VINEPAIR
NEXT WAVE
AWARDS
Introducing the 2024
Next Wave Awards Finalists
For the past three years, VinePair has announced the winners of its annual Next Wave Awards each October to celebrate the individuals and organizations driving the drinks industry to be more imaginative, sustainable, and all-around better for everyone in it.
This year, the talent within the community was too immense to ignore, and that meant recognizing even more people and brands for the incredible work they do. Here, we’re pleased to announce our Next Wave Award Finalists, a group of talented professionals and organizations across wine, beer, and spirits shaping the future of drinks. From this list, one finalist from each category will be selected as its winner and featured in our Next Wave Awards package on October 17.
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 2025
Next Wave Awards Finalists
For the past four 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.
Last year, 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, and spirits. 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 2025 Next Wave Awards Finalists: a lineup of talented trailblazers redefining what’s possible in drinks. 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 16.
Click the categories to reveal this years finalists.
VINEPAIR
NEXT WAVE
AWARDS
BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Christine Kim, Service Bar, Washington, D.C. Kathryn “Pepper” Stashek, Kabawa, NYC Sebastian Tollius, Eleven Madison Park & Clemente Bar, 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
Borgo, NYC Gus’ Sip & Dip, Chicago ViceVersa, Miami
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
WINERY OF THE YEAR
Johan Vineyards, Ore. Las Jaras Wines, Calif. Old Westminster Winery, Md.
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
WINE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Arjav Ezekiel Amanda Fraga Amy Racine
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
Jacob Brown, Lazy Bear, San Francisco Tira Johnson, Chez Fifi, NYC Nikita Malhotra, Smithereens, NYC
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Leon & Son Wine and Spirits Old Town Tequila Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop
BREWER OF THE YEAR
Theo Castillo, No Seasons Liz Nicol, Drawdown Brewing Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Beer
BREWERY OF THE YEAR
Blue Jay Brewing Co., St. Louis Casa Humilde Cervecería, Chicago The Send Brewing Co., Portland, Maine
RISING DRINKS BRAND OF THE YEAR
Climbing Kites Phony Negroni by St. Agrestis Yoju Soju
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
Borgo, NYC Gus’ Sip & Dip, Chicago ViceVersa, Miami
SPIRITS BRAND OF THE YEAR
LALO Tequila Penelope Bourbon Ten to One Rum
WINERY OF THE YEAR
Johan Vineyards, Ore. Las Jaras Wines, Calif. Old Westminster Winery, Md.
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
WINE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Arjav Ezekiel Amanda Fraga Amy Racine
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
Jacob Brown, Lazy Bear, San Francisco Tira Johnson, Chez Fifi, NYC Nikita Malhotra, Smithereens, NYC
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Leon & Son Wine and Spirits Old Town Tequila Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop
BREWER OF THE YEAR
Theo Castillo, No Seasons Liz Nicol, Drawdown Brewing Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Beer
BREWERY OF THE YEAR
Blue Jay Brewing Co., St. Louis Casa Humilde Cervecería, Chicago The Send Brewing Co., Portland, Maine
RISING DRINKS BRAND OF THE YEAR
Climbing Kites Phony Negroni by St. Agrestis Yoju Soju
DISTILLER/MASTER BLENDER OF THE YEAR
Nancy Duarte, Santa Teresa Rum Brian Facquet, Do Good Spirits Leslie Merinoff Kwasnieski, Matchbook Distilling