Sponsors

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. We will be adding more as the planning progresses!

 

• Please contact sponsor@zephyrconferences.com for sponsor information. In your email, please mention “Wine Media Conference” as we also run other conferences.
• Interested in pouring your wine at our Live Wine Social event during #WMC21?  Click here for more information and to register.
• 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 WMC; if planned during the WMC they pull from our scheduled events; and they take advantage of the WMC’s gathered attendees 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 Media Conference, please complete our Host Application.

2021 Sponsors

Travel Lane County markets Lane County, Oregon as “Eugene, Cascades & Coast.” They are a private, nonprofit association funded by member support and transient room tax generated at lodging facilities and campgrounds. Their mission is to increase overnight stays within the county. Travel Lane County is our main local host of the 2020 conference.  Find them on Facebook, Twitter at @TravelLaneCo and Instagram.

The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board is primarily funded by Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions.

The Charming Taste of Europe is a special project that links the flavors of wine from Italy and France and of fresh fruit from Greece, and further introduces the United States and Canada to these exquisite items that recall all of European beauty and grace. The mission of The Charming Taste of Europe campaign, co-funded by the European Union is to improve, thanks to the slogan “Enjoy! It’s from Europe”, the awareness about merits and quality standards of selected European wines and fresh fruits, and with its promotional activities also aiming to increase their competitiveness in both the United States and Canada. Find them on Instagram and Facebook.

      

 

 

The South Willamette Wineries Association (SWWA) is comprised of a group of vineyards, wineries, vintners and related businesses that are passionate about increasing the awareness, visitation and prestige of the South Willamette wine growing region. The SWWA will be host for our Friday Wine Country Excursions, included in the conference.  Check them out on Facebook and Twitter! 

The International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association is a not-for-profit global network of writers, authors, bloggers, content creators, editors, radio & television hosts, photojournalists, podcasters, and videographers who report on the travel, culinary, beverage, and hospitality fields. We include industry professionals who run hotels, public relations firms, theme attractions, convention and visitor bureaus, destination management organizations, and tourism boards. Together, we are IFWTWA.

 

Pinot grigio DOC delle Venezie is the Italian still white wine leader in terms of production and export.  Talking about numbers, 85% of the Italian Pinot grigio production, the first in the world by volume, is produced in the Triveneto area. The DOC delle Venezie denomination was born in 2016 and was the first Italian inter-regional DOC including the autonomous province of Trento, the autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Veneto Region: the so-called Italian North-est.   In April 2017 the creation of Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Pinot grigio delle Venezie was formalized, replacing the pre-existing Typical Geographical Indication (IGT). This multi-regional Denomination, together with the 20 historic denominations that adhere to the regulations for the production of Pinot Grigio DOC wine, aims to create an identity for the Pinot grigio variety and wine.  A shared identity with roots in the Venetian area that aims to approach international markets in a coordinated way, defining the style of Pinot grigio DOC and protecting its image throughout the world. Consensus throughout the entire Triveneto supply chain has led to an appellation that works towards the protection of a multi-regional variety of international interest. Find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Angela Velenosi is the woman and power behind Velenosi Wines, in Le Marche region of Italy.  In 1984 Angela started the winery  from scratch, with just 9 hectares of land. 35 years later her portfolio of wines represent diverse terroirs with the most important grape varietals of the region.  Angela Velenosi has been credited to bringing global recognition to the wines of Le Marche.  Today Velenosi is the second biggest winery in Le Marche and considered to be one of the best wineries in Italy.  Their winemaker, Attilio Pagli  has been voted as one of the best 30 winemakers in the world by Decanter Magazine. The wines of Velenosi are terroir driven and have won accolades and awards from around the globe. Among the native varieties the winery focuses on there are Verdicchio, Passerina, Pecorino, the rare Lacrima di Morro, Sangiovese and Montepulciano.  Find them on Facebook and Twitter.

What started with Rodney Strong’s vision over 60 years segued to an almost four-decade long career of Winemaker Emeritus Rick Sayre at Rodney Strong. Rick passed the baton in 2018 to current Director of Winemaking Justin Seidenfeld, who today leads the passionate winemaking team that creates critically acclaimed wines vintage after vintage with an eye towards the future. That future is led by innovative new products like ROWEN Wine Company, the 15-year passion project on our remote and rugged Cooley Ranch Vineyard.

Here, in the vines, we encourage you to look at life a little more naughty. Meet our lineup, four classic varietals meant to turn simple indulgences into a lifestyle of irreverence and flair. Knotty Vines is made for the modern wine drinker, to be shared with friends, or even with your knotty side. However you choose — we won’t judge.

Abacela is a realization of a dream achieved through research, grit, and dedication. An estate vineyard and winery focused on the production of world-class Tempranillo and Albariño, trailblazers Earl and Hilda Jones embarked on a journey to prove top-notch Tempranillo could be grown and produced in the United States. Their choice of Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley has rewarded their efforts and changed the landscape of winemaking in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Livermore Valley Wine Country is home to over 50 wineries, producing a wide variety of award-winning wines. Located less than an hour from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Livermore Valley is the only wine country accessible by public transit. Once you arrive, there are many ways to see the region, including Pedego electric bike rentals, winery tours and the Livermore Wine Trolley.

Along with our dedication to family owned and family farmed, we are also committed to sustainably farming, producing and bottling our wines. Our Rutherford Ranch Winery and estate vineyards are certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. We know that responsible farming is good for the land, good for the grapes and ultimately good for the wine.

Live Wine Social

White/Rosé Wine (Friday)

• Benton-Lane Winery | @bentonlanewinery
• Brooks Winery | @brookswinery
• Longevity Wines | @longevity_wines
• Rodney Strong | @rsvineyards
• Troon Vinevary | @troonwines

Red (Saturday)

• Benton-Lane Winery | @bentonlanewinery
• Brooks Winery | @brookswinery
• Knotty Vines | @knottywines
• Pfeiffer Winery | @pfeifferwinery
• Troon Vinevary | @troonwines