A couple of months ago I mentioned that I was attending the Wine Blogger's Conference in Walla Walla, WA and a pre-conference excursion called WBC or Bust for which I was selected to participate. The weeks have flown by, and as you read this I am on my way north for these events. I will try to post throughout the proceedings, but I really have no idea what to expect in terms of access, time lines, and all those factors that must align in order to produce a blog post. Also, if you follow me on Twitter you should know that I have some possibly inappropriate psychological resistance to purchasing a smart phone, so I won't be tweeting my way through the conference. There may be a couple tweets here and there when I can connect my laptop.
Here is the high-level schedule or where we will be, and what we will be doing. Whether the posts are produced now or as follow ups over the next couple of weeks you can certainly expect some content on these two events, and some further exposure to WA wine coming up on The Vino File.
Wednesday June 23 - I will arise early in the morning and make my way to downtown Seattle where I will meet up with 11 other thirsty bloggers and the WBC or Bust bus. We will spend the morning in Woodinville tasting the wines of the great producers located here (like Chateau Ste. Michelle), followed by lunch at Willows Lodge and a return trip to Seattle. In Seattle we will check into hotels and then experience a who's-who winemakers dinner at the award winning Waterfront Seafood Grill.
Thursday June 24 - Up early and onto a bus (for the sake of incentive respectfully referred to as a chartered coach) for a trip over the mountains to a brunch along the Columbia River Gorge in which we will experience the wines of some of Washington's smaller AVA's. Primed for the day (who doesn't like a nice syrah at 10 am?) we head to lunch at DuBrul Vineyards and then a grand Yakima Valley tasting with local winemakers. That evening we will finally pull into Walla Walla where we will be met with a pizza and wine social with local vintners there. My only problem with this day is that while I can selectively sip and spit the wine to avoid outrageous drunkenness, I am not sure what to do about all of the food being offered to avoid gout.
Friday June 25 - The conference begins Friday morning with a taco trucks of Walla Walla lunch and several of the local wineries and sponsoring wineries pouring tastes as we register and get situated. The afternoon is full of speakers, sessions, and the announcement of the Wine Blogger Awards. Finally we will have a live blogging, speed dating, white wine tasting, round robin event of which I am thoroughly intimidated and a sponsored dinner (hmmm, more food and wine). The after party Friday night involves all of the tasting rooms in downtown Walla Walla staying open late for a 'walkabout' Here's hoping everyone is still walking....
Saturday June 26 - Another day of 'conferencing' includes a couple of break out sessions, and a trip to a local vineyard for tasting and meeting some of the local vintners. This trip sounds great in that a bunch of buses will be outside and where each is headed no one knows. We are to just hop on a bus and go where ever it takes us. Saturday night before dinner we get to speed date the red wines followed by more dinner, and an albarino sponsored after party. I've never been to a party sponsored by a grape before.
Sunday June 27 - The conference wraps up with a couple of more breakout sessions, and hopefully an announcement that WBC2011 will be coming to Paso Robles next summer. Then for me it is back on the WBC or Bust bus for a quick trip back to Seattle. I believe the bus is stopping off for some sponsored lunch and wine tasting but by this time I think my pupils will be red, and my stomach thoroughly distended.
This is truly going to be a whirlwind trip full of fun, learning, meeting some great people, and avoiding my slight trepidations of introversion. At this point I am packed and headed out the door with a spit cup, a note book, a camera, and an open mind. I hope to bring you some interesting content as I meet the people of the wine blogosphere and the wines of Washington.
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