Sonoma, CA – April 22, 2026 – Free Flow Wines announces the winners of the 13th Annual KEGGY Awards, honoring outstanding partners who are advancing sustainability, quality, and innovation across the wine and hospitality industries.
Now aligned with Earth Month, the KEGGY Awards continue to spotlight the environmental and operational benefits of wine on tap, while celebrating the growing community of wineries, distributors, and on-premise operators leading the charge.
FFW & Partners’ Cumulative Impact to Date:
45,448,130 bottles saved from landfill
80,827,751 lbs. of CO₂ emissions prevented from entering the atmosphere
New in 2026, Free Flow Wines has expanded its award categories to recognize excellence across a broader set of hospitality leaders. These new honors celebrate accounts that demonstrate a strong commitment to reusable stainless steel kegs, investment in draft beverage quality, and a dedication to elevating the overall guest experience. New categories include Best Hotel, Best Independent Restaurant, Best Chain Restaurant, Wine on Tap Innovator and Wine on Tap Ambassador.
“It’s no longer just about sustainability, though that remains core to our mission. Today, our partners are using wine on tap to drive profitability, improve quality, and create exceptional guest experiences. We’re proud to recognize the leaders setting a new standard for the industry” said Rob Perman, President of Free Flow Wines.
This year’s People’s Choice Winner, Hop & Vine Taproom, is a modern, self-pour craft beverage destination redefining the traditional bar experience. The taproom places a strong emphasis on quality, variety, and accessibility, offering everything from local craft favorites to premium wines on tap.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Free Flow Wines with a KEGGY Award for our draft wine program. From day one, our goal has been to challenge expectations around wine service. Making high-quality wines more approachable, sustainable, and consistent through a draft format. This recognition is a testament to our team’s commitment to innovation and to delivering an elevated guest experience. We’re proud to be part of a movement that’s reshaping how people enjoy wine” said Connor Rasmussen, Co-Owner, of Hop & Vine Taproom.
WINERY AWARD RECIPIENTS
More than 500,000 bottles saved (889,244 lbs. CO2 emissions)
Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits
Winesellers
More than 100,000 bottles saved (177,886 lbs. CO2 emissions)
Domaine Bousquet
Aquitaine Wine Company
Palm Bay International, Inc.
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Frog’s Leap
More than 50,000 bottles are saved (88,966 lbs. CO2 emissions)
Une Femme Wines
CINDER WINERY
DISTRIBUTOR AWARD RECIPIENTS
More than 1,000,000 bottles saved (1,778,488 lbs. CO2 emissions)
Breakthru Beverage – FL
Breakthru Beverage – CA
More than 500,000 bottles saved (889,244 lbs. CO2 emissions)
Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company – NV
More than 100,000 bottles saved (177,886 lbs. CO2 emissions)
Breakthru Beverage – IL
Summit Beverage
Georgia Crown Distributing
Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company – WA
Breakthru Beverage – NV
Best Brands
Moon & Central Distributors
Winebow – FL
Brescome Barton
Eder Goodman, LLC
Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company – OR
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER: Hop & Vine Taproom, Stamford, CT
BEST HOTEL: InterContinental San Diego by IHG, San Diego, CA
BEST INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT: Scoma’s, San Francisco, CA
BEST CHAIN RESTAURANT: Mendocino Farms, AZ, CA, CO, IL, TX, WA
WINE ON TAP INNOVATOR: Micro Matic US
WINE ON TAP AMBASSADOR: Matt Roemer, The Wine Group, CA
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, and sports and entertainment venues nationwide. Free Flow Wines is headquartered in Sonoma, California.
Sonoma, CA, April 1, 2026 - Free Flow Wines today announced that Richard Bouwer has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Robert Perman as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2026.
Richard Bouwer has led Free Flow Wines since 2018, guiding the organization through growth, expansion, and meeting the milestone of over 2 million keg shipments across the US. The Board thanks him for his leadership and contributions to the company and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors.
Robert Perman brings 15 years of operations leadership, with a demonstrated ability to scale complex organizations, enhance production and supply chain performance, and maintain rigorous quality and safety standards. He previously served as Vice President of Operations.
