Wine Bloggers Conference – North America

I have done some of the tours in the Red Mountain area too Chrisin, a long time ago now though...

We live in Sunnyside and drive the Yakima Valley and Red Mountain almost daily and do wine touring here many weekends, so we know many of these locations well.

These tours, which I wisely signed up for, will give me access to places I've never been before and will provide, without a doubt, some of best wines in Washington in addition to meeting some of the iconic vineyard owners and winemakers of the region. What a fantastic set of itineraries!!!!

No wonder pre-conference event sold out! what a great deal!

I lived in Woodinville for 27 years. Now I live in Milton-Freewater - on a vineyard & have a winery. No doubt. It should be Walla Walla.

I live in Woodinville and co-own DeLille Cellars, Grand Ciel and Doyenne in Woodinville as well. While it would be fun to have you all on the West side of the Cascades, W2 is really a great choice. Our vineyard focus is Red Mountain AVA, and this is really only a short one hour from W2 for those who wish to see great vineyards there such as our Grand Ciel, or Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, etc. By the conference time, which I plan to attend and also support with our wines as appropriate, I will have a second home just outside W2 and I think the drive over the mountains is spectacular and reasonably quick. Let us know as well if you plan to also visit Woodinville too. We would be very pleased to host you at our DeLille Cellars' chateau for a tour and tasting.

Really excited that WBC 10 is coming to our magazine's, Seattle Homes and Lifestyles, backyard. Looking forward to seeing everyone there and supporting the conference in lots of ways!!!

Have fun! I wont be able to make it. Maybe 2011 is my year.

Welccome to Walla Walla WBC 10! Now you wine peeps can finally see for yourselves what I have been ranting and raving about for the last 5 years. Also, find me as I have a sweet surprise for you courtesy of Tumac Outdoors of Walla Walla!

It seems to me that given the very nature of blogging and social media, greater reliance ought to be placed on a web conference. Wine bloggers could assemble in different metro regions to participate, or not. Those who want to bear the expense to travel to the "main" site, Walla Walla, can do so. But those who can't, can participate via all sorts of available software.

It will be prohibitively expensive for many to attend in Walla Walls, given the few places to stay. If a goal of the wine industry is to broaden the appeal of its product then making these events inaccessible/unaffordable goes against their interests.

Sorry, not true. Walla Walla has plenty of inexpensive motels, and they are only crowded during specific weekends when the college is having a graduation or reunion, or on a handful of wine-event weekends.

If people are making the effort to come , then it should truly be the best possible experience. Walla Walla has so much to offer if people are looking to be where the grapes are. There isn't a lot of traffic and it will be a much more intimate experience than being on the West-side. Even though it may be more money to go to Walla Walla, I think the Conference participants will get more out of it. And flying into Pasco from all points is not difficult at all. The other great thing is these smaller airports make checking in and arrivals a breeze. Who wants to deal with Sea-Tac? Vote Walla Walla -- it will be amazing!

As a newbie to the wine blogging scene the 2010 WBC will be my first. I have spent time in Woodinville and it is great but Walla Walla makes more sense for overall as an up an exciting and unique wine producing region and the town itself is fantastic.

Conflicting offerings - vineyards vs. easier transport. Hard choice folks. I prefer wineries w/vineyards but transport issue is harder.

Joel, Where does the vote stand? I don't get anything clicking on "View Results".

Because of tampering (which was easier to trace then the culprit probably understood), we turned off displaying the results and we'll do a final reveal at the conference (which will inevitably be Tweeted out as soon as we say it).

I will say its still surprisingly close! Within 10%...

Joel, when does the voting close for the location on WBC10?

Austin TX with visits to Texas Hill Country, or how about Grand Junction CO? Even Albuquerque would be fun, easy, less expensive, with plenty of wine.

I'm in for Walla Walla. Catie hits the nail on the head - this is a really exciting wine-producing region. For those of us who love what's happening with NWestern wines, Walla Walla is a perfect example of why. Plus, we don't want Catie to kick Joel's ass.

