Wine Bloggers Conference – North America

Agenda

Below is the agenda and, below that, the content description for the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference. Please note this agenda is subject to change.

2012 WINE BLOGGERS CONFERENCE AGENDA

Wednesday, August 15
We will add a variety of two-day pre-conference excursions throughout Oregon. Details to come. $100 extra price includes one night lodging, three meals, local transportation, and winery visits.

Thursday, August 16
7:30 PM Welcome Reception provided by the Oregon Wine Board

Friday, August 17
10:00 AM Registration and Tradeshow (ends 12:15 PM)
12:20 PM Conference Opening
12:30 PM  Keynote Speech
1:20 PM  Live Wine Blogging – Whites & Roses
2:30 PM  Depart for winery visits including dinner – details to come
8:30 PM  Depart wineries for DoubleTree host hotel
9:30 PM  Night of Many Bottles

Saturday, August 18
9:30 AM Three Blogger-Led Discussions
11:00 AM Breakout Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch on Your Own
1:15 PM Three Breakout Sessions
2:25 PM Three Breakout Sessions
3:35 PM Keynote Speech
4:30 PM Live Wine Blogging – Reds
5:30 PM Break or Pre-Dinner Reception (to be determined)
6:30 PM Wine Blog Awards and Dinner with King Estate Winery
8:45 PM International Wines Night
10:15 PM Unofficial Post Parties

Sunday, August 19
9:30 AM Q&A with Wine Blog Awards winners who are present
10:45 AM Ignite Wine!
11:30 AM Discussion of 2012 Conference & Preview of 2013
12:00 noon Conference finish

PROGRAM CONTENT

  • Pre-Conference Excursions: We will be working with a number of Oregon regional winery and tourism associations to set up overnight visits to area wineries. Excursions will cost an extra $100 and include one night hotel, three meals, local ground transportation, and winery visits. Details to come.
  • Thursday Welcome Reception: On Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 PM we will have an optional pre-conference Welcome Reception courtesy of the Oregon Wine Board. Taste a fantastic selection of Oregon wines to kickstart your weekend, meet your fellow attendees before the conference starts, and have a great time.
  • Registration, Wine Tasting and Trade Show: Registration starts at 10:00 AM and runs through 12:30 PM. After you have registered, meet all our fabulous sponsors one-on-one. You will have the opportunity to taste wines from a select group of winery sponsors in addition to meeting and learning more about other sponsors and their products and services. We hope to be able to provide a casual lunch as well.
  • Friday Keynote: We will solicit input from wine bloggers and work with our blogger advisory board to determine keynote speakers. If you have suggestions, please let us know!
  • Live Wine Blogging: Bloggers will taste, review, and blog or Tweet about wines, all while hearing directly from the vintners themselves. The conference will be divided into tables of approximately seven participants and each winery will have five minutes to pour, give a short explanation of the wine, and answer questions while bloggers are recording their thoughts (live). Wineries then rotate to the next table. It’s a fast process (although slower than speed dating) but this format allows winemakers and conference participants the opportunity to interact in a small group setting. We will have separate Live Wine Blogging sessions for white and rose wines (Friday) and red wines (Saturday).
  • Friday Wine Country Visit: New this year we will move our wine country visits to Friday, allowing you to enjoy the area and meet other conference participants on the first day of the conference and focus on the academic portion on Saturday. Attendees will break into eight groups to visit eight local vineyards and eight local wineries. Groups will then join together to participate in four excellent wine pairing dinners. This is always a highlight of the conference as you can learn about the local area; meet with local winemakers, grape growers, and winery owners;  and taste some delicious local wines. The wine country visits will be organized by the Oregon Wine Board.
  • Friday Night of Many Bottles: Also new this year we will have an official bring-your-own-wine-to-share night called Night of Many Bottles. Please bring one bottle of wine to share. It can be from your local winery, a bottle you have had cellared for too many years, or simply your favorite wine. Bloggers and conference veterans Christophe Smith and Drew Lazorchak have volunteered to coordinate this party. It should be a highlight!
  • Blogger-Led Discussions: We will have three discussions running simultaneously, similar to Breakout Sessions but with no panels and with the ability to have you enter and exit each discussion as you please. This was a highlight of the conference in 2011 so we have increased the time allotment to 80 minutes and moved the sessions to Saturday, the prime day of the conference.
  • Saturday Breakout Sessions: We will have three one-hour breakout sessions, each consisting of three separate topics. Yes, this means you have to choose your topic and can’t see all three. But it allows us to bring in more content suitable to more attendees. We will solicit input from the blogging community and work with our blogger advisory board to determine the breakout sessions.
  • Saturday Keynote Speaker: We will solicit input from wine bloggers and work with our blogger advisory board to determine keynote speakers. If you have suggestions, please let us know!
  • Saturday Wine Blog Awards and Banquet Dinner: The 2012 Wine Blog Awards winners will be announced live at the conference during dinner. If you would like to participate in a group that will help determine the presentation structure, please let us know. The Saturday Banquet Dinner will be presented by King Estate Winery, a Eugene, Oregon-based producer of fine wines including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and limited amounts of Chardonnay
  • International Wine Night: On Saturday evening we will have a number of sponsors pouring international wines. This is an excellent opportunity to taste wines from around the globe. Please see our Sponsors tab if you are interested to pour wines this evening.
  • Unofficial After Parties:We know our winery friends like to throw unofficial parties at the Wine Bloggers Conference. Please respect the conference agenda, our speakers, and our sponsors by scheduling any after parties after the official content. We are purposefully ending the Saturday evening activities at 10:15 PM to make this possible without staying up too late!
  • Q&A With Wine Blog Award Winners: Per a suggestion from a 2011 conference attendee, we have added a session where you can hear from and ask questions of 2012 Wine Blog Award winners who are present at the conference. This is your opportunity to learn from several of the best wine bloggers out there.
  • Ignite Wine: This is a fast, fun event that will give eight bloggers the opportunity to present on a topic of their choosing. Each presenter has five minutes and must time the talk to coincide with 20 slides, automatically advanced on 15-second intervals. We want to hear what you have to say – but say it fast! See the Ignite Wine! blog post from last year for more info.
  • Wrapup: We’ll take a little time to review the conference and discuss plans for the 2013 Wine Bloggers Conference.

