As the weather breaks and the days are sunnier, white wine becomes even more alluring. We’ve rounded up our top scoring and award winning Chairman’s Trophy winners across all of the white wine categories from Ultimate Wine Challenge 2018 to offer one master list of the best white wines of 2018.
Baijiu is at once the most consumed spirit in the world, and the most foreign to spirit lovers outside of China. The intrigue that surrounds it is palpable, and the intense flavors can be deliciously compelling, even at high prices. Moutai, the infamous sauce flavored baijiu, has no problem selling for $160 per 375ml bottle. Unique, pungent, and with a high score of 96 Points, it’s a benchmark spirit.
Many consumers are surprised when they learn that they are probably drinking their white wines too cold and their red wines too warm. Many people outside of traditional wine producing regions assume that ‘cellar temperature’ is room temperature, which is rarely the case. Similarly, many people are drinking white and rosé wines straight from a cold fridge that is designed to keep food at a safe temperature for preserving. One of our wines judges and New York City Sommelier, Vitalii Dascaliuc weighs in with his professional advice:
The rye whiskey category has been steadily growing over the past few years. In 2018, Ultimate Spirit Challenge evaluated over 30 ryes, the vast majority scoring 90 Points or above. This resurgence in rye is bringing with it a bigger range of quality and craft spirits, and consumers are willing to pay for it. While rye has largely been considered a value driven category in the past, some of the prices we are seeing on newer bottlings may mean serious competition for other established whiskey categories like Scotch and bourbon.