I vote for Long Island

In that you’re considering Walla Walla and Woodinville, you may want to take a look at the Tri-Cities to either host the conference or to visit as part of the conference. With over 160 wineries within a one hour drive, the Tri-Cities is in the Heart of Washington’s Wine Country. Red Mountain, Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley AVAs are located 15 minutes to the north and Walla Walla wineries are situated 30 minutes to the south, with Walla Walla proper only a one hour drive away. And it’s easy to get here with direct flights from San Francisco, Denver, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Seattle. The Tri-Cities’ central location is the reason the Washington Wine Commission has selected the Tri-Cities to host their wine buyers summit each year for the past 8 years. And the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau is available to assist in planning all aspects of the event. We’d love to see you in the Tri-Cities!

If you're going to talk to grape growers and wine makers, W2 is a great choice. Walla Walla is also close to other AVAs, including Red Mountain which is right outside of the Tri Cities.

Clearly, Woodinville is the ideal location - anyone who thinks Walla Walla is ideal has never been there (grin - yes, I love that town) but it's forever and a day away from anything...

Both locations are home to some of the state's top wineries, however, I'm thinking once folks land from a long-flight, the last thing they'll wanna do is drive somewhere and add to the overall cost of their trips..

Voted for Walla2 even though I can see Woodinville from my front porch.
Hold a major conference in Woodinville??
What kind of grape leaves r u smoking???
I'd rather choose Benton City over Woodinville/Seattle.
Do the right thang...go WallaWalla and I'll hollaholla!

Seattle/Woodinville is very nice, but it is not wine country or terribly unique. It is a scenic urban area with stand alone wineries and quite a few tasting rooms in created "wine villages".

On the other hand Walla Walla is a real small town that has grown organically with the wine industry. Wineries and tasting rooms may be surrounded by vineyards or in historic buildings downtown. It's an authentic place with a sense of placew. Where else can you taste wine with the winemaker then hit Hot Poop - the coolest music shop there is - correct Mr. G?

Hot Poop is definitely one of the many stellar surprises that await the unsuspecting visitor to W2. But I return to my original point - Woodinville is mostly suburban housing, clogged roads, and tiny tasting rooms in warehouses. Sure there are some great wines and fun people, along with the heavy hitters (Ste. Michelle, Columbia, DeLille, etc.) But Walla Walla is truly beautiful, walkable AND driveable, loaded with lifestyle and charm, exciting vineyard projects, and well over 100 wineries. Unless, as some bloggers claim, all you are going to do is sit in a conference room and chat about - well, chatting - then Walla Walla is clearly the right destination. I have never known or heard from anyone who made the trek east who didn't love the place.

Just tell me where to go and I'll be there.
How exciting this is in Washington State.
I see advantages to both. Tough choice; Metropolitan Seattle and seafood or quaint Walla Walla. the promise land for Wine.
Check out Sip of Spokane on facebook.

One other comment, moving the WBC out of California is not the best idea that I have ever heard.

Hello Wine Bloggers.
Prosser Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit us during your trip to WA in 2010.
6 AVA's w/in 1-20 minutes (Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Snipes Mountain, Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills, Horse Heaven Hills.
30 wineries & 2 MicroBreweries.
Yakima and Pasco airports 45 minutes away. Airport shuttle from Seattle to Yakima.
Seattle, Portland, Spokane 3 hrs by car.
Walla Walla 90 minutes by car.
Pasco served by Amtrak.
WA St Univ Research and Extension Center origin of modern WA Wine industry and WSU Viticulture and Enology program.
Yakima Valley Community College Enology and Viticulture program.
Award winning vineyards
75% of the US hop production
Dry land and irrigated diversified agriculture
Major wine events the 3rd weekend of July and 2 weekend of August.
Visit it us at http://prosserchamber.org.

