Wine Country Network Launches 6th Annual Canned Challenge Plus Competition

Wine Country Network, Inc., publisher of Wine Country International® Magazine, is accepting entries for the Canned Challenge Plus through October 9, 2026.

BROOMFIELD, CO, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Wine Country Network Launches 6th Annual Canned Challenge Plus Competition

The world's premier competition for ready-to-drink adult beverages is open for entries.

Wine Country Network, Inc., publisher of Wine Country International^® Magazine and producer of numerous highly respected professional beverage competitions, announced that it will accept entries for the Canned Challenge Plus through October 9, 2026.

The Canned Challenge-Plus is the world's first professionally judged competition dedicated to defining excellence in ready-made alcoholic drinks. Now in its 6th year, it's judged double-blind by a panel of mixologists, bartenders, sommeliers, buyers, and beverage trade professionals — people who understand this category, not generalists borrowed from wine or spirits judging.

What makes it different:
- All packaging types accepted — cans, bottles, Tetra Pak^®, pouches, and boxes
- A dedicated Packaging & Design Contest, juried by art directors, designers, and retailers
- Nine categories: Premixed/RTD Cocktails, Hard Seltzer, Spiked Spritzers, Non-Alcoholic Mixers, Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, CBD/THC/Hemp Infused, Sake, Hard Cider, Hard Kombucha, and Packaging Design- enter a single product or a series of up to 8 SKUs for one entry fee.

Winner Benefits:
•Actual judges' scores on a 100-point scale
•Detailed tasting notes, regardless of whether you win a medal.
•Downloadable digital medal graphics
•Coverage in Wine Country International ©magazine (600,000 affluent enthusiasts)
•National beverage press release distribution
•New! Listing in our "Best of the Best" RTD Trailblazer List, emailed to 9,500 concert venues, arenas, amphitheaters, and stadiums.


"We are proud to host the 6th Annual Canned Challenge Plus, witnessing the exciting evolution in ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic drinks, infused drinks, cocktails, spirit-based teas, and spritzers," said Christopher J. Davies, Wine Country Network CEO and Co-Founder. "We want to identify the best products in each exciting category. We have consciously kept entry fees more affordable than fees charged by spirits competitions."

The 2026 Canned Challenge Plus will announce winners before the holiday buying season in late October. This timing ensures maximum exposure for the winning products. Consumers can view the winners' list online and seek top-scoring products in their local market. All winners can promote their results with royalty-free digital images of the competition medals and other valuable brand marketing assets, significantly boosting their brand visibility and credibility. For information, please visit www.cannedchallenge.com.

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Attn: Editors
Wine Country Network’s CEO, Christopher J. Davies, is available for interviews on ZOOM or via telephone. To arrange, please call (720) 302-3666.

High-resolution photographs from past competitions are available for publication use. View our photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/winecountrynetwork/albums

Key dates:
- Online entries close: October 9, 2026
- Samples due: October 12, 2026
- Competition: October 17-18, 2026
- Entry fee: $295

Enter online: https://thedatastill.com/home/landing/7386
Learn more: https://cannedchallenge.com/

Winners Announced: October 26, 2026
Company Info:

The Canned Challenge is organized by Wine Country Network, Inc., the publisher of Wine Country International^® Magazine and the organizer of the following world-famous beverage competitions:

•Denver International Spirits Competition
•Drink Pink International Rosé Wine Competition
•Global Whisky Challenge
•North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition
•Denver International Wine Competition
•Canned Challenge Plus
•Tequila Mezcal Challenge

Wine Country Network, Inc. is a multi-platform media and event company dedicated to wine, beer, spirits, food, and travel. The company was founded in 2002 in New York. Today, the company is based in Broomfield, Colorado.

The company publishes Wine Country International^® Magazine, a well-respected glossy print publication (2003 to 2012) that became a fully digital magazine in 2013. The magazine is now available through Issuu, the world’s leading digital publishing platform, with print editions available on demand. https://winecountryinternational.com/

Christopher J Davies
Wine Country Network, Inc
+1 303-665-0855
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