: Origin North America - Grand Vin de Stellenbosh
Bronze: Sur Valles Wine Group - Todo de Piedra Syrah

Cabernet:
Gold: Yarden, Inc. – Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver: Don Sebastiani & Sons – B-Side Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Bronze: Sur Valles Wine Group – Toro de Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon

Red Wine (Spain):
Gold: Hammeken Cellars S.L. - Tosalet Carignan
Silver: Hammeken Cellars S.L. - Oraculo
Bronze: Winexpain - Pozo de Nieve

Red Wine (France)
Gold: Barton & Guestier - Thomas Barton
Silver: Georges Vigouroux, Malbec de Cahor
Bronze: Barton & Guestier - Chateau Magnol

Malbec:
Gold: Rigal S.A. - Les Pierres Blanches Malbec
Silver: Les Vignerons de Tutiac - Grand Vin de Bordeau 2015
Bronze: Rigal S.A. - Les Terres Rouges Cahor

Liqueur:
Gold: Chatham Imports - Faretti Biscotti
Silver: Chatham Imports - Bubba’s Secret Still
Bronze: Quintessential Brands - Feeney’s Irish Cream

Best Packaging (Spirits):
Gold: Quintessential Brands - Bloom London Dry
Silver: Chatham Imports - Faretti Biscotti
Bronze: Southern Champion - Pelican Harbor

Gin:
Gold: Palm Bay International - Drumbshanbo Gun Powder Irish Gin
Silver: Quintessential Brands - Opihr London Dry Gin
Bronze: Terressentia Corporation - Hixson gin

Vodka:
Gold: Gas Familia, s.r.o. - Goral
Silver: Charles Jacquin et Cie, Inc. - Pravda
Bronze: Helix Spirits - Helix

Ready to Drink:
Gold: Blackfly - Grapefruit Vodka
Silver: Southern Champions (Buzz Balls) - Chocolate Teaser
Bronze: Blackfly Beverage - Long Island Iced Tea

Tequila Blanco (Unaged)
Gold: Tequila Fortaleza - Foraleza Blanco
Silver: Casa Maestri Distillery - Casa Maestri Blanco
Bronze: Luxco - Exotico Blanco

Tequila (Aged)
Gold: Luxco - El Major Anejo
Silver: Tequila Fortaleza - Fortaleza Reposado
Bronze: Tequila Fortaleza - Fortaleza Anejo

Whiskey:
Gold: Stolen Spirits - Stolen Whiskey
Silver: Chatham Imports - Michter’s Straight Rye
Bronze: Fetzer Vineyards - Peerless Kentucky Straight Rye

Rum:
Gold: Stolen Spirits - Stolen Rum Smoked
Silver: Stolen Spirits - Stolen Rum Over Proof
Bronze: Southern Champion - Pelican Harbor Black Rum

Specialty:
Gold: Bodega & Co. - Lolea Sangria, No. 1 Red
Silver: The California Cider Company - Ace Black Jack 21 Cider
Bronze: Social Sparkling Wine - Hibiscus Cucumber


People’s Choice Awards:
Choice Wine: Brothers International
Choice Beer: SLO Brewing
Choice Spirit: Helix Spirits
Bottle Design: Dona Celia Tequila
New Product: Black Fly