Overview: Altamura Distilleries has been named one of the Top 50 Marketing Teams at the 2026 OnCon Icon Awards. The recognition highlights the brand’s international growth and its commitment to using PDO-protected Altamura durum wheat grain.
The Full Story
Announced at the virtual awards ceremony on 27 October, the recognition celebrates the team behind the international growth of a vodka made from a distinctly local Puglian grain. Voted for by the public, the OnCon Icon Awards recognise organisations and business leaders around the world for their leadership, innovation and impact on their industries.
Altamura Distilleries was co-founded by Frank Grillo and Steve Acuna after the two Americans relocated to Puglia. Their idea was to create a premium vodka from a single, distinctly local ingredient: 100% Altamura durum wheat, the grain used for Pane di Altamura, the first bread in Europe to be awarded Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status.
The award follows a strong year of trade recognition for the brand, which was named in the Drinks International Bartenders’ Choice list earlier in 2026. In August 2026, the company appointed drinks industry veteran Kevin Schmudde as Head of USA to lead the next stage of its growth in the country. The vodka is now sold in more than 26 markets worldwide, including 26 US states, with recent launches in Japan, Hong Kong and mainland China.
Production & Profile
The spirit is distilled entirely from 100% Altamura durum wheat, a distinctly local Puglian ingredient. This grain is also used for Pane di Altamura, the first bread in Europe to be awarded Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status.
Brand & Industry History
Co-founded by Frank Grillo and Steve Acuna after the two Americans relocated to Puglia, the brand aims to create a premium vodka from a single, distinctly local ingredient. The award follows a strong year of trade recognition for the brand, which was named in the Drinks International Bartenders’ Choice list earlier in 2026.
What This Means
The recognition validates the team’s leadership and innovation as they continue to expand internationally. Focus now shifts to bringing Altamura Distilleries to new markets and introducing more bartenders and drinkers to an Italian vodka.
Consumer Takeaway
The vodka is now poured at some of the world’s most acclaimed cocktail bars, including Clemente Bar in New York, Paradiso in Barcelona, Maybe Sammy in Sydney and The Donovan Bar in London. In luxury hospitality, the brand is the Official Vodka Partner of The World’s 50 Best Hotels.
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