* A Note from Amy Gross, Blogger & CEO of Wine4.me  – WBC14 Sponsor *

Many of you have known me over the years as VineSleuth. Well, this year, I’m heading back to the Wine Bloggers Conference representing not only my VineSleuth Uncorked blog, but also our brand new smartphone app for casual wine drinkers: Wine4.Me and the Wine4.Me Blog.

 

I’m psyched that Wine4.Me is the official dump bucket sponsor, as well as a sponsor of live wine blogging for reds. So as you taste and explore new wines at the conference, please think of me and Wine4.Me and how you can help your readers to spit less and drink more. And look for me Saturday pouring some delicious red wine for you to blog about in 5 minutes or less. (Whew, it’s going to be a whirwind!)

So what is Wine4.Me?

Wine 4.Me, recently named a Top 5 Must Have App by Mashable, is a smartphone app that helps casual wine drinkers find more wines they are sure to enjoy without having to try the ones they won’t. Sure, you and I may not mind the journey that brings us to delicious wines, but most people just want to enjoy a bottle of wine without working for it. And with so many palates out there, they don’t always know whose tastes to follow. We help them follow their own.

How does Wine4.Me work?

Wine4.Me uses sensory science to create unique taste profiles for every user and predictive analytics to rank wines for each user based on that unique profile.

The first time a user opens Wine4.Me, she is prompted to enter a few things about wines she enjoys (grape or variety, region, country, winery) and then our algorithm gets to work. The user can then see an easy to understand graphic representation of her profile (which she can share with waiters and sommeliers) as well as a personally ranked list of all the wines in the database. (Many more characteristics go into building the profiles than are shown in the graph. That’s just an overview.) Users can filter their results by all sorts of things, including what they will be eating, to find just what they need.

As the user tries wines in the database, she can then rate them to give Wine4.Me more feedback, enabling her profile to get even better at returning the right wines.

Wine4.Me’s wine selections are widely available at many grocery stores and wine outlets such as Wegmans, Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger, H-E-B, Ralphs, Spec’s, ABC, BevMo, and Total Wine as well as many popular restaurants across the United States.

So how does Wine4.Me REALLY work?

Our team worked with sensory scientists, wine makers, and winery owners to develop our patent-pending system of evaluation. Then, we recruited some of the best wine evaluators in the country to evaluate the wines in our database. We called on more winemakers, wine educators, wine writers, sommeliers and more to evaluate the wines, and then we tested them.

Our evaluators are top notch. Using our system for evaluating, they repeat their observations at 90% or higher when presented with the same wine, and they agree on what they observe, although they do not compare notes (we leave that up to our statistician team). (PS: If you want to be considered for our evaluation team, drop us a note and we’ll talk.)

So what does this mean for YOU?

As a blogger since 2008, I know that blogging is much more fun when readers get into the conversation. Wine4.Me will help your readers find more wines they will enjoy, as well as see why they like the wines, giving them confidence to enter into more conversations with you on your site. Sharing Wine4.Me with your readers will not only give them a tool to find wines they will like, based on their tastes, but it will also empower them to ask questions as they begin to understand more about what they like. And when more wine drinkers ask questions, we all win!

I have no doubt many of you will have questions about Wine4.Me. If you have an Apple mobile device, download the free app, give it a try and let’s talk in Buelllton. I can’t wait to hear your feedback.

(Android users: We are working towards releasing a version for you just as quickly as we can. I promise!)

WBC14 Saturday Wine Discovery Session – Ancient Vines…Modern Wines

* A Note From WBC14 Sponsor, Wines of Greece * 

Sommelier and radio host, Levi Dalton, of I’ll Drink to That , leads the Ancient Vines…Modern Wines Wine Discovery Session on Saturday, July 12th, at the 2014 Wine Bloggers Conference in Buellton, CA.  A tasting of Greece’s top white and red wine varieties and discussion of this country’s dynamic wine production, both past and present, will inform, educate, and inspire bloggers.  Wines to be tasted include:

• Moschofilero
• Malagousia
• Assyrtiko
• Agiorgitiko
• Xinomavro                          

Discover for yourself why Greek wines are eternally modern at the Wine Discovery Session hosted by New Wines of Greece on Saturday, July 12.