I am drooling over the prospect of all that seafood from Puget Sound, not to mention I have never seen it, and even the prospect of a major ass-whupping from @Catie will not dissuade me from voting for...

Walla Walla for sure. Woodinville is so generic and strip-mallesque. If you want an authentic Washington wine experience the only real choice is Walla Walla, hands down. Wineries galore, vineyards to explore, historic town, great dining, culture and outdoor opportunities await.

If any members would like to take a side trip one day while attending the conference (in either Woodinville or Walla Walla), I recommend Lake Chelan, Washington's newest AVA. Lake Chelan is and ideal place for the Wine Bloggers to visit; it has an already established tourist infrastructure with many fine restaurants and hotel options. There are 14 wineries and maybe a couple of new ones by 2010. For full disclosure I am past President of the Lake Chelan Wine Growers Association and own Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards on the north shore of Lake Chelan. The Association would be happy to arrange a side trip for your group. Just say the word, we'd love to host you.

I truly don't understand the need for all of the discussion. Walla Walla is the Hub of Washington State wine industry & as Catie has stated, is very self-contained. You can not get around Woodinville on foot and must deal with wasting time in traffic, etc. Also, if you visit the wineries in Walla Walla you will be speaking with people who are local to the area ~ a real sense of community that I guarantee you will not find in Woodinville. If you are going to travel for this event then why not enjoy all that you can (art, music, etc.) in a most beautiful venue?

Actually I probably make it a two day trip and hit the Umpqua Valley along the way for some great Tempranillo and other Iberian varieties. Just saying. ;)

Woodinville is a morgue after-hours. And I mean after 8 in the evening. The roads are a tangle. You need a GPS just to get to the freeway. It was once a sleepy little ag. town. The founding fathers never anticipated the urban sprawl that has essentially paralyzed their modest community.

The traffic between Woodinville and Seattle is a nightmare. You don't know congestion until you've attempted to cross the Evergreen Bridge. Awful. Rest assured, with Seattle in view from atop even modest Woodinville hillocks, people will want to visit the Emerald City. It may be just a few miles away but it will feel like 100. Like the torturous vision of San Francisco suffered by the prisoners on Alcatraz.

Walla Walla is wheat fields for days. Seattle? A distant dream.

But if I had to choose, it would be Woodinville. Not happy with either choice. Did anybody do research? Somebody throwing darts?

Why not Portland? Or Seattle proper?

Seattle doesnt' make sense - no vineyards IN town. Portland is at least closer to wineries, but I think the goal was to be near the source, no?

Hi, Thea. There are no vineyards in the town of Santa Rosa either. The idea behind Seattle is to easily enjoy it, especially in the evening. It is one hell of a food and wine town. We would then take daily junkets to Woodinville, etc. Just as with our current venue, Santa Rosa, 85% of the activities take place in the Flamingo itself. The tastings, conferences, the break-outs, all are done on the premises.

Last year we enjoyed an introductory lunch at a vineyard upon our arrival and but a single afternoon, a few hours, walking in one of three vineyards. A dinner was held at Sebastiani; we took buses in the evening. The conference could have easily been held in Oakland!

So, understanding the irresistible draw Seattle will be to participants, that Woodinville rolls up the sidewalks at 8 p.m., and knowing the complexity of navigating the hi-ways to and from, I thought it might make more sense just to stay in the Emerald City. Seems cruel to be so close, yet so far.

99.9% of the wineries in Woodinville get their grapes from Eastern Washington. It's about the soil no matter what the hype. A few winemakers get it. Walla Walla has some serious funky turf. You really want to know and experience the juice... go play in the the vineyards. Compared... Woodiville is like going to the mall.

Hmmm... The more I read the wise words of those who know, the more I think I'm being convinced to change my vote to Walla Walla.

walla Walla FORever

It'll take some sacrificing on my part but I'm excited to come out to Washington!
Either location would be fine with me, except I think we'd be missing out by not going to Walla Walla! Touring this area and talking with winemakers would be a great experience. Living in Iowa, I don't have very good access to wines from there so I have a lot to gain by attending. By the way, I searched around and it would take me pretty much all day to get there whilst switching planes 3 times! I say it's going to be worth it!

