Here’s a compilation of the major industry competitions, events and trade shows coming up for 2015 posted in roughly chronological order.
COMPETITIONS
Ultimate Spirits Challenge
Accepts brands not currently imported to the US
www.ultimate-beverage-challenge.com
Ultimate Wine Challenge
Accepts brands not currently imported to the US
www.ultimate-beverage-challenge.com
BTI (Beverage Testing Institute)
Accepts brands not currently registered in the U.S.
Deadlines throughout the year for wine, spirits and beer competitions
http://www.tastings.com/trade.html
IWSC (International Wine and Spirits Competition)
Multiple competitions and deadlines by region
http://www.iwsc.net/home
International Spirits Challenge
Put on by Drinks International Magazine. Entry deadlines vary by category.
http://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
San Francisco Wine Competition
2015 date TBD, Entries usually due Mar 1
Deadline May 22, 2015. Accepts products not currently registered in the U.S.
http://www.sfwinecomp.com/
Berlin International Wine Competition
Mar 1-2, 2015
Berlin, Germany
http://berlininternationalspiritscompetition.com/
Spirits of the Americas
Florida, entry deadline Mar. 31, 2015
http://www.spiritsoftheamericas.com/home
New York International Wine Competition
May 17-18, 2015 (Deadline for entries May 12)
www.nyiwinecompetition.com
Melbourne International Wine Competition
June 28-29, 2015, Melbourne, Australia
http://melbourneinternationalwinecompetition.com/
New York World Spirits and Wine Competition
Sept. 10-11, 2014
http://www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com
New York International Spirits Competition
Oct. 18-19, 2015
www.nyispiritscompetition.com
Indie Spirits Competition
2015 TBD, usually Chicago in Sept.
http://indiespiritsexpo.com/
American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition
Oct 2015
http://www.americanwinesociety.org/?
SIP Awards (Spirits International Prestige)
2015 deadline TBD, usually March.
www.sipawards.com
Grand Harvest Awards
(Terroir-based competition by Vineyard and Winery Management)
2015 Grand Harvest Awards Deadline: November 13, 2015
Judging: November 17-18, 2015
http://www.winecompetitions.com/#nav=grand-harvest
Los Angeles International Spirits Expo Competition
2015 dates TBD
http://laspiritsexpo.nationbuilder.com/splash?splash=1
Beverly Hills World Spirit Competition
www.bhspiritscomp.com
2015 deadline TBD
International Craft Spirits Awards
2015 deadline TBD
craftcompetition.com
EVENTS
Fancy Food Show
Winter show: San Francisco, Jan 11-13, 2015, San Francisco
Summer show Washington DC, June 2015
http://www.specialtyfood.com/do/fancyFoodShow/LocationsAndDates
Boston Wine Expo
Feb. 14-15, 2015, Boston, MA
http://www.wine-expos.com/
South Beach Wine and Food Festival
Feb. 20-23, 2015, Miami, FL
http://www.sobefest.com/
ProWein
March 15-17, 2015, Dusseldorf, Germany
http://www.prowein.com/
Vinitaly
March 22-25, 2015, Verona Italy
http://www.vinitaly.com/
Distiller’s Convention & Trade Show
Put on by American Craft Distillers Assn.
March 30-April 2, 2015, Louisville, KY
http://distilling.com/2015-spirits-conference/
Nightclub & Bar Show
Las Vegas, March 31-Apr 1, 2015
www.ncbshow.com
Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)
April 12-14, 2015, Orlando, FL
www.wswa.org
Craft Beverage Expo
May 6-8, 2015
Santa Clara, CA
http://craftbeverageexpo.com/
NRA (National Restaurant Association)
May 15-19, 2015, Chicago
http://www.restaurant.org/show/
Manhattan Cocktail Classic
Mid-May 2015 in New York.
http://manhattancocktailclassic.com/
London International Wine Fair
May 20-22, 2015, London UK
http://www.londonwinefair.com/content
Vinexpo
June 14-18, 2015, Bordeaux, France
www.vinexpo.com
Aspen Food and Wine Classic
June 19-21, 2015 Aspen, CO
http://www.foodandwine.com/classic-in-aspen
North American Wine Bloggers Conference
July 13-16, 2015, Corning (Finger Lakes) NY
http://winebloggersconference.org/america/agenda/
Tales of the Cocktail
July 15-19, 2015 New Orleans
http://www.talesofthecocktail.com/
San Diego Spirits Festival
Aug.22-23, 2015, San Diego, CA
http://www.sandiegospiritsfestival.com/
Australia Trade Tasting
Aug. 31-Sept2, 2015, Melbourne, Australia
australiatradetasting.com
Wine Riot US Tour 2015
Consumer event targeting Millennials
Multiple cities/dates
http://secondglass.com/wineriot/
Around the World in 80 Sips
Multiple cities/dates
http://www.bottlenotes.com/around-the-world-in-80-sips-20
New York Wine Experience
2015 TBD
New York
http://nywe2014.winespectator.com/index.html
Digital Wine Communications Conference (formerly European Wine Bloggers Conference)
2015 dates and location TBD, usually late fall.
http://ewbc.vrazon.com/
