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Justin Koury

@wizardofwhiskey

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Hedonist Chef, CEO @bevfluence, 💍 Whiskeyologist! Co-Host @swigandramble
American Whiskey Book Coming soon

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The Introvert Sauvignon Blanc made its mark at the USA Wine Ratings 2026, earning 88 points and a Silver Medal for its clean, crisp expression of Marlborough, New Zealand.

For Justin Koury, CEO and Founder of BevFluence and our USA Wine Ratings judge, what stood out was how naturally the wine expressed the classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc style, with the grassiness, herbaceousness and minerality he looks for in the category.

Produced by Navigator Wine Co., The Introvert 2025 brings subtle petrol and chalky aromas, crisp acidity, restrained fruit and a refreshing finish. It is a wine that does not need to be loud to make an impression.

Congratulations to Navigator Wine Co. on the well deserved recognition and 88-point Silver Medal at the USA Wine Ratings.

(The Introvert, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand, USA Wine Ratings, Navigator Wine Co., Wine Awards, USA Wine Ratings)

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What went down at the 2026 USA Ratings Judging Days?

Two days of tasting, discussion and plenty of decisions as our judges evaluated entries across wine, beer and spirits.

Now it’s time to see how the entries performed.

Results are live. Link in bio.

(USA Ratings, Judging Day, Wine Judging, Beer Judging, Spirits Judging, Results)

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Judging Day Shenanigans

A day of tasting, evaluating, discussions and a few memorable moments along the way. Here’s a little look at what went on during the 2026 USA Wine Ratings judging.

(USA Wine Ratings, Wine Judging, Wine Competition, Wine Judges, Wine Industry, Wine Tasting)

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#KnowWhoJudgedYourWine

Before you see the results, know who was behind them.

The 2026 USA Wine Ratings brought together wine buyers, retail specialists, importers, and hospitality professionals from across the U.S.

These are people who know what makes a wine work beyond the tasting room, from the first sip to the retail shelf and the consumer.

Different backgrounds. Different perspectives. One shared focus: identifying wines that stand out for quality, value and packaging.

The judging is complete. The results are next.

Who made the cut? Find out on August 12.

(USA Wine Ratings, Wine Competition, Wine Judges, Wine Buyers, Wine Retail, Wine Industry, Wine Awards)

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The judging is complete, but none of it would be possible without the expertise of our judges.

A sincere thank you to every retail buyer, importer, distributor, and industry professional who dedicated their time to evaluating the 2026 USA Ratings. Their insights help make every medal meaningful.

We look forward to sharing the 2026 USA Ratings results on August 12.

(USA Ratings, Wine Industry, Beer Industry, Spirits Industry, Retail Buyers, Importers, Distributors ,Beverage Trade Network)

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Our expert judging panel spent the day evaluating top-notch spirits and beers, and the competition is already fierce. Swipe to see a few highlights from Day 1 📸

Today, we switch gears to evaluate world-class wines alongside top industry professionals, sommeliers, and Masters of Wine. Stay tuned for more! 🍷✨

(USA Spirits Ratings, USA Beer Ratings, Quality, Value, Packaging, Judging, Beverage Trade Network)

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Behind every medal at USA Ratings is a panel of retail buyers, importers, distributors, and category managers who understand what actually succeeds in the US market.

These are the professionals making decisions around listings, placements, pricing, and consumer positioning every day. Their perspective goes beyond technical quality alone, evaluating products through the lens of real market performance across quality, value, and packaging.

Meet the judges helping shape USA Ratings and the standards that matter in today’s competitive US market.

International submissions close on 22 May. Enter your wine, beer, or spirit before the deadline as no entries will be considered after submissions close.

Link to register is in the bio.

(USA Ratings, Wine Industry, Beer Industry, Spirits Industry, Retail Buyers, Judging, Judges, Competitions, Beverage Trade Network)

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The BevFluence Blueprint: Our CTO Todd Godbout
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I'm Todd Godbout. For 20+ years, I've visited and documented craft beverage establishments across North America.

Over this period, I built WineCompass.com. Created theCompass Craft Beverage Finder mobile app. I became a Certified Cider Guide. I’ve judged wine and spirits competitions.
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When Justin and I founded BevFluence in 2017, I brought that foundation to build the systems behind everything we do.

That starts with the BevFluence Collaborations website which hosts a competition platform that stores blind tasting data and judging notes. It is where producers register and view posting metrics in real-time. It holds the educational frameworks for our multi-day Speakeasy events.
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Our Chicago Speakeasy? 20.7 million social reach. Our RTD campaign? 4.6 million impressions. Our cider campaigns? 124,000 impressions, 22,500 interactions.
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I design the technical infrastructure. I create educational content. I engineer the systems that deliver measurable results.
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Brands: Email Justin@bevfluence.com. Call 708-341-4322.
Join us: bevfluence.com.
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#underthebevfluence #bevfluencespeakeasy #littlelibations #bartenderlabs #bevfluenceblueprint

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❄️🍷Piedmont in Winter 🍷❄️

There’s a quiet confidence to Piedmont in winter.

Fog settles into the hills, vines rest, and everything slows down, exactly the pace these wines ask of us.

From the everyday honesty of Dolcetto and Barbera to the long, patient elegance of Nebbiolo, Piedmont is a region built on balance: acidity shaped by cool mornings, structure born from long growing seasons, and tradition that favors restraint over excess.

These are wines for the table, not the spotlight. For conversation, not performance. And in winter, they feel especially at home.

🍇 Piedmont at a Glance
• Climate: Continental with Alpine influence → high acidity, long ripening
• Key Grapes: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto
• Style: Food-driven, structured, age-worthy (even at entry level)

🍷 What to Pour This Time of Year
• Dolcetto d’Alba → cozy weeknight red, soft tannins
• Barbera d’Alba → bright acidity for rich winter dishes
• Langhe Nebbiolo → lifted aromatics, serious structure without the wait

🍽️ Winter Pairings

Tajarin with butter • braised meats • mushrooms • aged cheeses • hazelnuts
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#PiedmontWine #ItalianWine #Nebbiolo #Barbera #Dolcetto #WineRegion #WineEducation #WSET #WinterWine #WineStory #WineLover #VinoItaliano #WineGram #RusticWine #gonewiththewine

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The 9th Edition of USA Ratings is now more trade-focused, more value-driven, and more buyer-centric ✨

This year, we’re introducing enhanced benefits, strategic updates, and additional value for all participating brands.

Now is the ideal time for you to review our deadlines and pricing to ensure you capture every advantage and stay ahead of key submission milestones.

Submit your products to be evaluated by leading retail and distribution decision-makers - assessed across quality, value, and packaging performance aligned with real market demands.

Head on to usaspiritsratings.com to know more.
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( usa ratings, spirits competition, challenge, ratings, value, quality, packaging, marketing)

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Thanks to San Diego Distillery for hosting the BevFluence - USBG San Diego Speakeasy.
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Day two started with free time creating cocktails with Amoretti syrups, followed by a drive through Nelson County, Virginia craft beverages, and then a tasting of library wines going back almost 20 years. Later in the afternoon we opened several ciders and sparkling wines -- encouraging the attendees to experiment with sparkling cocktails.
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The day concluded with several presentations on San Diego Distillery's portfolio including a few rare bottles.
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Thanks to the many attendees who came through the doors throughout the day.
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@sddistillery
@usbgsd
@amoretti
@hardcutvodka
@casaazulspirits
@visitnelsoncounty

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