I'll take either and start saving all my money now... I don't think it would be the same if we weren't able to experience the grape growing part of it with some terrific winemakers. Walla Walla just seems like a neat place! Living in Iowa, I don't have very good access to many wines from that area and am dying to learn more about it. BTW, I looked at flights for the heck of it and it literally will take me all day and three flight changes to get there, but only about $100 more than traveling to California. It'll be worth it! I'm excited already!

This is a tough one. Walla Walla IS Washington Wine Country. I do believe attendance will be lower because of the distance from a major airport. That being said, Walla Walla is not a tiny podunk town by any means. It certainly has the accomodations, restaurants ect. to support WBC. It would provide a accurate look at what WA wine is all about.
The advantage to Woodinville is obviously logistics. Close to the airport, but still about 30 miles away thru Seattle traffic. So "close" is relative. There are a plethora of hotels in the Bellevue/Kirkland area (about 5 miles from Woodinville). The wineries in Woodinville are very close together (40 wineries probably within a 5-6 mile radius). About 15 of them are in a warehouse district that is convenient because you are able to park and walk to them. Also, quite a few wineries from the eastside of the state are opening up tasting rooms there.
Personally, I may have a scheduling conflict with the June dates due to another conference I attend around the same time (Don't know those dates until Jan). So based on that I am leaning towards Woodinville only because it's in July.

I am so excited to hear that the WBC is coming to Washington! As someone who lives here and blogs about Washington wine, I will of course be attending no matter the location.

After thinking through the pros and cons, I voted for Walla Walla. I believe that Walla Walla is the best location for truly showcasing Washington wine country which is what I think is most important. However, I do have concerns about the distance from a major airport and costs. I'm just afraid that when push comes to shove, attendance may be lower in Walla Walla than Woodinville when people start making their travel arrangements.

One compromise should the voting select Woodinville is to offer an optional excursion to Walla Walla after the conference.

I vote for Woodinville for the convenience--a relatively quick drive for those of us on the left coast, north of the 49th.

Bah! It's like going to Burnaby for a wine conference about the Okanagan just because it's easier! Live the vines, smell the dirt, be there.
I wouldn't stay in downtown Dijon if I was going to Burgundy. You have to be out there.
Vote Walla Walla.
I'll give you a lift.

I am the author of "Washington Wines & Wineries - the Essential Guide (UC Press) and also have a blog (currently under revision) at www.paulgregutt.com. I've been writing about wine with a NW focus since the mid-1980s. So, a little crispy for your demographic, but hey, I also play guitar!

Also, since I live half time in Seattle and half just outside of Walla Walla, both locations work for me. Either location would be an excellent choice for a good overview of the industry, but Walla Walla is far more charming and has the vineyards also. The traffic in Seattle is horrible, and you'd be dealing with it. Walla Walla is a pleasure to drive around, and there's good food too. Anyway, thanks for choosing Washington state for your confernce. I'd be happy to participate as a panelist since you are coming to my home turf. Let me know what works for you.
Cheers,
PaulG
paulgwine@me.com and/or Facebook

Paul,

Love your book. You may be the hardest working man in the Washington State wine industry. I gave it a very favorable review on my site. Would love to meet you. I understand your preference for Walla Walla, but Seattle is just too great a temptation. For first time visitors to your state it is the Emerald City that is the draw.

Exactly why I recommend shifting the Conference.

