We could not hold this conference and offer such an unbelievably low price to participants without the support of our sponsors. Please take the time to read about our sponsors below.
Conference Organizers
Your conference organizers are Zephyr Adventures and Vincent Group Consulting. Zephyr Adventures operates trekking, hiking, biking, and multi-sport tours throughout the world, Vineyard Walks in Sonoma County, Inca Trail Hikes, and Self-guided Vacations in Italy. Zephyr’s active wine tours specialize in getting travelers up close and personal with not just the wineries but the vineyards of the world. Zephyr Adventures also organizes the Wine Tourism Conference, International Food Bloggers Conference, Beer Bloggers Conference, and Fitness and Health Bloggers Conference.
Grand Sponsors
The Oregon Wine Board represents the state’s 400-plus wineries and 800-plus vinifera vineyards. While Oregon’s famous pinot noir represents over half the tonnage of grapes produced, Oregon is a diverse wine-producing state where grape growers cultivate over 70 varieties in three primary regions: the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, and Eastern Oregon. The Oregon Wine Board is our main sponsor for the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference.
King Estate, celebrating 20 years of Oregon winemaking in 2011, is located southwest of Eugene, Oregon and produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and limited amounts of Chardonnay. Founded in 1991 by the King family, King Estate is committed to producing Oregon wines of exceptional quality using organic & sustainable farming methods, meticulous fruit selection, impeccable winemaking practices and judicious blending.
Winebow’s mission is to be the leading US importer and distributor of an international portfolio of premium wines, spirits and sakes from around the world. Winebow’s founder Leonardo LoCascio has crafted an outstanding portfolio of premier Italian wines, spirits and specialty products and is building a growing portfolio of fine wines from Spain, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, New Zealand, Austria and the US. Winebow will present an Argentine Food & Wine Pairing Brunch on Friday.
Erath wines are an expression of the land that the winery has cultivated for more than 40 years, longer than any other winery in the Dundee Hills of Oregon. The red, iron-rich Jory soils, combined with gentle breezes and warming sunshine of a marine climate, have bestowed upon Dundee a terroir of note. It has given rise to the handcrafting phenomenon, and the art of Pinot.
At Don Sebastiani & Sons, four generations of Sebastianis have made their mark on the wine business, starting in 1904 when Samuele Sebastiani opened his own winery in Sonoma, California. Today, the tradition lives on at this family-owned wine negociant Don Sebastiani & Sons, led by Don Sebastiani Jr., great-grandson of the Sebastiani patriarch. Don Sebastiani & Sons is a purveyor of upscale, moderately priced varietal wines that are sourced from some of the best growing regions worldwide. The company produces sophisticated, innovative wine brands and aims to consistently create noteworthy wines in a style that is recognizably their own.
Tourism British Columbia British Columbia is a major wine destination that pairs award-winning wines with spectacular scenery. There are more than 200 wineries and they range from intimate, family-run vineyards on pristine Vancouver Island to magnificent estate wineries set amongst sparkling lakes and golden deserts in the Okanagan Valley. Join fellow wine lovers at BC wine festivals or combine a winery tour with other activities.
Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Penticton is well-known for wine. And little wonder, since it’s home to some of British Columbia’s very best bottles. But in between vineyard tours, you’ll find no end of fun that also rates quite highly. After all, this charming, sun-soaked town is nestled between two beautiful lakes: Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake. And, it was named Top 10 Places to Visit in 2012 according to Facebook users!
British Columbia Wine Institute represents 127 member wineries, as well as supports and markets the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA), which gives consumers assurance their wine is 100% from BC. The BCWI markets the Wine Regions of BC; delivers quality trade, media and consumer tastings; and acts as the voice of BC’s wine industry.
Premier Sponsors
14 Hands Winery is named for the wild mustangs that once freely roamed the hills of eastern Washington State. These small horses measured a scant 14 hands high – a “hand” being equivalent to a man’s palm width and how horses were measured then. Keith Kenison is the winemaker for this Horse Heaven Hills located winery.
