Wine on tap programs nationwide are recognized for collectively saving more than 35 million bottles from the landfill with the use of reusable steel kegs to support their wine on tap programs.
Sonoma, CA, July 24, 2023 – Free Flow Wines has announced 20 new winners at the 10th annual KEGGY Awards, recognizing the exceptional impacts these partners have made in reducing waste from the landfill and CO2 emissions. The KEGGY Awards were created in 2014 to recognize winery partners for their commitment to sustainability by choosing reusable stainless-steel kegs – a truly zero-waste package. Each Free Flow keg holds the equivalent of 26 bottles of wine and will eliminate approximately 1,560 bottles from the landfill over its lifetime.
As of today, Free Flow Wines and their partners have saved more than 35 million bottles, or 53 million pounds of waste, from the landfills and the equivalent of over 63 million pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere. Each reusable steel keg will save 2,862 lbs. of CO2 emissions over its lifetime, compared to pouring the same wine out of glass bottles. This is the equivalent emissions of driving a gas-powered vehicle coast to coast.
“Sustainability initiatives are at an all-time high and Free Flow is proud to partner with hundreds of wineries and distributors to offer the only zero-waste package for the wine industry: reusable stainless-steel kegs. Restaurants and Wineries are improving the quality of wine pours, increasing margins on wine, eliminating liquid waste from the traditional glass bottle, and reducing carbon emissions with wine on-tap from Free Flow’s steel kegs.” said Rich Bouwer, CEO.
This year’s People’s Choice winner, Highball & Harvest, is a restaurant located in Orlando, Florida. The restaurant has 16 wines on tap and combines rustic authenticity with The Ritz-Carlton refinement to feature interactive dining, a novel railroad-inspired design, handcrafted cocktail classes, and southern inspired cuisine.
“We are honored to have been named the winner of the 2023 People’s Choice KEGGY Award, and to have been recognized by our restaurant community for the second time. At Highball & Harvest, we take great pride in our sustainability efforts and the steps we have taken to reduce our environmental impact, not just within the walls of our restaurant but across the resort at large. We look forward to many more years of continued service and dedication to our efforts, our team, and the Orlando community.” – Obdulio Jimenez, Director of Food & Beverage, The Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
WINERY AWARD RECIPIENTS
To recognize the bottle waste saved from the landfill
Saved more than 1,000,000 bottles (1,834,405 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Foley Family Wines
Saved more than 500,000 bottles (917,179 lbs. CO2 emissions) ATTIMO
- Distinguished Vineyards
Saved more than 100,000 bottles (183,436 lbs. CO2 emissions) The Pinot Project
- Sonoma-Cutrer
DISTRIBUTOR AWARD RECIPIENTS
To recognize the bottle waste saved from the landfill
Saved more than 1,000,000 bottles (1,834,405 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Republic National Distributing Company – FL
- Skurnik Wines & Spirits – NY
- Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits – FL
Saved more than 500,000 bottles (917,179 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Allied Beverage Group – NJ
- Breakthru Beverage – FL
- Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits – NY
- Winebow – VA
Saved more than 100,000 bottles (183,436 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Empire Merchants – NY
- International Wines – AL
- Johnson Brothers – MN
- Lipman Brothers – TN
- Republic National Distributing Company – SC
- Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits – LA
- United Distributors – GA
PEOPLES CHOICE – RESTAURANT OPERATOR WINNER
To recognize an outstanding venue featuring wines on tap
- Highball & Harvest – Orlando, FL
About Free Flow Wines
Free Flow Wines, the pioneer of premium wine on tap, aims to deliver the freshest, best tasting, most sustainable glass of wine. Free Flow’s keg leasing, filling and logistics have allowed the wine and hospitality industries to move to a greener, fresher, better way to serve wine by the glass. Founded in 2009, Free Flow has more than 260 wine brands in keg, from wineries throughout the world. Premium wines in Free Flow kegs are available at restaurants, hotels, retail stores, sports and entertainment venues nationwide. Free Flow Wines currently has production facilities in Sonoma, California and Bayonne, New Jersey.
