We could not hold this conference and offer such an unbelievably low price to participants without the support of our sponsors and partners. Please take the time to read about them below.
- For sponsor information, please contact Reno Walsh at 888.758.8687 ext: 704 or sponsor@zephyrconferences.com. In your email, please mention “Wine Bloggers Conference” as we also run other conferences.
- Please note we discourage events not included in the official agenda for a variety of reasons: they often are invite only, which is against the spirit of the WBC; if planned during the WBC they pull from our scheduled events; and they take advantage of the WBC’s gathered bloggers without supporting the conference itself. If you have an idea for an event before, during, or after the conference, please contact us to discuss sponsorship.
- If you would like to host a future Wine Bloggers Conference, please complete our Host Application.
Elite
NakedWines.com uses crowd-funding to support indie winemakers all over the world and dozens of them work out of their winery in Sonoma Valley. NakedWines.com is the sponsor of our Saturday evening banquet dinner and so we will be able to meet their winemakers, hear their stories, and learn how this new type of business can interact with the wine blogging world.
Grand
Bonterra Organic Vineyards was named the 2016 Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. All of its wines are made from 100% organically-farmed grapes certified by CCOF. We also have three single vineyard ranches certified Biodynamic by Demeter.
Denominacion de Origen Protegida (DOP) Cariñena in Aragon is the birthplace of the Garnacha grape, an indigenous variety that produces some of the most renowned red wines across the globe. It was planted in this region prior to anywhere else in the world, and in Spain, Cariñena is home to the highest concentration of old-vine Garnacha. Cariñena is not only the second oldest region in Spain (after Rioja), but is also home to its own varietal and appellation. If you are seeking great value and intense flavors, then this historic region is one you will want to get to know.
Esprit du Vin (EDV) Fine Wine Merchants, a Taub family company, is proud to import an exceptional portfolio of fine wines from some of the world’s most highly regarded appellations. In addition to a collection of top-rated French chateaux and domaines, the portfolio includes outstanding properties from classic regions in Germany, Italy and Spain.
The El Dorado Winery Association (EDWA) strives to improve wine quality and the tasting experience in the El Dorado wine region of California. EDWA influences local agencies to support the expanding wine industry and its positive impact on local economic growth. The ongoing marketing of our wine region is a catalyst to advance the notoriety of El Dorado County’s wine growing regions as world-class wine destinations.
Nothing Worthwhile is Ever Easy
Most people take the easy route. Barney Fetzer had other ideas. Pioneering earth-friendly winemaking long before it was a buzzword, Fetzer Vineyards continues Barney’s legacy of hard work, radical thinking and wines that make a difference.
Under the guidance of second-generation vintner John Jordan and Rob Davis, the winemaker whose hands have crafted every vintage of Jordan since the inaugural 1976, Jordan Vineyard & Winery continues to innovate and elevate through award-winning wines and hospitality. From advancements in fruit sourcing, oak aging, precision farming and conserving natural resources to diversifying agriculture and creating new visitor experiences at our Healdsburg winery, Jordan maintains a relentless quest to improve with every vintage.
Since 2003, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery has made its home in the heart of the Russian River Valley at one of the oldest continually working wineries in California. The winery and our 12 acres of Estate Pinot Noir vineyard are located just beyond the eastern border of the Russian River’s coolest, foggiest sub-AVA, the Green Valley.
Denomination of Origin (DO) Rías Baixas is renowned for the Albariño grape, an indigenous variety that produces some of the world’s foremost white wines. Located in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, the DO was formally established in 1988. Albariño has always been the flagship of this coastal region. In Rías Baixas’ unique climate, Albariño shares the same mineral-rich soils and cool climate as the world’s other renowned white wine-producing regions, including France’s Loire Valley, New Zealand, and the Rhine region of Germany.
The revitalized Virginia Dare Winery celebrates the genesis of American winemaking. Along with the spellbinding Virginia Dare story, it pays homage to the mythical and mysterious characters which grace the labels of the wines – The White Doe, Two Arrowheads, Manteo, The Lost Colony, and Virginia Dare Chardonnay and Virginia Dare Pinot Noir, both sourced from Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaDareWinery.com.