The Cork Forest Conservation Alliance campaigns globally for the protection and preservation of the Mediterranean cork forests, its inhabitants and biodiversity, through education, direct action, and partnerships with communities, businesses and governments. The organization believes that teaching and promoting sustainability is the best way to systematically approach and solve the many complex environmental challenges facing society today.
Franciacorta was the first Italian sparkling wine produced exclusively by the Classic Method, or second fermentation in the bottle, to win, in 1995, official status as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). Today, the front label on the wine reads simply “Franciacorta”: this one term defines the growing area, the production method, and the wine.
Nomacorc goes to great lengths to create the world’s best wine closures. Closures that allow winemakers to rest assured that the wine they pour their heart and soul into will be enjoyed exactly the way it was intended. Nomacorc produces two billion synthetic wine closures each year and will be recycling all synthetic closures at WBC12.
Chianti Classico are the wines that come from the Chianti Classic DOCG in Italy. Chianti is that part of Tuscany bordered to the north by the suburbs of Florence, to the east by the Chianti Mountains, to the south by the city of Siena and to the west by the valleys of the Pesa and Elsa rivers. With more than 600 members, of whom approximately 350 are bottlers, the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium now represents 95% of the entire denomination.
Jacobs Creek was started in 1847 when a young Bavarian immigrant called Johann Gramp missed the wine he used to drink in his home land and started growing grapes himself. When he planted the Barossa Valley’s first commercial vineyard along the banks of Jacob’s Creek, he was also planting the seeds of one of the most popular wine brands in the world that would be named after the waterway. Today, Jacob’s Creek remains one of the most well known, trusted and enjoyed Australian wines around the world.
Visit the Albariño Explorers Club (AEC) table to taste some cool, crisp whites from Rías Baixas, Spain. We’re looking for our next AEC Ambassador – which could be you! Stop by the AEC table to learn about our video blogger contest launching here at WBC12 and check out the Albariño Explorers Club website in the meantime.
Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents nearly 400 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry.
WTSO.com (WinesTilSoldOut.com) is an online wine retailer that offers the highest quality wine at the lowest cost – 30-70% off original retail prices. A family-run business, WTSO is focused on providing the highest quality wine at a great value with the best customer service. WTSO is built upon more than 30 years of personal relationships with top vineyards from around the world enabling us to curate the best collection of wine and offer them to consumers online, one at a time.
The Pocket Wine Journal smartphone application helps wine lovers catalogue the perfect wines for any occasion, mood or palate. Users can search by winery, varietal, name, price and personal notes. They can even capture personal photos from their wine tasting experiences.
Wine Shield is a flexible disc that floats on the top of wine in any opened 750ml bottle. When inserted into the bottle, it creates a barrier to oxidation which preserves the taste and nose of the wine for up to 5 days from the moment of opening. No longer do wine enthusiasts have to suffer with complex or ineffective products, using vacuum and gases. Wine Shield is inexpensive, simple to use, completely safe BPA-free and made from FDA-approved, food contact-safe material — and effective.
Oregon Bounty is a celebration of culinary travel produced by Travel Oregon. It’s a place where you can learn a vintner’s philosophy on wine while walking her vines, and where farmers arrive at local restaurants with boxes of fresh produce picked for the chef that morning. You can even eat and drink your way across more of Oregon with one of our Trails to Feast adventures. Enter to win a nine-day culinary trip of a lifetime by entering our Trails to Feast Sweeps.
Funded through the Virginia Wine Board, the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office handles the board’s education and marketing efforts on behalf of all Virginia wineries. The office manages the development and execution of a continuous and integrated marketing program, which focuses on advertising, public relations and promotions.
