// TRIP REPORT
BY JAMIE STAFFORD
Back and Better Than Ever :
RECAPPING WSWA 2023
There was an air of anticipation about the room – a very grand space , lit solely by the three huge screens above the stage . Music swelled and spotlights swept across the floor as the first speaker took his place at the podium – the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America ( WSWA ) annual convention was back after a three-year hiatus , and it promised to be better than ever . Now called Access Live , the four-day exposition was packed with events designed for all tiers of the industry , including keynote speeches , panel discussions and workshops .
For up-and-coming alcohol brands , “ Brand Battles ” offered a chance to be noticed by the industry . During these competitions , the brands pitched their products and creative visions to a panel of judges , who then provided insight and feedback . At Access Live , WSWA hosted the first in-person championship on April 2 , allowing attendees a look at new alcohol brands looking to make their mark . Sunshine Punch , a low-ABV RTD offering , went on to be crowned champion .
" Everyone from WSWA has been so wonderful , our experience has been top shelf ," said Sunshine Punch COO Matt Hemmings in a press release from WSWA . " Participating in Brand Battle has been a lot of fun and educational . The experience of winning has been a switch for our networking opportunities . We ' re tremendously grateful ."
After a packed morning , the general sessions kicked off with a state of the industry keynote by Board Chairman Tom Cole , and an introduction and welcome from the new WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton . Cole was sure to acknowledge April as Alcohol Responsibility month , and commended the work that the industry was doing to educate and inform consumers . For his part , Creighton outlined his vision for the WSWA moving forward .
Responsibility was a big theme at this year ’ s Access Live , both as responsible consumption and responsible practices . The exhibit hall showcased an array of brands that were committed to sustainability and diversity , equity and inclusion ( DEI ).
Notable among them was Meili Vodka , founded by Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson . Momoa and Halvorson spoke about their brand journey to create a “ sippable ” vodka with a sustainable focus . “ We love whiskey and mezcal , and we like to drink it straight , which is something we haven ’ t been able to do with vodka ," Momoa said . " Everyone always likes to mix vodka , but we wanted to make Meili something you could drink straight ."
“ From the start we wanted our company to have a very small carbon footprint . Our bottles are made of 100 % post-consumer recycled glass ,” said Halvorson . “ Because of this , there ’ s a lot of variation in our bottles , some days there ’ s more green glass , some days there ’ s more blue – but that ’ s what makes them unique , and it gives so much life to the bottes . Being able to watch things get made – there ' s nothing like it . It ’ s a beautiful thing .”
Meili Vodka founders Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson discuss sustainable practices for their company .
Sunshine Punch is crowned Overall Winner in the Brand Battle Championship .
Nelly closes out WSWA 2023 with a performance at the Ovation Live reception .
Over the two days of keynote speeches and panels , WSWA featured a number of discussions all about sustainability and diversity in the industry . Highlights included “ Passing the Mic to Create Change for Diverse Brands ,” facilitated by the hosts of Southern Glazer ’ s podcast Served Up ; “( P ) Raise Your Glass ,” a discussion on the strides made in sustainable glass packaging ; and “ Intentional Inclusion ,” a keynote presented by Dia Simms , CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal and co-Founder of Pronghorn , focused on hiring , developing and retaining underrepresented talent .
Another focus at Access Live was anticipating future technology . Cecilia . ai , an AI-driven bartender ,
Summer 2023 • Beverage Wholesaler 7