Few wine regions can claim pure expression—Alsace is an exception. A top white wine region in northeast France, Alsace is home to a patchwork of 13 distinct soil types, more than any other French wine region. Together with an extraordinary climate—one of the driest in the country—each of Alsace’s terroirs yields its own expression of noble grapes, such as Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Every swirl of the glass releases aromatic layers of floral or mineral character, and every sip reveals fresh and vibrant fruit. That’s the pure expression of Alsace. To learn more, find us on Facebook at Wines of Alsace USA, on Twitter at @drinkAlsace and on Instagram at @drinkAlsace.
An icon in the California wine industry, Kendall-Jackson Winery has developed a reputation over the last three decades for crafting consistent, quality wines from California’s greatest marine-influenced vineyards. When you step foot onto this stunning property, you’ll immerse yourself in an in-depth exploration of wine and food that will stimulate all the senses: sight, touch, smell, sound, and, of course, taste. In addition to various wine flights available at the tasting bar, Kendall-Jackson offers two distinct attractions: Wine & Food Pairings and a Garden Tour & Tasting – both of which showcase our commitment to wine and food education. For more information visit www.kj.com.
Premier
Despite its status as one of the larger wine producers in Oregon, Duck Pond Cellars remains small at heart and is a family-owned winery through and through. Over the past two decades, the Fries family has grown the brand into one of the leading producers of Oregon Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. They also feature Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and a handful of other varieties at their Desert Wind Winery in Washington. Check out the Fries Family Wines at our Expo and Opening Reception on Thursday or socially: Duck Pond Cellars (@duckpondcellars), Desert Wind Winery (@desertwindwine).
Etude Wines is known for its 35 year legacy of high quality Pinot Noirs that deliver the best of the old and new world style and winemaking techniques. They’re on a pursuit for Pinot Noir perfection and you too can see it on a pre-conference excursion to Etude Wines. Find out more on Facebook and Instagram.
HANNA Winery thrives on Sonoma’s world-class diversity of climate, topography and geology. For a small, quality-focused family winery, it boasts a stunning collection of long-held vineyards – from the cool Russian River Valley to the sunny Alexander Valley to the rugged Moon Mountain appellation high in the Mayacamas. WBC is thrilled to have HANNA hosting a pre-conference excursion on Thursday. @hannawinery
The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association is dedicated to advance, protect and promote the quality wines, vineyards and experiences of the Livermore Valley Wine Country. WBC is thrilled to have them hosting a pre-conference excursion again in 2017.
Wine enthusiasts will enjoy a warm welcome and a friendly face as they travel Lodi Wine Country and enjoy a diverse range of wines, delicious foods, and great hospitality. WBC is thrilled to have them hosting a pre-conference excursion. @Lodi_Wine
Lugana is one of the very first DOC in Italy and will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in WBC2017! The microclimate and the clay soil of the Lake Garda are perfect for highlighting the peculiarities of its unique indigenous white grape variety, the Turbiana, with a surprising aging potential. Lugana is produced in 5 different styles: fresh, young, “standard” or “basic” Lugana, Superiore, Riserva, Late Harvest and Spumante. To learn more, find us on Facebook, on Twitter at @VinoLuganaDoc and on Instagram.
You’ll find that it’s beautiful one day and perfect the next. From stylish hotels to intimate winery visits and unforgettable meals, Napa Valley is the perfect place for you to stay or get away. Travel to the Napa Valley – the epicenter of laid-back luxury. #VisitNapaValley
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its more than 525 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home.