International Wine Night Sponsors
Esporão S.A. is a Portuguese group that has managed to achieve the highest levels of quality and prestige in its wine and olive oil production. Products include high volume and extremely popular wines such as Monte Velho, Alandra and Vinha da Defesa as well as top-of-the-range wines (premium and super premium) including the renowned Esporão Reserva and Private Selection, the always innovative Monocastas and the exclusive Torre do Esporão.
The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc (CIVL) is the trade council representing the AOC wines of Languedoc. Languedoc is France’s wine frontier, where local AOC regulations allow greater freedom for forward-looking winemakers to experiment while respecting traditions. The wines of the region offer exceptional quality, variety and incredible value. Languedoc AOC wines are an exciting and accessible discovery for US wine drinkers.
Cognac is a trendy drink for many people. During the International Wine Night, an American bartender will mix fun cocktails for you, including our famous Summit Cognac Cocktail and our brand new cocktail for women, Lady Coeur, just created by female mixologists in Cognac. Come share with us those tasty moments!
New Wines of Greece is an organization promoting modern wines from Greece, wines that reflect all the history of wine making in the country but also the dynamic, modern techniques of current wine makers. The organization will participate in the International Wines Night but also will be sponsoring the Saturday pre-dinner reception.
Alsace is one of France’s top white wine regions, famous for its fresh, aromatic and food-friendly wines. Located along the eastern border to Germany in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, Alsace produces terroir-driven wines of pure fruit expression from Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat d’Alsace, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir. Alsace also makes high-quality, méthode traditionelle sparkling wine called Crémant d’Alsace.
Rias Baixas is the most important Denomination of Origin (DO) in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain. The DO was formally established in 1988 and owes its acclaim to the white Albariño grape. It is the only exclusively white wine DO in Spain. For complete information about the Albariño grape, visit the Albariño Explorers Club website.
Casa Vinicola Zonin, with its close ties to the land for the past seven generations, is the largest private vine growing and winemaking company in Italy (and one of the most important in Europe as well). The company’s heart is located in Gambellara, in the province of Vicenza, an oasis of verdant hills and well-ordered vineyards. The company is driven by a basic mission: to underscore each estate’s relationship with the historical, cultural and human patrimony of its particular area.
Discover Beaujolais, one of the oldest wine regions in the world, producing versatile, expertly crafted wines by dedicated winemakers for over 2,000 years. The region produces white wines, rosés and light red wines which are a refreshing alternative to heavy reds. Beaujolais wines are known for having the unique ability to be chilled. Beaujolais wines are often referred to as the only “white wines that are red.”
Wine Country Ontario is dedicated to promoting Ontario’s wine-growing regions — from the wines and wineries themselves to the complete experience of each destination: local cuisine, year-round activities and warm hospitality. The Wine Council of Ontario is a non-profit trade organization that represents 85 member wineries throughout the province. Our mission is to lead the growth and sustainability of Ontario wines, certified under the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) appellation system.
Brancott Estate was the first New Zealand wine estate to plant and create the world’s first Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine. Beginning in 1934 as Montana Wines, the company first planted Sauvignon Blanc vines in 1975 in Brancott Vineyard in Marlborough – a decision that went against the popular opinion of the time that suggested the South Island was too cold to grow wine grapes. The release of the first Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc vintage in 1979 was the beginning of a phenomenon which placed New Zealand firmly on the international wine map.
Event Sponsors
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco is the office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government on the west coast which looks after the economic and trade interests of Hong Kong in the 19 western states and promotes US investment in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is quickly becoming a regional wine trading and distribution hub in Asia. Since the elimination of wine duties in February 2008, merchants have seized the opportunity to increase shipments and establish a greater presence in Hong Kong.
Stoel Rives LLP is a U.S. law firm, with a full suite of transactional and litigation solutions for U.S. and international clients. Established in 1907, the firm has nearly 400 attorneys operating out of 11 offices in seven states. The Stoel Rives Portland office is both the firm’s largest and the largest law practice in Oregon. In 2005, Stoel Rives was named “Oregon’s Most Admired Company” among law firms in a poll of 800 Oregon CEOs conducted by the Portland Business Journal.
