Conference Organizer
Your conference organizer is Zephyr Adventures. Zephyr Adventures (@ZephyrAdventure) operates trekking, hiking, biking, and multi-sport tours throughout the world. 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 with the associated Wine Tourism Day and Great American Wine Festival plus the International Food Blogger Conference, Beer Bloggers Conference, and Fitness and Health Social Media Conference.
Elite
The Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 to support and promote Santa Barbara County as a premium wine producing and wine grape growing region. The Association includes winery members whose annual production is at least 75% Santa Barbara County labeled, as well as grower/vineyard members and business associations.The Vintners’ Association produces festivals, seminars and tastings and provides information to consumers and the wine and travel media.@SBCWines
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. Touring & Tasting works closely with tourism entities, vintners associations, wineries, tasting rooms and accommodations throughout the country. @touringtasting
Halfway between the two main California metropolises of Los Angeles and San Francisco is Paso Robles Wine Country. Located along California’s famed Central Coast, the Paso Robles winegrape growing region’s climate is perfect for the production of award-winning premium wines. A long growing season of warm days and cool evenings give rise to vibrantly ripened fruit with dynamic flavor profiles that translate beautifully in your glass of Paso Robles wine. @PasoRoblesWine
Bridlewood Estate Winery rests on a high bench of ancient seabed, facing Pacific breezes that meander through the Santa Ynez Mountains to the South and the Purisma Hills and San Raphael Mountains to the north. The mountains run east-west, allowing the fog to roll in from the Pacific Ocean, which slows the ripening process and paves the way for a long growing season. With more time to mature and develop, the grapes develop a crisp balance between acid and sugar. @BridlewoodWine
As visitors quickly discover, Santa Barbara has a magic unlike anywhere else on Earth, a unique feeling that’s more than wine and arts, more than sunshine and the crisp air off the Pacific, more than amazing food, wine and natural beauty.
Grand
Winebow is a leading importer of premium Italian wines distributed nationwide under the Leonardo LoCascio Selections (LLS) label, and is also a major importer and distributor of wines, spirits and Japanese Sake.
In Santa Barbara wine country, it all started with Sanford. In 1971 Sanford Winery and Vineyards discovered an overlooked, grape-growing treasure in the Santa Rita Hills. Recognizing a magical combination of climate and soil conditions much like those in France’s famed Burgundy province, Sanford planted the area’s first Pinot Noir in its Sanford & Benedict vineyard. Pinot Noir has thrived in the Santa Rita Hills ever since, and so has Sanford Winery.
Founded in 1972, Rutherford Hill Winery is a pioneer in the development of California Merlot. The grape growers who founded Rutherford Hill carefully studied the geography of the region and capitalized on climate and soil conditions that resembled those of Pomerol, the small but distinctive Merlot-growing region of Bordeaux. What a promising discovery that was – one that has borne plenty of fruit, specifically, the lush, purple-black grapes that have contributed so much to Rutherford Hill’s success. Today, Merlot remains the flagship wine of the company with 75 percent of Rutherford Hill’s production dedicated to this varietal, one of the leading Merlots of Napa Valley.
Co-founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has spent more than 30 years establishing itself as one of North America’s premier producers of Bordeaux varietal wines. From its modest inaugural vintage of 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Merlot in 1978, to its addition of Sauvignon Blanc in 1982, Duckhorn Vineyards has crafted a tradition of quality and excellence that continues today.
Ballard Canyon lies in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA of Santa Barbara County, and the majority of vineyards are planted to Syrah. The TTB published Ballard Canyon AVA on October 30th, 2013, and all of the growers are dedicated to Syrah production. Our goal is to mold Ballard Canyon in the way of the Old World, where varietal is synonymous with place. Because of the timeliness of the AVA approval, we feel that the Bloggers will be keen to taste the wines and learn about the AVA. The wines poured will be the very first vintage labeled Ballard Canyon.
New Wines of Greece – Eternally Modern! New Wines of Greece’s mission is to increase awareness of Greece’s quality Protected Designation of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication wines in the North American wine market through traditional and cutting-edge education and promotion. @DrinkGreekWine
Being a family-owned winery absolutely affects our winemaking here at Kendall-Jackson. It affords us the luxury to take the long view. We can take risks and grow our grapes in mountain and hillside vineyards- even though it is more difficult for both the farmer and the vine. But grapes grown on mountains have more character and more flavor—and that’s why we grow them there.