Ancient Vines     

Greece, the oldest winemaking region in the world, is now one of the most dynamic due to tremendous investments in modern technology and a passionate new breed of winemakers exploring the potential of their native varieties. The Greeks created the first “culture of wine” over 4,000 years ago, integrating wine into everyday life where Dionysus, the God of wine, played a prominent role. Elaborate cups and vessels (the first “Riedels”) were created to drink this divine elixir from the Gods, and wine was consumed at intellectual symposiums held to discuss philosophical ideas of the day. From the beginning, the Greeks also understood the important influence of terroir on the characteristics of wine and shipped their wines in sealed amphorae, unique to particular regions, becoming the first to create their own Appellations of Origin (a few millenniums before the French).

Modern Wines

The Greek vineyard combines all of the elements necessary for the production of high quality wine. Its mild Mediterranean climate includes consistent climatic conditions: lots of sunshine, mild winters, dry summers and cool evenings. The soils range from moderate to poor fertility and vary from sand and rock to clay and limestone with most everything else in between–including the volcanic soils of some islands. Beyond its renowned island beaches, Greece, the third most mountainous country in Europe, has a dramatically diverse landscape with mountain ranges that traverse the countryside from north to south. Most vineyards are found on the slopes of mountains or on remote islands with a typical vineyard size being less than (1) hectare. With Greece virtually surrounded by water, most vineyards also enjoy the positive, moderating influence of the sea.

Home to over 300 indigenous grapes, Greece is a source of high quality, limited production wines that express the nuances of its unique terroir. Moschofilero, Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro are some of the more predominantly produced varieties, while international grape varieties also thrive, allowing Greece to offer an excellent range of native varietal wines as well as some very interesting blends. Like Greek cuisine, which is based on fresh ingredients, simply prepared, our wines are subtle yet complex–designed to compliment rather than overpower food – and offer a great ratio of price to quality.

We look forward to seeing bloggers at the WBC14 and the Wine Discovery Session on Saturday, July 12!

WBC14 Saturday Breakout Session – The U.S. Wine Consumer: Who, What & Where

* A Note From WBC14 Sponsor, Wine.com * 

Wine.com knows that attendees of the Wine Blogger Conference represent the movers and the shakers of today’s wine industry. They demonstrate passion and enthusiasm; they look for innovative ways to reach the consumer; they are the future of wine. Our mission at Wine.com is to promote the wine lifestyle through innovation – you are the innovators within this wine lifestyle, so it’s only natural that we are a part of this year’s conference. Hanging out in California wine country is a perfect fit for us. Though our offerings span the globe, our customers’ favorite region, year after year, is California. We have wines from all over the state, but we love our wines from Santa Barbara. Should you search our current selection, you’d find nearly 50 wines offered, representing over 15 wineries like Sanford, Au Bon Climat, Qupe and Cambria.

This weekend is about learning from each other – and as much as we want to learn from you, we hope you can learn from us as well. As you educate your palate through seminars and excursions over the weekend, we will educate you on the consumer you want to reach.

As an online retailer, Wine.com is able to collect data that helps us track purchasing behavior and highlight upcoming trends in wine buying. We analyze regional, varietal and brand preferences among high frequency wine consumers at all ages from all over the country. On Saturday, Mike Osborn, Founder and VP of Merchandising at Wine.com will present these findings based on data from Wine.com, the Wine Market Council and Nielson’s Beverage Alcohol team. We hope you’ll join us at the breakout session, “The U.S. Wine Consumer: Who, What & Where,” to find out more.

Why Wine.com?