…Here is another suggestion. Bloggers could fly into Portland, OR and drive I-84 for an awesome scenic drive, which beats the trek from Seattle to Walla Walla! It only adds a few minutes to your drive & you get to see the Columbia River Gorge and the energy turbo windmills. It's quite a spectacular drive! And on your return, you could hit some of the Willamette Valley wineries before heading home and kill two birds with one stone! ~Pamela @ enobytes.com

Actually I think it's maybe even a little quicker drive from Portland, especially from the Portland airport. And the trip thru the Gorge is beyond spectacular. There would be plenty of opportunity to set up a visit to some wineries on the way, and still get to Walla2 in good time. I can also help set up some special tasting opportunities; with the help of the Wine Alliance and the College of course. Exciting stuff!

That would be great Paul!

Wine people - Listen to Paul.

Okay Joel. I am going to STFU now. Really. I really am. Really. Ummm...really. At least for today. Really.

We of the Wine Peeps team all live in Seattle, but we voted for Walla Walla. While Seattle would certainly be more convenient for us and an easier flight for most, you won't really get the true Washington wine country experience in Woodinville. Getting to Walla Walla will be a bit more challenging, but it will be a great wine experience once you are there.
And, Joel, do take Paul up on his offer to be a panelist.
John

Thanks Paul. We'll definitely keep in touch!

I am voting for Woodinville because the dates listed are absolutely impossible for me, but I would much rather go to Walla Walla!

impossible? nothing is impossible!

Right now I am hoping that either A) Joel manges to move it to another weekend or B) the local powers that be wise up and move our big local Passport event to another weekend. So, not impossible but jeez!

so no Jefe at WBC10? what? Gasp

oh no! Where will we find enough Rubber Chickens in Washington State?

Currently those of us not from California have to fly into Sacramento or San Francisco and drive an hour to Santa Rosa, so I don't see the Walla Walla Airport and/or Tri Cities Airport being that much of a disadvantage. We can always arrange for car pools like we do now, as well. Plus since we have someone very knowledgeable about the area in @Catie, it seems like a great place to start!

I agree that West Coast is definitely a bit difficult for the East coasters. I understand the fact that it's a wine conference, but I'm not sure that requires vineyard tours. Pretty sure we can do 80% of the events not at a vineyard/winery, right?

That being said, I'm planning on a week in France end of June, so July works best for me.

Votin for Walla Walla!

FYI - We have something up our sleeve for a Willamette Valley conference in 2010 or 2011. Maybe we could join forces to build a partnership and work together on it?

Joel, I have to laugh at your comment that Walla Walla airport isn't the most convenient. If you are flying from Seattle (Walla Walla) to Santa Rosa to where the WBC is held, that isn't the most convenient, either. And if you are flying from Seattle to the SF or Oakland, you still have to drive to the Flamingo. So tell me really - - what is considered convenient? And I don't believe your flight amounts are quite accurate, as I just rechecked with flying into Walla Walla vs flying into Seattle based on San Francisco and the difference is $50 - 90 more. Again, the price of a rental car, gas, parking if you go Seattle.

What comment are you referring to? It only says above that Walla Walla is harder then Woodinville. I never made a comparison to Napa/Sonoma.

No but I am making that comparison. It isn't convenient for us non-Californias to fly into SF or Oak and then drive to Sonoma/Napa, either. Nor is it convenient for Washington/Oregonians to fly from Seattle to Santa Rosa either. But dammit, I am doing it. So buck up peeps from California.

When it comes to WA, it's unlikely that we'll get a place that has a good concentration of grape growers AND wineries in the same area, combined with easy transportation / logistics.

Woodinville would be a good compromise, I think.

Well, you know how I am going to vote. I am not the Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman for nothing.

Here is the "real" situation about Seattle vs Walla Walla. Yeah, flying into Walla Walla isn't as near as convenient as flying into Seattle. However, once you get into Seattle, you still have about 30 minutes to the hotel in Redmond. If you fly into Walla Walla, you are 15 minutes from downtown - in fact, no matter where you are in Walla Walla - 15 minutes is the farthest us natives have to drive. And when you step off the plane in Walla Walla, I believe there are just as many wineries in the airport district of Walla Walla than all of Woodinville - or at least close!

