This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the
North American Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma. It is an annual meeting for members of the wine blogging community, wine industry, and wine media.
It is chance for bloggers and members of the wine industry to meet, taste wine, and of course discuss the future of wine, wine media, and the internet.
As wine consumers become tech savvy, wine bloggers have become an excellent new source for information and reviews. The internet and social networking are also providing great new ways for consumers to find out about, and be connected to great wines. Bloggers from all over the US, as well as one from New Zealand, converged in Santa Rosa to learn, and of course drink some wine. This year was graciously hosted by the wineries and grape growers of the
Sonoma,
Napa,
Russian River, and
Dry Creek Valleys. On Friday we had a chance to taste great wines from the region at multiple pourings with special tastings featuring Sonoma and Russian River Valleys, with many of the winemakers themselves doing the pouring. Very fun to taste wines that we don't really produce in Washington State, most notably Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels. Awards were also given to the best wine blogs for 2009.
We were treated to a lovely day in Napa Valley on Saturday beginning at
Culinary Institute of America at Greystone with speakers Barry Schuler of Meteor Vineyard and Jim Gordon of
Wines and Vines Magazine.
Next was a lunch and vineyard walk at
Stag's Leap with vineyard manager Kirk Grace.
This was followed by a tasting at
Palmaz Vineyards 
featuring Viader, Madonna Estate, and of course Palmaz Cabernet. The winery is impressive.
Not only do they have an amazing view of the valley but the entire production facility is built underground.
Quintessa then hosted a grand tasting of an amazing lineup of producers from Napa Valley. It was a chance for all the conference goers to taste some of the best wines the Napa has to offer.
There were lots of big Cabs of course, but there were interesting white wines, and bubbly, to taste as well which helped keep my palate from getting too burned out.
I finished my day with a dinner at
Domaine Chandon with the wines of O'Brien Estate, Louis M. Martini, Parry Cellars, Newton, and both bubbly and still wines from Chandon.
Sunday was perhaps less wine filled but more educational with seminars about blogging, social networking, and the future of wine media and marketing. The end of the conference was punctuated by the announcement that Walla Walla will be the host for next years' event. Napa and Sonoma have certainly set the bar pretty high for us here in Washington to match their hospitality. Good thing we have such fabulous wines here in
Walla Walla to share with the new generation of wine writers. We look forward to hosting everyone a year from now.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma. It is an annual meeting for members of the wine blogging community, wine industry, and wine media. 
It is chance for bloggers and members of the wine industry to meet, taste wine, and of course discuss the future of wine, wine media, and the internet. 
As wine consumers become tech savvy, wine bloggers have become an excellent new source for information and reviews. The internet and social networking are also providing great new ways for consumers to find out about, and be connected to great wines. Bloggers from all over the US, as well as one from New Zealand, converged in Santa Rosa to learn, and of course drink some wine. This year was graciously hosted by the wineries and grape growers of the Sonoma, Napa, Russian River, and Dry Creek Valleys. On Friday we had a chance to taste great wines from the region at multiple pourings with special tastings featuring Sonoma and Russian River Valleys, with many of the winemakers themselves doing the pouring. Very fun to taste wines that we don't really produce in Washington State, most notably Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels. Awards were also given to the best wine blogs for 2009. 
We were treated to a lovely day in Napa Valley on Saturday beginning at Culinary Institute of America at Greystone with speakers Barry Schuler of Meteor Vineyard and Jim Gordon of Wines and Vines Magazine. 
Next was a lunch and vineyard walk at Stag's Leap with vineyard manager Kirk Grace. 
This was followed by a tasting at Palmaz Vineyards 
featuring Viader, Madonna Estate, and of course Palmaz Cabernet. The winery is impressive. 
Not only do they have an amazing view of the valley but the entire production facility is built underground. Quintessa then hosted a grand tasting of an amazing lineup of producers from Napa Valley. It was a chance for all the conference goers to taste some of the best wines the Napa has to offer. 
There were lots of big Cabs of course, but there were interesting white wines, and bubbly, to taste as well which helped keep my palate from getting too burned out. 
I finished my day with a dinner at Domaine Chandon with the wines of O'Brien Estate, Louis M. Martini, Parry Cellars, Newton, and both bubbly and still wines from Chandon. 
Sunday was perhaps less wine filled but more educational with seminars about blogging, social networking, and the future of wine media and marketing. The end of the conference was punctuated by the announcement that Walla Walla will be the host for next years' event. Napa and Sonoma have certainly set the bar pretty high for us here in Washington to match their hospitality. Good thing we have such fabulous wines here in
Walla Walla to share with the new generation of wine writers. We look forward to hosting everyone a year from now. 
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