After reviewing thousands and thousands of wines, beers and spirits this year, Beverage Testing Institute is proud to present the 2020 Best of Year award winners. These products represent the best in their categories and receive BevTest’s highest recommendations for 2020.
All products were blindly evaluated by a panel of trade buyers and category experts using custom BevTest software and their proprietary Cornell University co-developed methodology. As the only ASTM-conforming wine, beer and spirits competition, BevTest scores and reviews have proven to be the most trustworthy and consistent in the industry.
Each BevTest-reviewed product receiving a bronze medal or higher can be explored on Tastings.com, the organization’s consumer-facing publication outlet. Reviews, scores, medals, pairing or cocktail suggestions, category information and more are published bi-monthly. Executive Director Jerald O’Kennard highlights the importance of Tastings.com to retail sales this holiday season. “In light of the pandemic-related restrictions placed upon on-premise accounts, we’ve amplified our retail integrations for 2020. We’ve created powerful tools for beverage producers and marketers to convert Tastings.com viewers into their customers by seamlessly linking them to preferred e-commerce sites for each product we review.”
Many of these top winners are also featured in the interactive Tastings.com 2020 Holiday Gift Guide that launched earlier this week. The guide serves both consumers and the trade in highlighting vetted, insider picks alongside Best Buy value brands and trend-setting flavors. Retailers can use the guide’s picks to inform optimized shelf placements, POSM, and purchasing decisions. The guide features links to Tastings.com’s Buy-It-Now button so consumers can shop from their desktop or smartphone.
2020 Best Sparkling Flavored Wine: Giambellino Peach Bellini, Germany
2020 Best Fortified Wine: Auburn Road 2017 Vintage Ruby Fortified Wine, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain
2020 Best Fruit Wine: Florida Orange Groves Winery NV Barrel Selection Peach
2020 Best Zinfandel: Maddalena 2018 Zinfandel, Paso Robles
2020 Best US Tempranillo: Jarvis 2016 Estate, Tempranillo, Napa Valley
2020 Best Rioja: Campo Viejo 2015 Reserva, Tempranillo, Rioja
2020 Best Syrah: Wildwood Oak Winery 2017 Abba Vineyard “Mamma Mia”, Syrah, Lodi
2020 Best Rhône Varietal Blend: Golden Rule Vineyards 2016 Commonwealth Rhone Blend, Willcox
2020 Best Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo: Carletto 2018 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
2020 Best Red Meritage: Oak Farm Vineyards 2017 Genevieve, Lodi
2020 Best Primitivo: Cedar Mountain 2017 Sblendorio Vineyard Reserve, Primitivo, Livermore Valley
2020 Best Pinot Noir: Red Thread 2018 Pinot Noir, Carneros
2020 Best Barolo: Collina San Ponzio 2016 Barolo Fossati, Barolo DOCG
2020 Best Petite Sirah: Jacob Franklin 2015 Leeds and Pesch Vineyard, Petite Sirah, Napa Valley
2020 Best Petit Verdot: Auburn Road NV Volume One, Petit Verdot, Outer Coastal Plain (no link)
2020 Best US Red Blend: Porterhouse Winery 2016 Reserve Lot Red Blend, Santa Ynez Valley
2020 Best Shiraz: Jip Jip Rocks 2019 Shiraz Cabernet, Padthaway
2020 Best Merlot: Sharrott Winery 2018 Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain
2020 Best Malbec: Oak Farm Vineyards 2018 Malbec, Lodi
2020 Best Argentine Malbec: Alamos 2016 Selección, Malbec, Mendoza
2020 Best Italian Varietal Blend: Emporium 2017 Appassimento, Salento IGP
2020 Best Grenache: Crux Winery 2016 Grenache, Russian River Valley
2020 Best Chambourcin: Bellview Winery 2018 Estate Bottled, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain
2020 Best Carmenère: Yorkville Cellars 2017 Rennie Vineyard, Carmenère, Yorkville Highlands
2020 Best Spanish Red: Anayón 2015 Carignane, Cariñena
2020 Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Reynolds Family Winery 2015 Reserve 300 Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
2020 Best Cabernet Franc: Monte De Oro 2016 Deportola Vineyard, Cabernet Franc, Temecula Valley
2020 Best Bordeaux Varietal Red: Sixteen Appellations 2016 Red Blend, Napa Valley