“I am honored to take on the role of President and Chief Operating Officer and look forward to continuing to drive operational excellence and long-term growth for the company. Our commitment to our customers and partners remains as strong as ever.”
Free Flow Wines continues to prioritize delivering benefits to the wine industry while growing the presence of wine on tap. Our commitment to our customers and partners remains as strong as ever.
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, and sports and entertainment venues nationwide. Free Flow Wines is headquartered in Sonoma, California.
Growth & Collaboration
FFW takes a collaborative, partnership-driven approach with our winery partners. In 2025, we participated in more than 20 industry events, helping educate teams, support sales efforts, and drive results through strong, cross-functional alignment.
As an extension of the winery team, FFW plays a critical role in both execution and education. Five partners who actively leveraged FFW as a strategic resource achieved the strong growth, collectively shipping an additional 12,800 kegs in 2025.
This momentum reflects broader category strength. in the second half of 2025, FFW saw a 12% increase in wine on tap volume compared to the same period in 2024, driven by continued alignment and collaboration across the industry.
We welcome the opportunity to further support your keg program. Let us know how we can help or if there are initiatives you’d like to explore together.
2026 State of the Market is Here
Review the 2025 wine on tap highlights and learn the current trends with our 2026 State of the Market! Available to our winery partners only.
2026 KEGGY’s Coming Soon!
During Earth Month, we’ll be announcing the wineries and distributors who’ve saved anywhere from 50,000 to over 2 million bottles from the landfill. While we are maintaining the tradition of the People’s Choice Award, we are also adding 5 new categories recognizing accounts, innovators, and pioneers committed to growing the wine on tap category.
Voting is now open for this year’s People’s Choice Award. Make sure you vote for your favorite wine on tap account!
Glass bottle prices are rising, supply chains remain unpredictable, and tariffs continue to add pressure. For many wineries, these challenges are prompting a fresh look at packaging. Wine on tap in reusable steel kegs offers a resilient, sustainable solution that eliminates reliance on glass while protecting wine quality and freshness from the first pour to the last. Switching to kegs can help reduce costs, simplify logistics, and strengthen your sustainability story.
Now’s the time to future-proof your business with a smarter, more flexible packaging option. Connect with our team to explore how Free Flow Wines can help you make the shift with ease.
Keg Shipments Are Trending Up. Are You Tapping In?
We’re seeing a strong uptick in keg shipments April-June, and the wineries leaning into their wine on tap programs are driving that growth. The data is clear: when kegged wine is presented consistently across on-premise accounts, it moves and builds lasting placements. Operators continually tell us they prefer stainless steel kegs over plastic for quality, reliability, and sustainability.
If kegs aren’t part of every on-premise sales conversation, now’s the time to change that. Whether for high-volume pours or premium BTG, wine in keg is delivering results. Let’s keep the momentum going. Your next great account could be one tap handle away.
Wine on Tap in Tasting Rooms
As the wine industry continues to innovate, more and more wineries and tasting rooms are adopting modern solutions to enhance the guest experience. Adopting a wine on tap system in your tasting room does more than improve operations—it can elevate your brand, increase awareness, bolster your sustainability claims, and ensure a perfect pour for your guests.
Whether you are ready to add wine on tap to your tasting room or are interested in a pilot program, our team is here to help make it happen.
Sonoma, CA, April 22, 2025 – Free Flow Wines announced the winners of the 12th annual KEGGY Awards, honoring wine on tap leaders for their extraordinary environmental impact and commitment to sustainability. For the first time, the awards are being celebrated in April to align with Earth Month, reinforcing Free Flow’s mission to drive a more sustainable future for the wine industry with reusable steel kegs – a truly zero-waste package. Additionally, Free Flow expanded award categories this year to also recognize winery partners who have saved over 50K and 2MM bottles from the landfill.
“We changed the award schedule to Earth Month to reflect one of our core values: sustainability.” said Rich Bouwer, CEO of Free Flow Wines. “It is an exciting time to be talking about our wine on tap partners. Despite ongoing challenges in the alcohol beverage sector, keg shipments through Free Flow Wines have continued to grow—proving that wine on tap is not just the more sustainable choice, but also a smart one in today’s market. We’re proud to recognize the outstanding efforts of our partners who are reshaping the wine industry by providing a better glass of wine to their consumers.”