View Comments

  • http://conciergeforbusiness.com Christina Daly

    Will you have any blogs or tapes about this event? I missed the chance to sign up before each placed became reserved.

  • http://www.ZephyrAdventures.com rwalsh

    Hello Christina, This site will stay updated and offer links to other information as it is created. You are welcome to still register for the event and we will add your name to the Wait List.

  • http://www.jeandeluca.com Jean DeLuca

    I’d love love love to make it to the Sunday break-out sessions – FB, social network, video. Any chance?

  • jillklein

    Also, can you tell me where the after hours party is on Sat. night? Thanks again.

  • http://www.steepcreek.blogspot.com/ Bradley

    Check the dates in the left column against the dates in the logo top right.

  • http://www.whineaux.com/ Dawn (aka whineaux)

    I'm so excited for this year! I love that food is gaining importance in the conference agenda.

  • Reno Walsh

    Glad you are excited. We are too! Adding more food to pair with the wine blogging information seems to only make sense.

  • http://twitter.com/CastroRosalia RosaliadeCastro

    Congrats!!! it will be a great conference!!

  • http://winebloggersconference.org/america/from-the-organizers/2010-wine-bloggers-conference-content/ 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference Content

    [...] Agenda [...]

  • http://artpredator.wordpress.com artpredator

    Looks like another stellar line-up of events this year!

  • http://www.simplehedonisms.com/archives/1324 2010 Wine Bloggers Awards – Nominations Are Open

    [...] its not my style, and your readership is my true reward. I do look forward to attending this years Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla and meeting many of my fellow bloggers in [...]

  • http://www.californiawinehikes.com/winehiker/1/the-2009-wine-bloggers-conference-a-foundation-for-raising-the-collective-spirit/ The 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference: a foundation for raising the collective spirit » winehiker witiculture

    [...] that it’s been a few gradually less-hazy days since the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference, it’s time for me to distill the jumble of moments I encountered while in attendance. On the [...]

  • http://winebloggersconference.org/america/from-the-organizers/wine-bloggers-conference-academic-breakout-sessions-wine-tasting-food-pairing-wine-touring-and-lots-of-fun/ Wine Bloggers Conference – academic breakout sessions, wine tasting, food pairing, wine touring, and lots of fun!

    [...] Agenda [...]

  • http://winebloggersconference.org/america/from-the-organizers/wine-bloggers-conference-saturday-morning-in-walla-walla-wine-country/ Wine Bloggers Conference: Saturday Morning in Walla Walla Wine Country

    [...] Agenda [...]

  • http://www.simplehedonisms.com/archives/1972 A Heady Experience – The 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla #WBC10

    [...] in a sometimes dizzying pattern, for those brave enough to follow on Facebook. It was also the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, [...]

  • http://www.simplehedonisms.com/archives/2004 Wine & Food Pairing Tips from Chef Jeffrey Saad at the Wine Bloggers Conference #WBC10

    [...] Conference #WBC10 July 1st, 2010 | Author: William There were many great sessions on the agenda at the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference last week, (ok ok yes to my FourSquare followers, I snuck out [...]

  • http://www.wentworthbythesea.net/category/more-wentworth-sites/ Wentworth Direct Finance

    Has eny one had dealings with wentworth direct finance are they to be trusted?

