Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/188061
INDUSTRY CONFERENCE ECRM Grand Tasting photos by Rob Brown THE TASTING PANEL RATES PARTICIPATING BRANDS ON FIVE CATEGORIES E arlier in August, THE TASTING PANEL sat down at the beautiful Pedalers Fork in Calabasas, CA and tasted more than 40 products, rating them on five categories: Flavor Innovation, Best in Packaging, Marketing & Merchandising, Best New Products and Brands of Honor. Happy taste buds and tough competition were the themes for the day as our judges sipped, discussed and, finally, agreed on the winners. Presented by our own Publisher/Executive Editor, Meridith May, the following winners were announced on August 28 at the Grand Tasting. Our judges from left to right: Kaj Stromer, General Manager, Woodland Hills Wine Company; Meridith May, Publisher/Executive Editor, THE TASTING PANEL; Frank Howell, Beverage Director, Pedalers Fork; Simon Shamoun, President/ Owner, Tarzana Wine & Spirits; Kayla Doren, Mixologist, King's Head British Pub, Studio City, CA; and David Gadd, Managing Editor, THE TASTING PANEL. 134 / the tasting panel / october 2013 TP1013_104-152.indd 134 9/23/13 10:36 PM