2020 Best Red Bordeaux Varietal Blend: San Simeon 2016 Stormwatch, Paso Robles
2020 Best French Rose: Jas Des Vignes 2019 Rosé, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
2020 Best Rose: Cantina Zaccagnini 2019 Dry Rosé Wine, Terre di Chieti IGT
2020 Best Prosecco: Ruggeri 2018 Giustino B. Extra Dry, Prosecco Superiore DOCG
2020 Best Moscato d’Asti: Risata 2019 Moscato d’Asti DOCG
2020 Best Pet Nat: Bellview Winery NV Pet Nat, Outer Coastal Plain
2020 Best Champagne: Heritage Prince Henri D’Orléans NV Blanc de Blancs, Champagne
2020 Best Cava: Cupcake NV Cava DO
2020 Best Blanc de Blancs: William Heritage 2017 Blanc De Blancs, Outer Coastal Plain (no link)
2020 Best Sweet Wine: St. Clair Winery 2018 Bellissimo, New Mexico
2020 Best Sweet Wine: Corte Bella Rosso
2020 Best Late Harvest Wine: Medal Royal 2018 Late Harvest with Natural Botrytis, Muscat, Curico Valley
2020 Best Bianco Vermouth: Drapo NV Bianco Vermouth, Italy
2020 Best Red Vermouth: Drapo NV Rosso Vermouth, Italy
2020 Best Viognier: Alexandria Nicole 2019 Crawford, Viognier, Columbia Valley
2020 Best Vignoles: Mount Pleasant Estates 2019 Vignoles, Augusta, Missouri
2020 Best International Sauvignon Blanc: Domaine Beausejour 2019 Les Silex, Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine
2020 Best US Sauvignon Blanc: Reynolds Family Winery 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
2020 Best Riesling: Wakefield/Taylors 2019 Riesling, Clare Valley
2020 Best Pinot Gris: Portlandia 2019 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley
2020 Best Pinot Grigio: Ca’ Montini 2018 Single Vineyard, Pinot Grigio, Trentino DOC
2020 Best Malvasia: Pillsbury Wine Company 2018 Bonnie Lee, Malvasia, Cochise County, Arizona
2020 Best Chenin Blanc: St. Clair Winery 2017 Special Reserve, Chenin Blanc, New Mexico
2020 Best Chardonnay: Publix Premium 2017 Limited Edition, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
2020 Best Albarino: Alexandria Nicole 2019 Affinity, Albarino, Columbia Valley
2020 Best Cream Cocktail: Kringle Cream NV Latte
2020 Best Hard Seltzer: Greenhouse NV Pink Grapefruit Hard Seltzer, California
2020 Best Mimosa: Aldi NV Orange Mimosa, American
2020 Best Cognac: Pierre Ferrand Selection des Anges XO Cognac
2020 Best Wood Aged Cachaca: Pitú Vitoriosa Cachaça
2020 Best Cachaca: Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça
2020 Best Gin: Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin
2020 Best Barrel Aged Gin: District Made Barrel Rested Ivy City Gin
2020 Best Herbal Liqueur: June by G’Vine Gin Liqueur
2020 Best Liqueur: Tempus Fugit Creme de Banane Liqueur
2020 Best Orange Liqueur: Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge Liqueur
2020 Best Cream Liqueur: Trader Joe’s Cocoa Cream Liqueur
2020 Best Coffee Liqueur: Herencia de Plata Coffee Tequila Liqueur
2020 Best Aperitivo: Tempus Fugit Gran Classico Bitter Liqueur
2020 Best Mezcal: Mezcal Vago 2019 Espadin Mezcal Artesanal
2020 Best Non-Alcoholic Spirit: Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative Other Spirit
2020 Best White Rum: Cane Run Rum
2020 Best Rum: Motörhead Premium Dark Rum
2020 Best Rum Aged 3 years or less: Bayou Select Barrel Reserve
2020 Best Flavored Rum: Jan Stephenson Pineapple-Flavored Rum
2020 Best Reposado Tequila: Cazcanes No. 7 Reposado Tequila
2020 Best Tequila: Alquimia Reserva de Oro 14 yr Organic Extra Añejo Tequila
2020 Best Cristalino Tequila: Cenote™ Cristalino Tequila
2020 Best Blanco Tequila: Cazcanes No. 9 Blanco Tequila
2020 Best Añejo Tequila: El Tesoro Anejo Tequila
2020 Best Vodka: elit Vodka
2020 Best Flavored Vodka: Zubrówka Bison Grass Flavored Vodka
2020 Best Craft Vodka: Heritage Distilling Co. D’s Seasoned Vodka
2020 Best Wheat Whiskey: Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey
2020 Best Rye Whisky: Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey
2020 Best Bourbon: Doc Swinson’s 15-Yr Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
2020 Best Scotch Whisky: Aberlour A’bunadh Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2020 Best Whisky: Kavalan Solist Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
