We could not hold this conference and offer such an unbelievably low price to participants without the support of our sponsors. Please take the time to read about them below. For more information about sponsorhing the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference please click on our Sponsorship Opportunities file. Once you have decided, you can sign up to sponsor the conference online. As one of our 2008 and 2009 sponsors said, “Each year just gets better and better … see you in Walla Walla!”
Conference Organizers
OpenWine Consortium (OWC) is a global wine industry association, featuring the world’s premier online wine business network, on a mission to improve the world of wine. Internet technologies have changed the definition of “business” by enabling even single person publishing efforts to have global impact. OWC leverages this new age of business by operating the world’s largest online wine business to business network. OWC is co-organizer of the conference.
Zephyr Wine Adventures runs hiking, biking, and multisport tours in seven wine regions of the world and also operates Vineyard Walks in Sonoma County. Tours feature conversations and activities with local vintners and grape growers. Zephyr engages in wine blogging through Travels With Wine.
Premier Sponsors
The Washington Wine Commission represents every licensed winery and every wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, the Commission provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness of the Washington State wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry – through assessments based on grape and wine sales – the Commission is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987.
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a winery and grower membership organization committed to furthering the awareness of the quality wineries, wines, and vineyards of the Walla Walla Valley Appellation. Their mission is to support and promote quality and excellence in their wine industry and to further national and international recognition of the Walla Walla region.
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is a collection of distinctive wine estates, each allowed to explore to the fullest extent the unique growing conditions and individual winemaking practices that give the wines from these estates their extraordinary character. The estates include Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington State’s founding winery, with roots dating back to the repeal of prohibition. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is sponsoring the Friday dinner at the conference.
The Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau represents the agricultural region of Central Washington’s Yakima Valley. Known for its produce in addition to its wine, Yakima Valley also boasts a number of cities with revitalized downtowns, quick access from Portland or Seattle, and a variety of festivals throughout the year. The Yakima Valley VCB is sponsoring our Friday Taco Truck Tasting.
Wine Yakima Valley represents the first and largest AVA in Washington. Yakima Valley is home to more than 40 wineries and over one third of the state’s vineyards and produces exceptional wines due to its long sunny days and cold nights. Wine Yakima Valley is organizing the optional pre-conference excursion on Thursday, June 24.
The Red Mountain AVA is Washington’s smallest and a sub-set of the Yakima Valley AVA. Grapes from the vineyards surrounding Red Mountain in Benton County, Washington produce some of the best wine coming from the state, thanks to a desert climate with less than five inches of rain per year. The Red Mountain AVA is hosting our Sunday afternoon post-conference excursion.
Rias Baixas Albarino hails from Green Spain, on the country’s cool, wet northwest coast. Formally established in 1988, the Rias Baixas DO is the leading denomination of origin in Galacia with 8,650 acres under vine and 6,500 grape growers producing these Wines from Spain. The campaign’s theme, “Rias Baixas Albarino, exceptional with everything… or nothing” showcases the diversity and food-friendliness of this cool white from red hot Spain.
Click Wine Group in partnership with highly acclaimed wineries, produces a collection of modern, memorable, Exceptional quality wines from world-class appellations in the super-premium category ($10-15). By focusing on signature varietals, the company showcases the best characteristics unique to each varietal and region.
The Meritage Alliance is dedicated to promoting handcrafted wines blended from the traditional “noble” Bordeaux varieties. The term “Meritage” is a registered trademark of The Meritage Allaiance, selected from more than 6,000 entries in an international contest conducted in 1988. Frequently mispronounced, “Meritage” rhymes with “heritage” and refers to the “merit” of the outstanding grape varieties and the “heritage” of the centuries-old tradition of blending wine. Today, more than 260 wineries are members of The Meritage Alliance.
Founded in 1982, The Hogue Cellars is one of Washington’s most popular and critically acclaimed wineries. Centrally located in Prosser, the winery is a state-of-the-art facility that sources the highest quality fruit from Columbia Valley’s best appellations including Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hells and Wahluke Slope. Additionally, the Hogue Cellars prides itself on consistent innovation and smart use of technology to track vineyard conditions and make winemaking decisions year-to-year so that is can consistently produce exceptional wines.
Media Sponsors
Wine Biz Radio is aired live on KSVY radio station in Sonoma County, California and broadcasted worldwide via the internet. Hosts Richard “Kaz” Kasmier and Randy Hall dish up a weekly dose of wine business information, pushing the envelope whenever they can.
Wine Business Monthly has the largest circulation of any wine trade publication in North America with up-to-date and comprehensive editorial. The magazine differentiates itself with its editorial focus on products; each month, the editorial staff does a product review covering everything from tank presses and mobile bottling lines to ATV’s and yeast. WBM also does product surveys and first looks at new products.
Mutineer Magazine is a fine beverage publication founded by Sommelier Alan Kropf and beer expert JJ Bagley. The magazine covers all things fine beverage with an emphasis on wine, beer and spirits. As informative as it is approachable, Mutineer Magazine will change the way you read about fine beverages.
Wines & Vines offers a comprehensive collection of products providing news, information, marketing and research capabilities for the wine and grape industry. The flagship monthly magazine provides a wide range of solutions to give those in the industry the tools they need to be successful.
Event Sponsors
Wark Communications is a full service marketing communications firm specializing in providing solutions to address the unique needs of the wine industry. Owner Tom Wark is helping with the marketing and public relations of the Wine Bloggers Conference.
Barnard Griffin Winery has been producing Award Winning wines for over 30 years. Barnard Griffin Winery is situated in south-central Washington at the confluence of the Yakima, Columbia, and Snake rivers, in the heart of the State’s wine country.
Catie McIntyre Walker is the Walla Walla Wine Woman. She offers information concerning the wine region and its wines via her blog, her site, and her mailing list. You can purchase some of Walla Walla’s finest via her site or become a member of the Smooch Society Wine Club.
True Fabrications provides best priced wine lifestyle products and wholesale wine accessories that stand out from the rest in their design and quality. Founded in 2003, True Fabrications headquarters in beautiful Seattle, Washington. Their design staff work their magic to produce new products from fresh planet conscious ideas. True Fabrications will be providing the wine totes for the Wine Bloggers Conference for the second year in a row.
Duo Public Relations is an independent boutique agency specializing in lifestyle and consumer public relations. We represent a variety of food and beverage clients in Washington state and throughout the country, and enjoy working with both traditional and emerging media journalists. To learn more about our clients and our demo/sample programs please visit us at www.duopr.com.