Rodney Strong Vineyards is dedicated to crafting world-class wines that capture the essence of Sonoma County. Rodney Strong sustainably farms 14 estate vineyards and produces wines from Sonoma County’s finest appellations – Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Knights Valley, Petaluma Gap, and Sonoma Coast. The winery was founded in 1959 by Sonoma County wine pioneer Rodney D. Strong as the 13th bonded winery in the county. It was purchased by the Klein family, a fourth generation California farming family, in 1989. The company aspires to conserve and protect the environment in all its operations through sustainable practices, solar power, and fish friendly farming. Find out more on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is your gateway between Northern California destinations and major cities across the U.S. and the world. Located 12 miles from downtown Sacramento and always open, service is available from 12 major carriers. The airport opened October 21, 1967, as Sacramento Metropolitan Airport.
Located at the very heart of Stags Leap District, the Stags’ Leap Winery, established in 1893, continues a proud winemaking heritage in the prestigious appellation that bears the winery name. An intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, Stags’ Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings and gardens, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity.
Perched 300 feet above the town of Calistoga, Sterling Vineyards offers panoramic views of Napa Valley. Our single vineyard estates include vastly different terroirs producing wines of great distinction. See the views and taste the Always Polished, Never Dull wines for yourself on a pre-conference excursion to Sterling Vineyards. Find out more on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is dedicated to Zinfandel preservation, education and appreciation. We celebrate Zinfandel’s unique place in our culture and history while supporting the global spirit of this much sought-after wine grape. ZAP and their Producer members are hosting two Wine Education Sessions on Thursday, so be sure to reserve your seat to taste great Zinfandel and meet celebrated makers! Visit their website or find them on Facebook, Twitter at @TheZinfandelOrg, and Instagram for wineries, recipes, tips, history and more!
Expo
Cultivating vineyards has been a family business since 1497 when the two noble Venetian families of Bonmartini and Fini united in marriage and began producing wine in northeastern Italy. Today, the Bonmartini family, direct descendants of the Barone Finis, continue to manage this venerable property producing 150,000 cases per year. In a region first cultivated by the Romans, wine production has continued without interruption for millennia, giving Barone Fini a pedigree and consistency that extend well beyond DOC specifications. Be sure to check out Barone Fini at the WBC17 Expo on Thursday evening and in the conference lobby on Friday! Learn more and like them on Facebook!
Repour. Retaste. Relax. This stopper is a very smart wine saver. It removes the harmful oxygen from your wine, keeping it fresher for longer. We say cheers to that, again and again. Learn more and like them on Facebook!
Color of Wine is an experiential mobile app for brands to connect with lovers of wine, food and travel. Learn more and like them on Facebook and Instagram!
The Wine Bloggers Conference Scholarship was founded in 2009 to provide established non-professional writers and content creators, including blogs, video content, and alternative media in attending the Wine Bloggers Conference. As, unfortunately, not all who wish to attend can afford the costs associated with the conference, the scholarship was established to assist in this effort. The scholarship recipients are writers and content creators who are not affiliated with a winery or other company in the wine industry with a demonstrated financial need. Specific attention is paid to individuals who post regularly, have never attended the conference before and who might be students with a particular focus in wine. Qualified? Apply here.
Founded 40 years ago, Wine Road is an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys of Northern Sonoma County. From its modest beginning as an organization of nine wineries, it has grown into a spirited constellation of 200 wineries and 50 lodgings. It’s not actually a “road” in the sense of a single, continuous stretch of paved highway, but more of a treasure map to the many jewels nestled among the hills and valleys of a region where fresh air, fine wine and exquisite cuisine await those who traverse it.
Beautiful designs, custom domains, powerful analytics, live chat support and mobile apps for posting on the go. WordPress.com lets you easily create your own website or blog and write about the things that interest you. Your story, your way. Check them out on Facebook, on twitter at @wordpressdotcom, and Instagram!
Partners
The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University is the first and only university program in the United States to focus exclusively on the business aspects of the wine industry. Created through a partnership between the university and the wine industry, the program offers a specialized curriculum targeted on the business challenges of the wine industry, including courses in Wine Marketing, Wine Finance and Accounting, Human Resources Management, Wine Business Strategies and Wine Production, Operations & Distribution. The Wine Business Institute will be helping to establish the content at the conference.