It appears at the Redmond Hotel you are going to get charged for parking and in Walla Walla at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, there are no parking/valet fees. In fact, Walla Walla is very self-contained. So when it comes to costs per travel, while it may seem more expensive to fly into Walla Walla, when you consider the nickel and dimeing in Seattle with time, gas, car rental, parking fees, it will probably end up a wash.

Woodinville certainly has its charm and some excellent wineries, however - - it is really not a true example of the Washington State Wine Industry, like Walla Walla is. Like I pointed out, Walla Walla is very self-contained and less than a 15 minute drive will take you to the vineyards. The hotel in Walla Walla is a walk across the street to tasting rooms, wine bars, bistros, unique shopping boutiques and art galleries.

The biggest reason, in my opinion that Woodville is not the best example of the Washington State Wine industry, is Woodinville, is located in Western Washington and Woodenville sources the majority of their grapes from - - guess who? Eastern Washington vineyards and included in Eastern Washington of course is Walla Walla!

Yes, Woodville may have the big Chateau Ste Michelle (which produces volumes of affordable $15 wine), but the Ste Michelle corporation also owns a couple of high-end boutique wineries in Walla Walla, such as North Star and Spring Valley, which only uses Walla Walla grapes. Walla Walla is also home to one of the Precept Wine Company production facilities who has a portfolio of wines from all over the world.

And when it came time for the Seattle-based former CEO Allen Shoop of Chateau Ste Michelle to build his winery empire (Long Shadows Consortium of Walla Walla), to produce wines made by highly acclaimed winemakers from different regions of the world using fruit from Eastern Washington (including Walla Walla) vineyards he didn’t pick Woodinville. Long Shadows Consortium features wines produced in Walla Walla by Randy Dunn of Napa, Michel Rolland, Armin Diel from Germany and John Duval from Australia, to name a few.

Okay, so with Walla Walla having the one of the heaviest concentration of wineries than any area of Washington State - that alone speaks volumes. If you can’t come to the best showing of Washington State wines, then why bother doing Washington?

I say Walla Walla now and Woodinville later.

I, too, am going to change my vote to Walla Walla. Got to defer to the experts!

Hm, I profess my geographical ignorance and would like to officially change my polling response to Walla Walla. Kthxbye.

In Walla Walla you'd get it all (wineries, vineyards, education, etc)... and its about a 3 1/2 drive from Portland which is very accessible to fly into from all over the country... Beautiful drive from Portland along the Columbia River and through the Columbia Gorge Wine Region area as well... so you get a bonus wine region as a plus! Carpool!

I think if we are going to be in WA, it needs to be close to a major metro airport. While I personally want to go to Walla Walla, it is very expensive to fly in there from SFO so I can imagine what it would be like from elsewhere.

Even if there aren't wine grapes GROWING in the greater Redmond area, the proximity to the growing regions lends well enough to the conference I think.

You gotta factor in the @Catie will kick my ass if its not in Walla Walla ;)...

Just kidding, thanks for the input. This has been a remarkable discussion and that's why I don't think it can be something we're doing without more input from the bloggers.

Moving the conference around has always been our goal, EXECUTING that is a HUGE task that we want to get right!

yeah i mean i'll go whereever it is, you know that. It's more for the rest of the world ;-)

Walla Walla is an excellent suggestion. We have a fantastic wine education center, great food and dining, a beautiful downtown hotel, and of course acres of vineyards and no shortage of wine professionals. It may be off the beaten path but well worth it. Hope it happens!

Those dates are coming up fast!

Oops! Actually, one was a couple weeks ago. Fixing now!!

Can I vote neither? 2 years of the West Coast was enough. It's too much of a burden on those of us who don't live out on the West Coast to keep selecting those locations.

I understand, but there isn't a neither vote. The east coast possibilities to lend to well to conferences. That's why I think Lenn's solution of Taste Camp was a good start and should continue until we figure out how to get the whole kit-and-kaboodle out there.