Registration is now open for Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America’s (WSWA’s) Access LIVE 2025.
The show, now in its third year since being redesigned, brings together wholesalers, suppliers, retailers, service providers, importers and exporters all under one roof. This can’t-miss event will be held February 3 – 6, 2025, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Denver. This is the first time the event will be held outside of the Orlando or Las Vegas metro areas in over 20 years, the company states.
New to Access LIVE 2025
New this year, an elevated Wine and Spirits Tasting Competition — in partnership with The Tasting Alliance — will be taking place in the days leading up to the show’s official start. Competing brands can enter to earn bragging rights throughout their entire Access LIVE journey with the Best in Show Tasting for all attendees taking place live on the show floor in HQ Connect, according to the company. After the competition, 10 winners will advance to the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
“We are thrilled to partner with WSWA at Access LIVE for this exciting new tasting competition,” said Amanda Blue of the Tasting Alliance in a news release. “This collaboration allows us to discover and celebrate exceptional new wine and spirits brands. Together, we aim to highlight innovative producers and provide them with the recognition they deserve.”
Returning Fan Favorites
Returning to the show will be Access HQ, a reimagined exhibit hall experience featuring over 400 exhibit booths and more than 70 Main Street suites — all within the convention center complex. Average walk times between the hall floor and Main Street Suites are less than five minutes, meaning attendees can fit in more exploration, networking and dealmaking than ever before, the company states. The exhibit hall will also feature the LIVE Stage, where TED-style sessions will take place, and The Hub, including the Content Lab featuring free videos produced by Pour Agency, a fan favorite.
Back by popular demand are Wholesaler Power Hours featuring leaders from the second tier who will discuss and debate the best course for success in the U.S. marketplace, how to build successful partnerships in franchise states, and how control jurisdictions hold nearly 25% of U.S. spirits consumption and are setting trends across the rest of the country. These sessions will take place on the LIVE Stage, according to the company.
WSWA’s highly anticipated Brand Battle will also return in 2025, with an Access LIVE Main stage. Brand Battle is WSWA’s version of Shark Tank, where brand representatives pitch to a panel of industry experts, the company states. Past Brand Battle winners include, Gray Whale Gin (2019), Campesino Rum (2022), Sunshine Punch (2023) and most recently, Quintaliza Tequila (2024). WSWA’s Brand Battle serves as a springboard for these brands, exposing them to immediate distribution deals, positive media buzz and other brand-development opportunities.
“This is the first time the show will be outside of Orlando or Las Vegas in a generation, and we couldn’t be more excited to be in Denver,” said WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton in the release. “Denver captures the energy and vibrancy of the exhibit hall floor and the spirit of exploration and discovery that is Access LIVE. We’re excited to once again bring together all three tiers and really showcase what makes our industry unique — the personal relationships that drive successful partnerships.”