Wine Industry Network (WIN) is THE business resource for the wine industry. Winery and viticulture professionals use WIN for free to research products and services from premium industry suppliers, find contact and product information, and receive free supplier news, deals, and updates through the bi-weekly Link newsletter in one or more of the professional categories that best match your needs.
The Wine Institute initiates and advocates public policy that enhances the ability to responsibly produce, promote and enjoy wine. They advocate for California wine at the state, federal, and international levels; educate public policy makers and the media on the cultural and economic value of wine; take a leadership role in coalitions and enhancing the business and political network for wine; and assist members with information and guidance on legal, policy and compliance issues. The Wine Institute has been a longtime advocate of the Wine Tourism Conference and also just made available their new book, “Down to Earth: a Seasonal Tour of Sustainable Winegrowing in California.”
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Touring & Tasting is a marketing and media company serving the wine tourism industry. The nationally distributed and acclaimed bi-annual magazine has been the Premier Guide to Wine Country for 21 years and is the hallmark of the Touring & Tasting brand. The company has further expanded and diversified into a multi-faceted marketing company delivering innovative, content based, customized programs and partnerships to wine country businesses seeking to enhance and expand their brand. Touring & Tasting assumes a leadership position in the wine tourism industry by supporting and sponsoring a variety of conferences, festivals and events including the Wine Marketing and Tourism Conference, the Wine Bloggers Conference, the International Chardonnay Symposium and more.
The Bohemian is an award-winning alternative newsweekly serving Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties. The Bohemian provides a direct connection to the dynamic North Bay lifestyle and is regarded as the locals’ resource for insightful coverage of local news, arts, dining and entertainment.
Live Wine Blogging
Live White Wine/Rosé Blogging Wineries
Acumen Wine @AcumenWine
Anaba Wines @AnabaWines
Antica
Breathless Wines @BreathlessWines
Dancing Coyote @DC_Wines
Donelan Wines @DonelanWine
Edna Valley Vineyard @EdnaValley
FEL Wines @FELWines
Frank Family Vineyards @FrankFamilyWine
Gloria Ferrer @GloriaFerrer
Jardesca @Jardesca
Ledson Winery & Vineyard @ledsonwinery
Leto Cellars @Letocellars
Matthiasson Wines @matthiassonwines
Mt. Beautiful @mtbeautifulnz
Naked Winery @nakedwinery
Paradise Ridge @ParadiseRidge
Planeta @PlanetaWinery
Rebel Coast Winery @rebelcoastwine
Rodney Strong Vineyards @rsvineyards
Troon Vineyard @TroonWines
Vanderpump Rose @PalmBay_Wines
Wagner Family of Wine
William Hill Estate
Live Red Wine Blogging Wineries
1000 Stories
Acumen Wine @AcumenWine
Cain Vineyard & Winery
Cliff Lede Vineyards @CliffLedeWine
Donelan Wines @DonelanWine
Gracianna Winery @GraciannaWinery
Hanna Winery @HannaWinery
INAVI
Jack Winery @JackWinery
Missouri Wine & Grape Board @MissouriWines
Naked Winery @nakedwinery
Papapietro Perry Winery
Paradise Ridge @ParadiseRidge
Pedroncelli Winery @Pedroncelli
Planeta @PlanetaWinery
Ramey Wine Cellars @RameyWineCellar
Rodney Strong Vineyards @rsvineyards
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery @StSupery
Solitary Cellars @solitarycellars
Terravant Wine Company @terravant
The Hilt
Theopolis Vineyards @TheopolisV
Troon Vineyard @TroonWines
Wagner Family of Wine
Conference Organizer
Your conference organizer is Zephyr Conferences. In addition to the WBC, Zephyr Conferences also organizes the Wine Marketing & Tourism Conference with the associated Wine Tourism Day plus the International Food Blogger Conference, Beer Bloggers Conference, Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference, and Beer Now Conference in Europe.
Zephyr Adventures (@ZephyrAdventure), our sister company, 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. In addition to Zephyr’s active tours, Taste Vacations runs beer, wine, and food tours around the world which leave the physical activity at home.