This year’s People’s Choice Winner, Tupelo Honey, is a revival of Southern food and traditions rooted in the Carolina mountains. The restaurant crafts brunches, lunches, and suppers that bring family and friends around the table for chef-inspired Southern fare.
“At Tupelo Honey, we brunch hard—and that means a lot of mimosas. By choosing stainless steel kegs over traditional wine bottles, we’re keeping waste like glass, corks, and foil out of landfills. It’s a simple switch that makes a big impact. We believe stainless steel kegs are the future, and we hope more restaurants and bars will join us in serving amazing drinks while helping to protect our planet.” stated Lindsey Farris-Felty, Corporate Beverage Director of Tupelo Honey.
FFW & Partners’ Cumulative Impact to Date:
- Over 41 million bottles, or 62 million lbs. of waste, saved from landfill
- More than 73 million pounds of COâ‚‚ emissions avoided
WINERY AWARD RECIPIENTS
More than 2,000,000 bottles saved (3,556,977 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Skurnik Wines & Spirits
- The Wine Group
- O'Neill Vintners & Distillers
More than 1,000,000 bottles saved (1,778,488 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Treasury Wine Estates
- More than 100,000 bottles saved (177,886 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Goldschmidt Vineyards
- Klinker Brick Winery
- ONEHOPE/7 Cellars Wine
More than 50,000 bottles are saved (88,966 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Palm Bay International
- Domaine Bousquet
- Frog's Leap
- Aquitaine Wine Company
- NW Wine Company
- St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
- SakeOne
- Kivelstadt Cellars
- Bookwalter Winery
- Lubanzi Wines
DISTRIBUTOR AWARD RECIPIENTS
More than 1,000,000 bottles saved (1,778,488 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- RNDC FL More than 500,000 bottles saved (889,244 lbs. CO2 emissions) RNDC AZ SGWS AZ
More than 100,000 bottles saved (177,886 lbs. CO2 emissions)
- Heidelberg Distributing Co. OH
- Empire Distributors NC
- Athens Distributing TN
PEOPLE’S CHOICE - RESTAURANT OPERATOR WINNER
To recognize an outstanding venue featuring wines on tap
Tupelo Honey, Asheville, NC
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.
We all love a good tax deduction, and the CHEERS Act brings just that - helping the hospitality and wine industries thrive while promoting sustainability. Just because the election is over doesn’t mean your civic duties are done.
The CHEERS Act is bipartisan legislation aimed at supporting taprooms, bars, and restaurants by encouraging energy-efficient draft beer systems. This act not only promotes environmental sustainability but also provides economic relief for the hospitality sector.
Your voice can make a difference! Advocate for the CHEERS Act and help your favorite venues thrive while staying green. Click the button below to fill out the form and just like that, your voice has been counted. Let’s toast to supporting our favorite bars, restaurants, and taprooms!
Come by the Free Flow booth 227 at the WIN Expo on December 5, to learn all about the benefits of wine on tap from reusable steel kegs! We want to help wineries expand their zero-waste efforts by switching their by-the-glass wine programs from glass bottles to reusable stainless steel kegs. Not only do reusable steel kegs maintain the highest level of wine quality, freshest pour by-the-glass and improved profitability, but they are reusable for decades lowering your carbon emissions impact. With headquarters in Sonoma, CA, and a production facility in Bayonne, NJ, we can assist you coast to coast.
Free Flow Wines, the pioneer of premium wine on tap, delivers the world’s premium wine brands to the taps of restaurants and large venues nationwide. Free Flow’s keg leasing, filling, and logistics services have allowed the wine and hospitality industries to move to a more sustainable way of offering consumers the freshest, best tasting glass of wine.
As you know, wine on tap offers many benefits including profitability, efficiency, quality, and sustainability. With more establishments recognizing these advantages, there has been an uptick in keg shipments in recent months. Keg growth means increased efficiency, reduced carbon footprint, and more taps available for your delicious wines. We anticipate this growth trend accelerating in the second half of the year. So, raise your glasses and join us in celebrating this exciting wave!
See what others are saying about serving wine on tap here.