Powerful enough for CNN and the New Yorks Times, flexible enough to create any site you can imagine, simple enough for your Aunt Mary to reblog cat photos: WordPress.com has you covered, whatever you’re publishing to the web. WordPress.com is a community of millions of bloggers just like you, making use of hundreds of beautiful, easy to customize design themes to create anything from photoblogs to magazines, wedding albums to restaurant websites, and everything else in between. With mobile apps to easily create and manage content on the run, and intuitive, great looking ways to share all your media, WordPress.com lets you sign up in seconds, and start publishing in minutes.
The 2010 launch of the Vinhos de Portugal (Wines of Portugal) marketing drive is the result of a collaborative exercise by the whole of the Portuguese wine industry and its representatives, a new, dynamic take on wine promotion. Up on the banner of this united ‘Portuguese brand’ is a new logo. The eye-catching ‘P’ for Portugal symbolizes the very essence of Portugal’s contemporary wines: a bright, modern image filled with individual, colorful, creative icons plucked from vineyard, cellar and the wine-drinking moment. Across Portugal’s immense variety or terroirs, using the plethora of unique grape varieties and blends this small but diverse country has to offer, grape-growers and winemakers take a creative, skilled, technical yet also artistic approach. The wines we make are unique and distinctive. Difference is what Portuguese wines are all about! Different terroirs and climatic conditions, different grapes and ultimately, wines of different character and flavors. The more you get to know them, the more those differences fascinate and draw you in – until finally it’s love, pure and simple. @WPTUSA
Wine.com has been through an incredible journey to navigate the wine shipping laws, earn the trust of thousands of wineries and create a customer experience they are proud of. Today the company combines a million-bottle wine shop with the information, tools and expert advice you need to enjoy it. Add to that the best delivery service in the industry, satisfaction guaranteed, and you see why they’ve been the number one online wine retailer by revenue for the last decade.
Premier
Santa Ynez Valley Wine Association represents the premier boutique wineries of California’s beautiful Santa Ynez Valley @SYVWine
The family-owned Biltmore Winery opened its doors in 1985 in a converted dairy barn that sits on the grounds of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Biltmore produces award-winning wines using fruit harvested from its own vineyard in Asheville, NC as well as from partners across N.C. and other premium growing regions including California and Washington. Winemakers Bernard Delille from France and Sharon Fenchak from Pennsylvania bring together the art and science of winemaking to hand-craft 15 varietals and more than 45 wines each year.
Wine Institute is the voice for California wine representing more than 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses from the beautiful and diverse wine regions throughout the state.@WineCA
Founded by wine blogger Amy Gross and recently named a “Top 5 Must Have App” by Mashable, Wine4.Me is a smartphone app that uses sensory science, rockstar wine evaluation and predictive analytics to create truly personal profiles for every user and help casual wine drinkers find the right bottle of wine for them…every time. Wine4.Me makes discovering new favorites easier, by analyzing characteristics of your current favorite wines to create a unique taste profile, which is then used to provide a personalized ranking of all of the wines in the app’s database. You can then filter your results by grape type, color, food pairing, and more. As you rate wines you try, the app learns from these ratings to be more precise with your taste profile and in turn with rankings.
Pismo Beach visitors enjoy a myriad of activities including golfing, bicycling, walking through the Monarch Butterfly Grove, tennis, horseback riding, scuba diving, bowling, hiking, miles of beautiful and clean beaches, exploring tide pools, coves, and caves.
BevMo! is the leading alcoholic beverage-lifestyle specialty retailer in the western United States and among the largest in the country. With 150 stores, typically 10,000 square feet, in well-trafficked retail areas in major metropolitan markets throughout California, Arizona and Washington, BevMo! provides a uniquely friendly and welcoming environment for competitively priced alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and “goes with” products such as specialty foods and snacks, cigars, glassware and related bar and wine accessories. Our friendly and product-knowledgeable sales associates assist both enthusiasts and first-time buyers of wine, spirits and beer. BevMo.com, the #1 bricks and clicks beverage-lifestyle website, enables customers to purchase items for home or office delivery or for pickup within an hour from their local store.
Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps are delicious to nibble on their own, however they really shine when topped with your favourite dip, cheese or antipasto. They are the perfect entertaining food to draw a crowd – whether its a casual get-together or an elegant cocktail party – that’s why we call our raincoast crisps a crispy conversation starter™!
