How I Got to the Wine Bloggers Conference

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I went to the Wine Bloggers Conference last November in Santa Rosa, CA. It was an amazing experience! I tasted so much great wine, learned a lot, and met wonderful people who, like me, love to get nerdy when it comes to wine.

I haven’t gone into much detail about it, but I was able to go because of the a scholarship fund that the WBC folks run. I’m so grateful to them for donating and helping me have this experience!

Let’s get to know my wonderful sponsors, shall we?

Rodney Strong

It turns out I was one of two recipients of the Rodney Strong scholarship – pretty fancy! Based in Sonoma, Rodney Strong is a bit of a trailblazing brand in the region. They were the first to plant Chardonnay in Chalk Hill and the first to make a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, so clearly they’re not afraid of taking chances and trying new things. I had a few sips of their wine while at the conference and will definitely seek out opportunities to try their stuff more.

Avero Buzz

Avero is a brand I was completely unfamiliar with before learning that they helped bring me to the conference, but I’m so glad I know them now. I’m a communications pro by day, focusing on digital and social media, and that’s exactly what Avero Buzz is all about. It’s a social media tool created specifically for the hospitality industry to help brands find and build their audience. I’m so nerdily down for that! Kind of makes me wish I worked in hospitality so I could use this tool.

#sonomachat in partnership with Laurel Glen Vineyards

If you are a wine lover who is also on Twitter, you need to get to know #sonomachat. Taking place every Wednesday at 6pm Pacific (ie. Sonoma) time, it brings together all sorts of people to talk about Sonoma and its many delicious wines. I’ve taken part a few times and was pleasantly surprised by how friendly the other chatters are, especially to folks like me who don’t live anywhere near Sonoma.

I’m sad (and a little embarrassed) to say I that I know Laurel Glen Vineyards in name only. Laurel Glen calls Sonoma Mountain home, focusing (and succeeding) on making a name of themselves as excellent makers of Cabernet Sauvignon. Using vines planted in the 1960’s they focus on making food-friendly Cabs that have a clear sense of place (you know, that whole terroir thing) and recently put in the work to have their whole vineyard become certified organic. Not your average vineyard!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am so grateful to these organizations for seeing the value in donating to the WBC scholarship fund. The people I met, the connections I made, the wines I tasted, and feeling like I had finally met my blogging community were so valuable, and would not at all have happened if not for these people.

So go! Buy their wine! Join their chats! Use their products! And think of me when you do.