2020 Best Japanese Blended Whisky: Tenjaku Blended Japanese Whisky
2020 Best Island Single Malt Scotch: Jura Tide 21 Year Old Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2020 Best Irish Whiskey: Midleton Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
2020 Best Irish Blended Whiskey: Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask Strength Irish Whiskey
2020 Best Highland Single Malt Scotch: Aberlour Casg Annamh Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2020 Best Flavored Whiskey: Journeyman Distillery Field Rye Fig Flavored Whiskey
2020 Best Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Widow Jane 10 Yr. Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey
2020 Best American Single Malt Whiskey: Boulder Bottled in Bond American Single Malt Whiskey
2020 Best American Blended Whiskey: Rebecca Creek Double Barrel Blended Whiskey
2020 Best Ready-to-Drink Cocktail: Kirkland Signature RTD Golden Margarita
2020 Best Sake: SakéOne Naginata Junmai Daiginjo Sake
2020 Best Heritage Cider: Two K Farms 2019 Russet Heritage Cider
2020 Best Fruit Cider: Kaneb Orchards Cranberry Crisp Cider
2020 Best French Cider: Maison Hérout 2017 Grand Cuvée Extra-Brut French Cider
2020 Best Wit: Damm Brewery Inedit Witbier
2020 Best Ale: Hofmühl Weissbier
2020 Best American Style IPA: Full Sail Brewing Co. West Coast Style IPA
2020 Best Pilsner: Hofmühl Privat Pils
2020 Best Lager: Hofmühl Hell
Tremaine Atkinson, Founder and CEO of CH Distillery, states that because it is “one of the biggest categories, there should be room for really well-made vodka.” Vodka has been Atkinson’s “go-to spirit” for over 35 years, and he defines a high-quality offering as one that is “clean and crisp and modern” because “when it’s made well, it’s interesting.” Though the category does sell an excess of “placeholders,” which Atkinson defines as when a producer is “buying grain neutral spirit from somebody else and doing something, not much, to it and then putting it in the bottle and putting a brand on it,” it is the high-quality of intentionally produced vodkas that is quietly driving consumers to the category. Atkinson points to these “real vodkas” as ones where “the distiller is doing the fermentation” because “ultimately the fermentation is where vodka starts and if you don’t control that aspect, you’re making somebody else’s vodka.”
The task of encouraging a consumer to shift from the inexpensive vodka that is made, as Evanow puts it, by “buying in bulk, backing the tanker truck up, and throwing it in a bottle,” to a higher-priced quality vodka that Atkinson describes as one “made from scratch and with an idea in mind” is not a simple one. Evanow nods to bartenders as “our biggest supporters” because they “have the education” to understand that “what we’re doing is more costly but it’s with more care and the result is a better-quality product.” Though it is widely acknowledged that the pandemic has made consumers less likely to go to bars, and Atkinson admits that many consumers wouldn’t otherwise know that good vodka exists “until it’s been put in front of them,” de Caen makes the point that when people do go out, though less frequently, their expectations are higher, meaning “the cocktails must be excellent, not just okay” and “premium drinks are made from premium spirits.”
Further leaning into new challenges presented by the pandemic, de Caen’s insights on the contemporary consumer’s draw to high-quality new experiences suggest that if they are making cocktails at home, they will want well-made spirits in their recipes. Most consumers do not possess the blending skill set of a professional bartender, so if they’re starting with a high-quality product there will be less work for them to do. More time interacting directly with the spirit develops within the consumer a deeper understanding of quality, and de Caen believes that “a memorable product eventually becomes part of the [consumer’s] brand portfolio.” Though Atkinson does acquiesce that this relies on the type of consumer that is “willing to spend a little bit extra to get something that’s really of high quality,” he bolsters that “they’re going to buy it again because it’s good.”
