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Wine Enthusiast launches dedicated no/low alcohol Tasting Program to elevate growing beverage category. Industry Leader Expands Reviews with New 5-Star Rating System Built Specifically for Non-Alcoholic and Low-ABV Wines, Spirits, and Ready-to-Drink Beverages Nielsen reports that 92% of consumers who buy non-alcoholic products also buy alcohol, meaning this is largely the same consumer already looking to our scores for guidance." - Jacqueline Strum, President & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 2, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - Wine Enthusiast, a leading global authority on wine, spirits, and beverage culture, announced the launch of its new NoLow rating system and blind-tasting program today. Designed to evaluate no- and low-alcohol wines, spirits, and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, the program provides consumers with a reliable guide for discovery while establishing a formal feedback loop for an evolving category. As consumer preferences expand, there has been a surge in demand for high-quality non-alcoholic and low-ABV beverages. In the US alone, non-alcoholic retail sales crossed $1 billion by the end of 2025. Wine Enthusiast's new NoLow program reflects the brand's commitment to adapting alongside the beverage industry and supporting producers who are driving innovation in the space. All NoLow products will adhere to Wine Enthusiast's rigorous, independent blind-tasting protocol to ensure ratings integrity. Wine Enthusiast's traditional tasting program uses a 100-point scale that accounts for a product's ageability, alcohol balance, and other aspects associated with traditionally fermented alcoholic beverages. However, NoLow beverages are produced using distinct methods - such as dealcoholization or custom blending - and are crafted for immediate consumption. Therefore, they cannot be compared 1:1 with classically fermented or distilled beverages. To properly evaluate these products on their own merits, Wine Enthusiast is introducing a tailored 5-Star Rating System: | [1/2] Exceptional and original. | Well-crafted and highly recommended. | [1/2] Enjoyable and approachable. | Dependable choice for broad appeal. Reviews will consider factors including balance, flavor, aroma, texture, and overall drinking experience, with products evaluated within the context of their respective category. In addition to being reviewed, select products will also be included in new annual NoLow Top Lists that highlight stand-out beverages. "A five-star rating should mean something. We gathered input from the trade, our tasting team, and the program's reviewers to define quality across the NoLow category and develop the star rating system. The result is a rating consumers can understand, trust, and use," said Anna-Christina Cabrales, Tasting Director of Wine Enthusiast. Wine Enthusiast's NoLow Tasting Program is spearheaded by seasoned industry experts Abe Zarate, Kara Newman, and Cheron Cowan. Abe Zarate (NoLow Wine): Abe is Wine Director at New York City's Crane Club and has led wine programs at Corkbuzz, Intersect by Lexus, and Contento. In 2024, he was named one of Wine Enthusiast's Future 40 Tastemakers. Known as @sober_somm on Instagram, Abe is an advocate for conscious consumption and building a more inclusive wine industry. Kara Newman (NoLow Spirits): Kara is a writer-at-large and veteran spirits reviewer for Wine Enthusiast. An accomplished journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Food & Wine, she is also the author of seven popular cocktail books, including Shake.Stir.Sip. and Nightcap. Cheron Cowan (NoLow RTDs & Others): Cheron is an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and reviews American wines from the Midwest and the East Coast for Wine Enthusiast. She brings years of high-profile restaurant leadership experience (including Esca, Blue Hill NYC, and Gramercy Tavern) and international recognition as the inaugural winner of the Becky Wasserman Burgundy Scholarship. Samples can be submitted via the Wine Enthusiast Ratings Platform (WERP) for a fee of $95 per SKU, which guarantees a blind-tasted star rating and written review. Low-alcohol products between 0.5% and 10% ABV are eligible for the NoLow program when they are produced and marketed specifically as low-alcohol alternatives. Traditional alcoholic beverages that naturally fall within this ABV should continue to be evaluated through Wine Enthusiast's existing 100-point scale. For details on submission guidelines or to view upcoming ratings, visit www.wineenthusiast.com or contact [email protected]. About Wine Enthusiast Wine Enthusiast is a premier media and retail brand and authority on wine, spirits, and beverage lifestyle. Through independent reviews, industry insights, educational content, and wine lifestyle products, Wine Enthusiast empowers consumers and trade professionals worldwide to explore the evolving world of drinks. Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Grgich Hills Estate nominated for Wine Enthusiast's 2026 'American Winery of the Year' award. Sep 10, 2026, 11:08 ET Napa Valley's family-owned and operated, 100% certified regenerative organic estate is one of five nominees for the prestigious Wine Star Award NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Grgich Hills Estate, the Napa Valley winery founded by 1976 Judgment of Paris winner Miljenko "Mike" Grgich, has been named one of five final nominees for American Winery of the Year for Wine Enthusiast's 2026 Wine Star Awards. The nomination arrives in a milestone year: 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the blind tasting in which Grgich's 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay bested France's finest and permanently changed the world's perception of American wine. Founded in 1977 by Mike Grgich and Austin Hills of the Hills Bros. coffee family, Grgich Hills Estate remains family-owned and operated nearly 50 years later, now led by Mike's daughter, Violet Grgich, alongside his nephew, winemaker and Vice President of Vineyards & Production Ivo Jeramaz. Together they've carried the estate forward while holding fast to its founder's guiding philosophy: "Every day, do your best, learn something new, and make a friend." "Being named a nominee for American Winery of the Year in this milestone year is an incredible honor," said Violet Grgich, President and Co-Owner of Grgich Hills Estate. "As we celebrate 50 years since the Judgment of Paris and look ahead to Grgich Hills Estate's 50th anniversary, we're proud to passionately carry my father's legacy forward while continuing to look toward the future and our commitment to the land, our wines, our people, and generations to come." The nomination recognizes nearly five decades of excellence at Grgich Hills Estate, from its status as one of Napa Valley's most respected producers to its longstanding commitment to regenerative organic farming across all five estate vineyards. That legacy continues to shape the winery's future, including the September 2025 release of Paradise Block Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from a historic Yountville vineyard block planted in 1959 that Mike Grgich found to be "Paradise" when he first saw it when he first came to Napa Valley in 1958 - long before he was able to acquire it. As the winery prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027, the American Winery of the Year nomination places a symbolic capstone on a run of milestones, for the Judgment of Paris, for Grgich Hills Estate, and for a family still guided by the values Mike Grgich brought with him as a Croatian immigrant who reshaped American winemaking: "Every day, do your best, learn something new, and make a friend!". Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards, now in their 27th year, honor individuals and companies making outstanding contributions to the wine, spirits and beverage industry. The American Winery of the Year category is one of four that will name a winner, with nominees selected by members of Wine Enthusiast's global sales, events, marketing and editorial teams. The 2026 winners will be announced and celebrated at the 27th annual Wine Star Awards gala, a black-tie event taking place Monday, January 25, 2027, in San Francisco. About Grgich Hills Estate Grgich Hills Estate is dedicated to crafting world-class wines renowned for their elegance, complexity and balance. The winery's mission is rooted in regenerating the earth and fostering peace through friendship while building a better future for generations to come. Following the victory of the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay crafted by Miljenko "Mike" Grgich at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, Grgich Hills Estate was founded in 1977 by Mike Grgich and Austin Hills of the Hills Bros. coffee family. Grgich Hills Estate remains family-owned and operated, upholding the values of its Croatian immigrant founder Mike Grgich: "Every day, do your best, learn something new, and make a friend." All grapes are estate-grown in Napa Valley and are 100% certified regenerative organic, with a deep commitment to natural, minimal-intervention winegrowing practices that capture the essence of the vineyard and vintage in every bottle. About Wine Enthusiast Wine Enthusiast is the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork+Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. We bring wine to life. About Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards Each year, Wine Enthusiast celebrates the most influential members of the wine, spirits, and beverage world at the annual Wine Star Awards. This year marks the 27th anniversary of honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the industry. There are 16 categories for the 2026 Wine Star Awards. Four of the categories will have a named winner. The other 12 categories include a list of nominees exemplifying dedication and innovation to the success and growth of the wine, spirits, and beverage sector. The nominees were nominated by members of the Wine Enthusiast media team, including the global sales, events, marketing and editorial divisions. The 2026 Wine Star Award winners will be honored at the 27th annual black-tie gala in January 2027. SOURCE Grgich Hills Estate