Headquartered in San Francisco, right between California’s wine country and Silicon Valley, we’re passionate about using technology to bring you the world of wine at your fingertips. From humble beginnings in 1998, we’ve been through an incredible journey to navigate the wine shipping laws, earn the trust of thousands of wineries and create a customer experience we are proud of. We offer selection, guidance, convenience and value to help our customers enjoy life just a little bit more.

Wine.com offers over 3,000 different wines in any given market. It may seem overwhelming, but this is where technology helps – we offer advanced search, filter & sort, our food & wine pairing tool, a virtual cellar and recommendations driven by past purchases. Not only that, but we’ve got a whole team of wine geeks ready to help. Live chat, call or email us, read our blog or track our reviews, wine lists, tweets and posts. Who says a website can’t also have a personal touch? One other thing we think is pretty special for wine drinkers is our Steward-Ship program – that’s $49/year for free shipping on everything. Ship one bottle every week, ship 5 cases every 2 months. Ship 10 gifts over the holidays. It’s all covered.

We are excited to be a part of this year’s conference and look forward to connecting. Cheers!

The country of Portugal, nestled along Spain’s western border, is somewhat distanced, physically, relative to the European wine scene.  But this country’s long-standing, rich relationship with the grape and the culture of winemaking has been percolating for thousands of years and is bubbling towards the surface of international stardom.

31 different DOCs (Denominação de Origem Controlada) and 14, distinct, “Vinhos Regionales” dot Portugal’s wine landscape from north to south.  WBC14 Grand sponsor, Wines of Portugal, will be showcasing this country’s breadth and depth during the Friday, July 11 Brunch, Discover Portugal: Influences Around the World.

With over 250 native varietals, Portugal is not confined to “any one thing” in the world of wine, although many people identify Portugal’s wine-making prowess with Port wines and for a good reason – Portuguese wines were given preferential treatment by the British and over French wines in the early 18th Century, when these fortified wines were wildly popular in Britain.  The popularity of Port led to the Douro being established in 1756 as the oldest, demarcated and regulated wine appellation in the world (the French AOC system, for reference, was formally established in the 1930’s).

Portugal’s centuries-old, global domination of the Port market and influence over British consumers in the 18th Century speaks to it’s historical influences, in general.  Beginning in the early 1400’s, Portuguese explorers set off to far corners of the world to seek gains in the world of agriculture, spices, and gold, among many commodities.  The Portuguese Empire, which spanned hundreds of years, encompassed what we now identify as 53 different sovereign states.  By the late 1400’s, Portugal’s ocean-going skills allowed them to explore places that other countries were scrambling to get to and in 1498, explorer Vasco de Gama reached India after sailing around the southern tip of Africa.  This sea route helped Portugal control the Indian spice market and establish bases at Mozambique and Zanzibar on the east African coast.

We are all aware of the Portuguese colonization of Brazil but the Portuguese Empire also had defining moments in Japan, China, Indonesia, Angola and Guinea as well.  The Portuguese influence, overshadowed by Spain’s accidental discovery of the Americas, is encountered all over the globe.  The “cross-pollination” of foods and flavors as referenced by “Cuisines of Portuguese Encounters” author, Cherie Hamilton, can be found throughout the world.  Tempura, the signature dish of Japan, was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the mid-1600’s.  And Portugal’s establishments on the west coast of India brought new influences from their control of the European-Asian spice trade; the chilis used in traditional Goan cuisine, for example, were introduced by the Portuguese and remain an essential ingredient in southern India’s much loved dishes.

Wines of Portugal represents their country’s winemaking heritage at the Wine Bloggers Conference at the Discover Portugal: Influences Around the World brunch on Friday, July 11 from 10-11:45 am.  This brunch is a fantastic opportunity to discover the rich, cultural and epicurean landscape of Portugal’s worldly travels. Nosh on a selection of Portuguese influenced dishes expertly paired with a selection of distinctive, indigenous varieties that showcase the range and diversity of the region’s wines.

Challenge your senses and enjoy a world of difference at this can’t-miss event.