THE ANNUAL VINEPAIR NEXT WAVE AWARDS RECOGNIZE SPIRITS, WINE, BEER, and food PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR PROPELLING THE INDUSTRY FORWARD TO A BRIGHTER, MORE EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
Now in its sixth year, the Next Wave Awards continue to celebrate the people and organizations creating community in their spaces, innovating in their fields, and revolutionizing food and beverage culture as we know it.
Read on to learn more about the winners and their exceptional contributions to the industry this year.
Bartender
of the year
katie
renshaw
Bar
of the year
vandell
drinks professional
of the year
jade
ayala
restaurant
of the year
creepies
winemaker
of the year
alice
anderson
Spirits brand
of the year
mezcal los
siete misterios
master distiller
of the year
jenny
camarena
winery
of the year
00 wines
brewer
of the year
eamoni
collier
wine
professional
of the year
Matt
crafton
sommelier
of the year
matt
turner
retailer
of the year
vesper
books and wine
industry icon
of the year
kimball
house
brewery
of the year
eckhart
beer co.
rising
drinks brand
of the year
Still austin
whiskey co.
nonprofit
of the year
aapi
food & wine
Click below to learn more about each winner
BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Katie Renshaw
BAR OF THE YEAR
Vandell
Tapping into Los Feliz’s chill, Art Deco vibe, Vandell has quickly won over the neighborhood with its charm, energy, and impressive menu of complex, culinary-minded cocktails.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Creepies
Leading a new wave of inventive “bistro”-stye restaurants in the U.S., Chicago’s Creepies reenvisions French classics through a Midwestern lens. And its accessible beverage menu invites a playful cocktail or adventurous bottle of wine to every table.
After making her mark at acclaimed bars and cocktail competitions, Chicago bartender Katie Renshaw opened her first spot, Bar Bambi, earlier this year, a colorful, whimsical space that reflects her welcoming approach to hospitality.
SPIRITS BRAND OF THE YEAR
Mezcal Los Siete Misterios
In a category where scaling up can mean losing what makes mezcal special, Los Siete Misterios has built an international following while preserving traditional production methods and supporting the families behind its beloved spirit.
MASTER DISTILLER OF THE YEAR
jenny camarena
Jenny Camarena is carrying forward her family’s tequila legacy as El Tesoro’s first female master distiller, honoring traditional production methods while exploring what’s next for the iconic brand.
WINERY OF THE YEAR
00 WINES
Founders Chris and Kathryn Hermann started 00 Wines in 2015 with the goal of making world-class Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley. The project has grown into a relentless quest to produce exemplary Chardonnay and Pinot Noir expressions across the globe.
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
ALICE ANDERSON
For her Santa Barbara-based label Âmevive, Alice Anderson’s winemaking is deeply rooted in sustainable farming. It takes tremendous dedication and strenuous work, but it’s the only way she’d have it.
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DRINKS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
JADE AYALA
Jade Ayala brings curiosity and creativity to Mystic, Conn.’s Port of Call and Oyster Club, crafting globally-inspired, seasonally-driven beverage programs rooted in inclusive, community-minded hospitality.
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WINE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Matt Crafton
As president and winemaker of Chateau Montelena, Matt Crafton is charting his own course, betting on quality over volume and long-term brand building over industry trends to take the historic Napa Valley estate to new heights.
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SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
MATT TURNER
Matt Turner has always been driven by curiosity and a thirst to take in all that the expansive world of wine has to offer. At Lei, Turner shares his fervor for uncovering interesting producers with guests, encouraging them to try something new.
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RETAILER OF THE YEAR
VESPER BOOKS AND WINE
Part wine bar, part retail shop, part culinary bookstore, Detroit’s Vesper Books and Wine is a destination for curious drinkers and readers, with thoughtful curation that never loses sight of its neighborhood.
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BREWER OF THE YEAR
EAMONI COLLIER
At Urban Garden Brewing, Eamoni Collier is redefining Washington, D.C.’s beer scene with botanical-forward beers and a community-first vision, making history as the founder of the city’s first Black woman-owned brewery.
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BREWERY OF THE YEAR
ECKHART BEER CO.
With a focus on traditional German and Czech styles, Brooklyn’s Eckhart Beer Co. bucks craft beer’s relentless pursuit of novelty, focusing instead on classic lagers, thoughtful food, and exceptional hospitality.
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RISING DRINKS BRAND OF THE YEAR
STILL AUSTIN WHISKEY CO.
Still Austin Whiskey Co. makes distinctive, grain-to-glass Texas whiskey that celebrates individuality, supports local creatives, and builds community beyond the bottle.
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NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR
AAPI FOOD & WINE
AAPI Food & Wine brings Asian American chefs and winemakers into the spotlight, growing from a Willamette Valley potluck into a sold-out festival with plans to expand nationwide.
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INDUSTRY ICON OF THE YEAR
KIMBALL HOUSE
Opened in 2013, Kimball House has built one of Atlanta’s most distinctive food and drink destinations, pairing inventive cocktails and ambitious Southern cooking with warm, unpretentious hospitality.
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Credits
co-founders
Joshua Malin & Adam Teeter
editorial direction
Joanna Sciarrino
design
Srishti Bhawal
reporting & editing
Stephen Bradley
Aaron Goldfarb
Maggie Hennessy
Courtney Iseman
Rich Manning
Hannah Staab
photography
Anna Bruce
Mariana Fernandez
Carolyn Fong
Daniel Gonzalez
Andrew Thomas Lee
Vlad Levine
Amy McLaughlin
Shelby Moore
Rebecca Simonov
Farrah Skeiky
Ruby Wallau