With wine in the name, it stands to reason that I would discover some new winners as well as some other interesting beverages each year in June at The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. This year was no exception. Here are a few liquid treats worth snooping out for a try.

WINE

Standout wines for me were a malbec and cabernet sauvignon produced by Terrazas de los Andes winery in Luján de Cuyo, in the Mendoza Province of Argentina. For the past 10 years, they’ve made the Wine Spectator list for the “Top Ranked Malbec from Argentina.” With its deep purple color and rich bold fruit forward flavor of plums and cherries, this malbec is sure to win awards, too as well as the cab. They are available at Coaltrain Wine and Spirits, 330 W. Uintah St., 475-9700, coaltrainwine.com. Cost: $19.99 a bottle.

I also spent some time sipping samples at the Wine Sisterhood, which was founded by three women. A portion of the sale of each bottle of wine goes to helping women and children in crisis. For instance, the Purple Cowboy wines are the official vino for the Professional Rodeo Association Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Now in its eighth year, the campaign surpassed the $12 million dollar mark, which was announced at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The Middle Sister’s campaign is called Help a Sister Out, and gives back to food bank charities throughout the US. They are currently running a Facebook campaign where they donate one dollar for every newsletter sign-up. You can check out the winery’s community of women talking about all-things wine, food, entertaining, women’s issues and other campaigns at winesisterhood.com. Wines retail for about $11.99 per bottle. Select wines are available at Cheers Liquor Mart, 1105 N. Circle Drive, and Target stores that sell wine.

SPIRITS

Michael Symon, a Food Network celebrity chef and cookbook author, got my attention with his Knob Creek Spice of Life cocktail, which is a delicious summer sipper. Knob Creek is Jim Beam’s small-batch bourbon brand. Symon was giving a sneak preview of the new rye-based whiskey that was introduced nationally this month. The early release won a Double Gold Medal at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in March. A 750 milliliter bottle will set you back about $41.

It’s delicious served straight, but for a fun cocktail give Symon’s recipe a try: Muddle 4-5 fresh mint leaves with 1/2 part white peach nectar and 2 1/2 parts Knob Creek Rye Whiskey in the bottom of a shaker. Add crushed ice and shake vigorously. Strain over ice in a glass and top with 1 part ginger beer.

Flavored vodkas are all the rage and Belvedere Vodka makers are firmly in the game with their pink grapefruit, citrus, orange and black raspberry varieties. Last year at The Food & Wine Classic they made a big splash at a pool-side brunch, where their first vodka made-to-drink product, the Belvedere Bloody Mary, was introduced. This year they unveiled Belvedere Lemon Tea, another vodka made to drink on it’s own. And it is good on it’s own but a splash of it in a glass of lemonade makes a great cocktail.

CARBONATED SODAS

Dry Soda, which is produced in Seattle, Wash.,  is a unique, refreshing take on a carbonated drink that is available at King Soopers. It’s great on its own or used as a base for a cocktail. Flavors include vanilla bean, wild lime, lavender, blood orange and, my favorite, cucumber. Try my new favorite summer cocktail: Counterbalance. Muddle four mint leaves with 1/2 ounce each of fresh lemon juice, lime juice and cucumber juice, 3/4 ounce agave nectar and 2 ounces of Hendrick’s Gin. Shake with crushed ice and strain into an ice-filled, tall glass. Top with Cucumber Dry Soda, then garnish with a cuke slice and mint leaves.–

Contact Teresa J. Farney at 636-0271, Twitter@tffoodie, FacebookTeresa Farney