  • http://www.dallaswinechick.com Melanie

    Have you determined the pre and post trips yet?

  • Kkoroush

    This sounds like an amazing event. Iwish I wasn’t a student and I could afford to go. You know what isn’t out there that I’ve been looking for is a scholarship for student wine bloggers. I have a blog, I manage it and my employers but it isn’t seen as scholarly work and therefore not applicable for tuition awards. Sigh… someday.

  • Anonymous

    Kkoroush, sorry for the late reply but I just saw this. There IS a Wine Bloggers Conference scholarship. Check it out!
    http://wbcscholarship.com/america/

  • RichT

    KKoroush, what is the name of your blog?

  • http://www.anotherwineblog.com/archives/12257 Another Wine Blog Among Wine Blogger Award Finalists | another wine blog

    [...] with secret judges’ scores to determine eventual winners which are announced at the annual Wine Bloggers’ Conference, this year to be held in Charlottesville, Virginia, July [...]

  • http://twitter.com/JamesTheWineGuy James Melendez

    The Road to Virginia >> Looking forward to the conference!

  • http://winesleuth.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/thanks-to-the-wbc-scholarship-fund-im-off-to-virginia-for-the-2011-wbc/ Thanks to the WBC scholarship fund, I’m off to Virginia for the 2011 WBC « The Winesleuth

    [...] the web but really, it’s about wine blogging and the people who do it. Check out the agenda (here) to see what’s on tap for [...]

  • http://www.simplehedonisms.com/archives/5671 Simple Hedonisms heads to Spain on a 6 Day Media Tour of Rioja, Priorat and Ribera

    [...] pack, kiss the loved ones, then head to SFO early Wednesday morning for the Wine Bloggers Conference, in Charlottesville Virginia. There its 3 packed days where I  taste, network and hear key notes [...]

  • http://www.winelx.com/east-coast-wine-conference/ East Coast Wine Conference | wineLX: Wine Luxury

    [...] Agenda [...]

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1147234512 Kay Zink

    Anyone looking for a roomie at the OMNI?

  • http://VAWineDogs.blogspot.com Terri

    Kay, please contact me.  )

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1147234512 Kay Zink

    HI!  I really lucked out.  I am staying at a person who I recently came to know.  One of our sponsors actually – I am staying with her – she lives in Charlottesville less than 1 mile away from the OMNI….  Thanks for all your help.

  • http://www.grapeoccasions.com/wine/2011/07/live-wine-blogging-ready-set-go/ Grape Occasions » Blog Archive » Live Wine Blogging…ready, set, go!

    [...] I participated in my first live wine blogging as part of the Wine Bloggers Conference. One BUSY hour at a table while 12 wineries had five minutes to introduce you to one of their wines [...]

  • http://wine-zag.com/2011/07/27/a-tribute-to-grace-tops-wine-blogger-conference-wines/ A Tribute To Grace Tops Wine Blogger Conference Wines | WineZag

    [...] a Comment Tweet On a weekend in Charlottesville, VA with scores of  domestic and international wine pouring sponsors, ballrooms wine fests, fleets of [...]

  • Seattlewineblog

    This looks great. The Walla Walla and Santa Rosa venues were terrific, too.
    Strongly suggest Saettle or Woodinville/Bellevue Washington for the future. Gene Stein

  • http://blog.terroirist.com/?p=6578 Terroirist » Daily Wine News: Congrats, Alder!

    [...] Adventures announces the details of the 2012 Wine Bloggers’ Conference. Looks like it’ll be quite an [...]

  • http://www.bloggingshiksha.com/2011/09/effective-blogging-tips-for-effective-identity-in-blogging-world/ blogging tips

    Blogging has really become important to every biody.

  • Janelle

    Really looking forward to this and potential pre and post trips.
    Hoping all is on target for British Columbia 2013.

  • http://www.wineywomen.com Kim Kolb

    So… The two day pre-conference excursions. Will they be Tues and Wed?? and will we register for those later??  Trying to start pre planning.. When do you think you will have all details up and then I can register then..??

  • Allan Wright

    Hi Kim,

    We are waiting for Oregon to submit their proposals for excursion destinations. I had hoped to have the details set by now. Realistically, it might not be until Feb 28th until we get everything set. However, I can tell you the plan. The two-day excursions will run from about Wednesday 1:00 PM through Thursday 5:00 PM. Most excursions will start in Portland while some could start at the airport in Eugene. All will end at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland. You should be able to fly in on Wednesday morning. I hope that helps!

  • http://www.wineywomen.com Kim Kolb

    Thanks Allan… I will be flying into Portland.. So I guess I will have to get there by the time we load the bus! :)   Super Excited!

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