Loudoun County is DC’s Wine Country®. Only 25 miles from Washington, DC, Loudoun has matured into a true culinary destination that includes over 40 wineries, an emerging craft brewery scene, an organic distillery, and foods from farms that have been producing for generations. Named one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations of 2012 by Wine Enthusiast, Loudoun features six wine clusters nestled between winding roads, rolling countryside, horse farms, and historic estates. During a visit, indulge in tastings, tours, food pairings, and conversation with winemakers crafting award-winning wines. @VisitLoudoun @DCsWineCountry
Located 100 miles east of San Francisco and 45 miles south of Sacramento near the California Delta, the Lodi Wine Region features 100,000 acres of vineyards that thrive in the classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings. While long-known as a superior producer of Zinfandel, the area is the largest producer of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Grigio in the state of California. With more than 75 grape varieties being cultivated in Lodi, consumers can expect to find unique, varietal wines from Albariño, Cinsaut, Tempranillo, and Pinotage, among many others. The region also serves as home to more than 80 boutique wineries specializing in small-lot, handcrafted wines that have garnered major awards at domestic and international wine competitions. Lodi leads the state in its commitment to sustainable agriculture with Lodi Rules™ – California’s first 3rd party-certified sustainable winegrowing program. @Lodi_Wine
At Nomacorc, we go 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.
The Ventura County Winery Association (VCWA) consists of wineries producing stellar wines in a casual, urban setting. All member wineries feature a tasting bar that is open to the public, and most have on-site production facilities. Visitors can sample dozens of wines in a variety of styles, including whites, rosés, reds, and dessert wines. Vineyards sources include off-site vineyards in Ventura County and throughout California’s top wine-growing regions. VCWA is closely aligned with Ventura County’s agricultural community, supporting local farmers, artisans, and businesses.
Livermore Valley Wine Country is one of the oldest wine regions in America and currently is home to over 40 wineries and 4,000 acres of grapes. Located just 30 miles East of San Francisco and 30 miles North of San Jose, Livermore Valley Wine Country is home to over 40 wineries. Livermore Valley was the first region to put America on the wine map, winning the Paris Exposition in 1889. Livermore Valley was the first to varietally label Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Petite Sirah. Nearly 80% of California’s Chardonnay vines trace their genetic roots to a Livermore Valley clone.
$20 off your first 2 Uber rides to our event for any wine blogger who hasn’t tried Uber yet. Haven’t heard of Uber? It is a mobile app that connects you with a driver for immediate transportation. Request a ride with the tap of a button and have a driver curbside in minutes. Payment is seamless and cashless – billed to your card on file with no need to tip. To help you get to the Wine Bloggers conference in style, Uber is offering $20 off each leg of your roundtrip by using the code “wineblog14?. Head into the app and enter the code when registering or go to http://www.uber.com/go/wineblog14 to sign up online!”
Quini is a wine tasting, rating and recommendations app developed by wine experts and scientists to make wine tasting accessible to everyone. Easily rate wines by shaping five colourful petals to create a unique bloom that captures your review in a beautiful image. Wine bloggers can share reviews and use Q Ratings (the Quini rating scores) to compare their personal taste with those of their readership and followers on Quini. App Store @QuiniWine
Rios de Chile is an Award Winning Chilean Import. Our philosophy is to achieve maximum balance in each vine, so our quality and identity of our wines are a true reflection of the diverse terroir in Chile. Most of our vineyards are located in Cachapoal Valley where the alluvial soil and Mediterranean weather provide ideal conditions for grapevines. We make very honest and pure wines, so we can truly represent the different varietals, but at the same time complex wines with high quality with balance and structure. @Rios_de_Chile
Visit Spokane is the destination marketing organization for Spokane County, Washington, and the surrounding region. We actively promote our beautiful region to all types of travelers: leisure, business, meetings and conventions. As the second-biggest destination in the state, Spokane has just about everything to offer to just about everyone – including an internationally acclaimed wine scene! Find out more at www.visitspokane.com and learn why we are… Spokane. Near Nature. Near Perfect. @VisitSpokane
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, Books-A-Million, BookWorlds, Amazon, and more. As informative as it is approachable, Mutineer Magazine will change the way you read about fine beverages. @mutineermag
Dry Creek Valley, a premium winegrowing region, is located in Northern Sonoma County, California, only an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge/San Francisco. Renowned for its idyllic undisturbed beauty, Dry Creek Valley is home to over 9,000 acres of vineyards that carpet the intimate 16-mile long x 2-mile wide valley, floor to hillside. With a grape growing history going back 140 years – one of the longest in California – producing premium winegrapes is core to this region. In fact, the valley boasts one of the densest concentrations of Old Vine Zinfandel in the world.
