BARTENDER
OF THE YEAR
Christine Kim
Service Bar, Washington, DC
Pepper Stashek
Bar Kabawa, NYC
Sebastian Tollius,
Clemente Bar/Eleven Madison Park, NYC
BAR PROGRAM
OF THE YEAR
Happy Medium
San Diego
schmuck.
NYC
Seahorse
Charleston. S.C.
DRINKS PROFESSIONAL
OF THE YEAR
Meaghan Dorman
Iain Griffiths
Takuma Watanabe
FOOD & BEVERAGE PROGRAM
OF THE YEAR
SPIRITS BRAND
OF THE YEAR
LALO Tequila
Penelope Bourbon
Ten to One Rum
DISTILLER/
MASTER BLENDER
OF THE YEAR
Nancy Duarte
Santa Teresa Rum
Brian Facquet
Do Good Spirits
Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski
Matchbook Distilling
Borgo
NYC
Gus' Sip & Dip
Chicago
ViceVersa
Miami
BREWER
OF THE YEAR
Theo Castillo,
No Seasons
Liz Nicol
Drawdown Brewing
Nile Zacherle
Mad Fritz Beer
RETAILER
OF THE YEAR
Leon & Son Wine and Spirits
Old Town Tequila
Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop
SOMMELIER
OF THE YEAR
Jacob Brown,
Lazy Bear, San Francisco
Tira Johnson,
Chez Fifi, NYC
Nikita Malhotra,
Smithereens, NYC
WINE PROFESSIONAL
OF THE YEAR
Arjav Ezekiel
Amanda Fraga
Amy Racine
WINEMAKER
OF THE YEAR
Rosalind Reynolds,
Emme Wines
Kelby James Russell,
Apollo’s Praise
Katy Wilson,
LaRue Wines, Reeve Wines,
Smith Story Wine Cellars, Anaba Wines
WINERY
OF THE YEAR
Johan Vineyards,
Ore.
Las Jaras Wines,
Calif.
Old Westminster Winery,
Md.
RISING
DRINKS BRAND
OF THE YEAR
Climbing Kites
Phony Negroni by St. Agrestis
Yoju Soju
BREWERY
OF THE YEAR
Blue Jay Brewing Co.,
St Louis
Casa Humilde Cervecería
Chicago
The Send Brewing Co.,
Portland, Maine
Introducing the 2026
Next Wave Awards Finalists
For the past five years, VinePair’s annual Next Wave Awards have spotlighted the people and organizations pushing the drinks industry forward — making it more creative, more sustainable, and a better place for those who work in it. Two years ago, we began a new tradition: announcing Next Wave Awards Finalists ahead of the winners, to recognize an even broader range of standout individuals and organizations making an impact across wine, beer, spirits, and hospitality. We’re doing it again this year — celebrating the visionaries and innovators whose work is helping shape the future of drinks. Below, we’re proud to share the 2026 Next Wave Awards Finalists: a lineup of talented trailblazers redefining what’s possible in food and beverage. From this list, one finalist in each category will be named a winner and celebrated in our full Next Wave Awards package, publishing on October 15.
Click the categories to reveal this years finalists.
VINEPAIR
BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Tony Jimenez, Static!, Philadelphia
Jen Murphy, Banshee, NYC
Katie Renshaw, Bar Bambi, Chicago
NEXT WAVE
AWARDS
BAR OF THE YEAR
La Jefa, Philadelphia
The Peach Crease Club, Denver
Vandell, Los Angeles
DRINKS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Jade Ayala, The Port of Call
Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, The Koji Club
Leanne Favre, Dolores
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Creepies, Chicago
Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
Somssi, NYC
SPIRITS BRAND OF THE YEAR
Bayab Gin
Lunazul Tequila
Mezcal Los Siete Misterios
MASTER DISTILLER/BLENDER OF THE YEAR
David Bock, A. Smith Bowman
Jenny Camarena, El Tesoro
Brendan Cook, Wyoming Whiskey
WINERY OF THE YEAR
00 Wines, Ore.
Joseph-Jibril Wines, Calif.
Slater Run Vineyards, Va.
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Alice Anderson, Âmevive
Cody Rasmussen, Bedrock Wine Co., Desire Lines Wine Co.
Rodrigo Soto, Far Mountain Wines
WINE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Matt Crafton, Chateau Montelena
Lina Goujjane, Kiko, Noury
Katie Morton, Eliza Bistro, Kingston Wine Co.
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
Macarena Carrillo, Cote Miami
Ally Lanoue, Canlis, Seattle
Matt Turner, Lei, NYC
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Ancestral Bottle Shop, Atlanta
Rampant Bottle & Bar, San Francisco
Vesper Books and Wine, Detroit
BREWER OF THE YEAR
Eamoni Collier, Urban Garden Brewing
Ryan Dunlap, Argenta Brewing Company
Shawna Hays, Miel Brewery
BREWERY OF THE YEAR
Eckhart Beer Co., Brooklyn
Full Frame Beer, Denver
Human People Beer, Seattle
RISING DRINKS BRAND OF THE YEAR
The Pathfinder
Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Tequila G4