Women for Winesense is the premier wine education and networking organization for wine industry professionals and wine enthusiasts.
Naked Wines invests in talented winemakers around the globe and offers its members preferential pricing on those wines. You get remarkable discounts on all the wines the community has financed. You also have access to cool promotional offers like tastings, special events, and sample bottles (to the extent that the crazy US legal system allows us to give you these things). Many of you will also be filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling as you bask in the gratitude of the winemakers (or maybe that’s the wine kicking in).
Based in the heart of Sonoma’s Wine Country, invino sources wine from around the globe to give members access to top producers and emerging brands with preferred pricing at up to 70% off retail. Hand-picked wines are selected by our panel of wine experts. Sales events launch daily, with wines available exclusively to members for 24-72 hours on average. Guaranteed to be at or below the best total price on the web, there’s no better source for enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
On behalf of the state of Washington and its wineries and growers, the mission of the Washington State Wine Commission is to raise awareness and demand for Washington State wine through marketing and education while supporting viticulture and enology research to drive industry growth.
Partners
Palate Press is a modern on-line wine magazine, seeking out and publishing the very best wine writers and writings on the internet. By harnessing the power of the internet and entering into partnerships with thousands of wine writers around the world, they are able to have an “on the scene reporter” at every wine-related event on the globe.
For the past 17 years, the mission of Touring & Tasting Marketing and Media has been promoting tourism to the wine regions of North America. Their award-winning national publication Touring & Tasting has earned the reputation as “The Definitive Guide to Wine Country” – providing an indispensable resource for anyone interested in traveling to wine country and the wine country lifestyle.
Winejobs.com is a resource for both job seekers and employers. Since the online job board is specific to the wine industry, employers will find only the most serious and qualified job candidates. With more than 5,000 jobs posted in 2011, Winejobs.com is unmatched in usage by those seeking to advance their career or grow their company in the wine industry.
Wine Wipes Although most people already know about the healthy benefits of drinking wine – anything that is fun AND good for you has a catch – and for wine, it’s the tendency to stain your teeth. Lucky for you Wine Wipes remove the red wine stains from your teeth – and they won’t interfere with the taste of your wine!
Mutineer Magazine is a fine beverage publication unlike any other you’ve ever read, covering all things fine beverage with an emphasis on wine, beer and spirits. Released in July of 2008, the 44 page magazine quickly grew to a national status with its fifth issue of 84 pages being featured in bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Borders. As informative as it is approachable, Mutineer Magazine will change the way you read about fine beverages.
Live Blogging Sponsors – White Wine
Domaine du Tariquet
Sokol Blosser
Cornerstone
Gloria Ferrer
Decibel
O’Neill Vintners
Esporao
Recuerdo Wines
Dr. Loosen Wines
Maryhill Winery
Benton-Lane Winery
Johan Vineyards
Alexana
Francis Coppola Winery
Brooks Wines
Amity
Rodney Strong
August Cellars
Bev Mo
Banfi Vintners
Duck Pond Cellars
Frank Family Vineyards
Desert Wind Winery
Rhône Valley Wines
Medlock Ames
Brandborg Wines
Brancott Estate
Ponzi Vineyards
Naked Wine
Live Blogging Sponsors – Red Wine
Sokol Blossor
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Tapena
Decibel
Esporao
Cornerstone
Archery Summit
Dr. Loosen Wines
Maryhill Winery
Seven of Hearts Wine
J Gallo Winery
Johan Vineyards
Seufert Winery
Alexana Winery
Paraduxx
Francis Coppola Winery
Van Duzer Vineyards
Styring Vineyards
Rodney Strong
Winderlea Vineyard & Winery
August Cellars
Bev Mo
Milbrandt Vineyards
Banfi Vintners
Hope Family Wines
Frank Family Vineyards
Hahn Family Wines
Rhône Valley Wines
Medlock Ames
Vietti
Jacob’s Creek