Brooklyn Gets Judged in Wine and Beer Fest
On your mark, get set, drink.
The best of Brooklyn’s wine and beer will be judged on May 17 to crown Brooklyn’s rightful winner. Local residents will also have the chance to taste and vote on 64 wines and beers – 32 of each – to find out which reigns supreme.
The event, Judgment of Brooklyn, is the brainchild of Michael Brooks, Earl Silas and Roitmi Akinnuoye – the owners of Bed-Vyne Wine and Bed-Vyne Brew, craft brew and wine shops, respectively, located in Bed-Stuy.
They were inspired by the Judgment of Paris, a 1976 wine competition in Paris, France, that followed the same premise: a blind tasting to judge a variety of French and California wines to see which country produced superior Chardonnay and Bordeaux.
“People are not just coming out to spend money – they’re coming to enjoy and join the conversation, “ said organizer Akinnuoye, who has been working to bring together nine official judges to taste the drink selections. “There’s a story component to the event.”
It’s the first event of its kind in Brooklyn – and among all of the brew fests and drinking events in Brooklyn, it aims to stand out and really involve the crowds in the conversation.
“What’s special is that the people who come [get a] voice in determining the winner,” Akinnuoye said.
The nine judges – who have been selected because they are associated with some of the best brewery and wine programs in Brooklyn, Akinnuoye said – will get together at Brooklyn Borough Hall on May 2 to make their selections. From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., they will be on hand to taste the brews, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will join in on the fun, too.
The winners will be sealed in an envelope until the May 17 event at Skylight One Hanson, when event organizers plan to compare the professional results with the crowd favorites to crown Brooklyn’s rightful drink heir.
The event will also feature an art gallery and music by DJ WonderGround and jazz ensemble Jeff King Band. FOOD+WINE Wine Guide’s Anthony Giglio will host the event, which starts 7 p.m. Tickets are available online for $55, but act fast because only about 1,200 available.
“There’s something for everyone,” Akinnuoye said. “If you love wine and don’t love beer, there’s something for you. If you love beer and don’t love wine, there’s something for you.”