St. Helena, CA is a vital and engaging community that celebrates the finest in wine country hospitality, culinary adventure, the arts, health and wellness. Experience fine dining in our award-winning restaurants, taste our world-class wines and shop for one-of-a-kind keepsakes in our boutiques and galleries. Whatever your reason for visiting St. Helena, you’ll quickly see why it’s an ideal destination for a getaway to Napa Valley. @StHelenaCA
Claus Riedel was the first person in the long history of the glass to design its shape according to the character of the wine. He is thus the inventor of the functional wine glass. “The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make.” (Quote: Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate) @RiedelUSA
Event
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence for 70 years by inspiring its nearly 500 members to produce consistent quality wines, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. They have been a supporter of wine blogging and the Wine Bloggers Conference from the very beginning. @NapaVintners
Made in the US from strong corrugated Kraft cardboard, our wine Spirited Shippers are layered with extra cushioning and include a special insert for each and every bottle for safe and secure shipping. Light weight and tough, our wine shipping containers are environmentally safe, fully recyclable and made with recycled material. They ship flat, saving you money and valuable storage space. From one bottle to twelve, half size to magnum, our boxes will meet all of your wine, beer and spirit shipping needs. @spiritedshipper
Stafford’s Famous Chocolates presents a tempting array of luscious confections sure to please anyone’s palate. Our mouth-watering truffles, caramels, English toffees, creams, and countless delectable chocolates are handmade daily in our kitchen. Only the freshest and finest ingredients are used to create all of our chocolates. Our nuts are locally grown, and the fruits we use are also grown in the San Joaquin Valley. Stafford’s Famous Chocolates is a family owned business with two locations. Our original store is in the city of Porterville in the Central Valley of California and our newest store is in Los Olivos, California located on the central coast in the Santa Ynez wine country. @staffordschocs
The Hitching Post specializes in Red Oak-Fired Santa Maria Barbecue of perfectly grilled meats, seafood and local farmed vegetables. Visit the famous bar where locals and visitors enjoy conversation, local wines and our Hartley Ostini HP Pinot Noir.
Live White Wine Blogging
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard @FollowFess
Cornerstone Cellars @CraigCamp
BevMo @BevMo
Hope Family Wines @hopefamilywines
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines @JLohrWines
Wente Family Estates @Wente
Grassini @GrassiniWines
Ferrari-Carano Winery @ferraricarano
Ramey Wine Cellars @RameyWineCellar
Danza del Sol Vineyard & Winery
Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard
Jordan @JordanWinery
Rios de Chile @Rios_de_Chile
Marianello, Consilience, & Tre Anelli Wines
SIPcertified.org @SIPtheGoodLife
Bandit @BanditWines
Taken
Bianchi Winery @binachiwinery
Gypsy Canyon Winery @DHallPinot
Yorkville Cellars @YorkvilleWinery
J Wine @JWinery
Maryhill Winery @MaryhillWinery
Agnitio Wines
Concept Wine Group
Charles Krug @charleskrugwine
Aridus Wine Co @ariduswineco
Banfi @BanfiWines
Uproot Wines @DrinkUproot
E2 Family Winery E2FamilyWinery
Westerly Wines @WesterlyWines
Alta Maria @AltaMariaWine
Urban Legend Cellars @ulcellars
Terravant
Live Red Wine Blogging
Tantara
Coquelicot Wines @coquelicotwine
Cornerstone Cellars @CraigCamp
BevMo @BevMo
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines @JLohrWines
Davis Bynum Wines @DavisBynumWines
Alexander Valley Vineyards @avvwinery
Urban Legend Cellars @ulcellars
Grassini @GrassiniWines
Carr Winery @CarrWinery
Ferrari-Carano Winery @ferraricarano
Danza del Sol Vineyard & Winery
Adelaida Cellars @AdelaidaCellars
Jordan @JordanWinery
Pacific Wine Group
Wine4.me
Vineyard 511 @vineyard511
Garnett Vineyards @GarnetVineyards
Marianello, Consilience, & Tre Anelli Wines
Brecon Estate @BreconEstate
Labyrinth Winery @LabyrinthWine
Bandit @BanditWines
Taken @takenWINE
Trione Winery @TrioneWinery
Bianchi Winery @binachiwinery
Gypsy Canyon Winery @DHallPinot
Maryhill Winery @MaryhillWinery
Charles Krug @charleskrugwine
Ottimino @ottiminowines
Casey Flat Ranch
Aridus Wine Co @ariduswineco
Banfi
Punch Vineyards
Wines of Georgia @GeorgiaWineUSA
Westerly Wines @WesterlyWines