So Many Sophisticated Wine Events at the 2015 WBC in the Finger Lakes

110 days, 5 hours, and 21 minutes until the 2015 blastoff into all things wine + blogging in Corning, NY for the “little” annual event called the Wine Bloggers Conference.  The conference team is busy, busy, busy finalizing details on what is evolving to be an absolutely dynamite lineup of content and wine events in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  Already signed up for this year’s conference?  Woohoo!  You are in for a treat this year.  Haven’t pulled the trigger, yet, on registering for the 2015 WBC?  We really think you should…New York State was named the “Wine Region of the Year” in 2014 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and now boasts 390+ wineries in 58 counties.  Adam Strum, Publisher & Editor of WE relays:

…New York State (is) one of the most vibrant and promising wine-producing destinations in the world.”

The 2015 Wine Bloggers Conference affords attendees the very special opportunity to see, up close and personal, the hard work and efforts by New York’s wine industry to achieve this vivacious, award-winning status.  The Finger Lakes wine region surrounding Corning is brimming with sophisticated wine activity and the town itself is absolutely charming.  The 2015 host hotel, the Radisson in Corning, is located in downtown and within walking distance of everything this town has to offer.  Including all the cosmopolitan wine events on the docket at WBC15.  Our friends in the Finger Lakes are pulling out all the stops with the lineup of wine events at this year’s conference.  Read further for a recap of truly unique wine experiences happening this August.

WINE EVENTS AT THE 2015 WINE BLOGGERS CONFERENCE

Thursday, August 13
7-9:30 PM Registration and Opening Night Reception 

The Opening Night Wine Reception is not “just” a little welcome ceremony.  It’s a full on blowout celebration that aims to welcome conference attendees with style and panache.  Corning’s Gaffer District is rolling out the red carpet for this evening reception in downtown’s Riverfront Centennial Park, located just a stone’s throw from the Radisson. Wines from the Keuka Lake Wine Trail and small plates from many of the celebrated local restaurants go hand in hand during this evening affair.  This truly warm welcome to the 2015 WBC is co-sponsored by the Keuka Lake Wine Trail and Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association.  Share in the excitement with @GafferDistrict @KLWT @FLXWineCountry #ExploreCorning #flxwine

Friday, August 14
11:30-1:30 PM WBC Expo & Lunch 

This casual summer lunch will be outdoors and in the courtyard outside the hotel.  Enjoy this time to sample wines from the region and from farther abroad and chat with our conference parters at the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association! 

4:15 PM Finger Lakes Wine Country Excursions

These excursions represent your one opportunity during the main conference and outside of the pre and post-conference excursions to explore Finger Lakes wine country.  We have 5 hours to head out on ten different excursions that are sure to include overviews of the terroir, winemaking styles from each of the three, main lakes, private library tastings, and multi-vintage verticals.  The best part??  The excursions are a SURPRISE to all attendees so you can just jump on any bus and go!

9:00 PM  Wines of New York!  Tasting & Reception at the Rockwell Museum

The Rockwell Museum is an absolutely stunning, three-story historic building in the heart of Corning and just one block from the Radisson.  The venue alone makes this soiree feel extra special…after getting to know the Finger Lakes better on the afternoon excursions, conference goers can taste wines from other parts of the “Wine Region of the Year” in the stylish environs of the Rockwell Museum all the while enjoying desserts by local crafters of sweet treats and live music.  Bonus:  conference goers will be among the first to view a very special exhibition of “The Colorado River Basin”, a collection of work by National Geographic photographer, Pete McBride.  Connect with the Rockwell Museum via @RockwellMuseum and #RockwellMuseum.

Saturday, August 15
11:45 AM-1:15 PM Lunch with the Seneca Lake Winery Association 

The folks at Seneca Lake Winery Association are hammering out these details but trust me, you will be tasting some excellent Seneca Lake wines during this lunch!  This is the same group who has organized the uber educational, fun, and totally in-depth pre-conference overnight excursion to Seneca Lake and we look forward to their lunch sponsorship! @senecalakewine

4:30-6:15 PM Wines of the World Reception

Step out of the Finger Lakes region for a couple of house for a pre-dinner sip of wines from around the globe.  Ribera del Duero & Rueda Spanish wines, Chilean & Argentine wines from Montes Winery, Wines of Alsace, Dr. Loosen, and Italian wines from Villa Trasqua will all be represented at this international wine exposé.

6:30-8:00 PM Dinner hosted by Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association

Our friends at the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association are hammering out the details about this dinner but trust me, from what we have seen from this organization, it will be awesome!

9:15-11:15 PM Evening Party at the Corning Museum of Glass Featuring wines from the Finger Lakes, this evening party allows conference goers to roam the corridors of the majorly Corning Museum of Glass.  Sample local desserts and view the more than 35 centuries of glass artistry, including the new Contemporary Art + Design Wing.  Art Meets Wine really and truly in this space, the largest of its kind devoted to the presentation of contemporary art in glass.  Transport will be provided on a rolling basis back from the museum to the host hotel.  Bonus: the 2015 Wine Blog Awards will be presented to all award winners in attendance at the Corning Museum of Glass and just prior to the start of the Evening Party.

Sunday, August 16
11:30 AM-1 PM Mark Twain Country Lunch You’ve spent the weekend enjoying the world-class wines and beautiful sights of Finger Lakes Wine country, so now it’s time to discover the rest of the story!  Writing is a part the history in Mark Twain Country and American literary genius, Samuel Clemens, penned some of his most famous works in the area.  “A Taste of the Region” is the culminating event of the conference and features…..local craft BEER, Mark Twain-related surprises, and a slice of the region’s rich history and culture.  This lunch is co-sponsored by Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association and Mark Twain Country