Uptown Wine Cocktails, Named Editors’ Pick and Best New Wine of 2020. Only months after its April launch, Uptown Wine Cocktails has won two major awards in grocery and convenience – Progressive Grocer’s Editors’ Pick and Convenience Store News’ Best New Wine of 2020.
The BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion team entered the cocktail line in both contests this summer. According to Convenience Store News, nearly 100 companies entered to win in 38 categories.
Uptown Wine Cocktails, Named Editors’ Pick and Best New Wine of 2020
In mid-August, the team learned that the Uptown Wine Cocktails Chocolatini was granted Best Wine by the publication.
The team was granted the Progressive Grocer’s Editors’ Pick win even earlier – the end of July. The accomplishment was published in the magazine and on the site mid-September.
The mark of success for this brand didn’t begin or end with these awards, however. Over the past few months, Uptown Cocktails has been one of the top-selling brands under the BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion umbrella and has already been named a top ten premixed cocktail by *Nielsen.
“The reason it’s doing really well is the [ready-to-drink] space has exploded,” said Blair Casey, Vice President of Sales at BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion. “Millennials want their cocktails and they want them now. In grocery stores, they prefer the ease of picking up a full cocktail on the go instead of having to go home with a bunch of ingredients to make one cocktail.”
Flavor innovation and premium packaging are also factors that makes the brand stand out on shelves.
Uptown Wine Cocktails, Named Editors’ Pick and Best New Wine of 2020
There are currently six bold flavors – Lemon Tea, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Margarita, Mango Margarita, Strawberry Margarita and Chocolatini; all of which are made with natural juices or creams. Each cocktail is 13.9 percent ABV and sealed in a 1.5-liter, frosted bottle.
