Category Archives: Conference Preview 2018

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Today we have a preview of a session to be presented during SWE’s 42nd Annual Conference, to be held on August 15–17, 2018 in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. 

Unexpected Napa Valley 

What do you think you know about Napa Valley wines?

What are your perceptions about one of America’s most recognized grape growing regions?

Well, you should leave poplar notions at the door and begin an exploration of the unexpected Napa Valley. You might discover it is not about just one grape, one style or one price tag! Napa Valley may be America’s most well-known wine region, famous for big Cabernet Sauvignon and full-

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bodied Chardonnay—but there is more than that to Napa Valley, including wines made from old vines, from almost unheard-of varieties, and classics made in a range of enjoyable styles.

This seminar will cover wines and styles that might challenge conventional wisdom with some classic grapes seeking a renaissance and other wines expressing the diversity of the Napa Valley soils. Come taste with an open mind and expand your horizons!

The speaker for this session is John Skupny. John began in the wine trade in 1975 working as a buyer and Wine Steward [sommelier] for restaurants in Kansas City. In 1980, a move to California launched a 38-year career working for some of California’s finest wine producers. Since 1984 he has lived in the Napa Valley; working in sales & marketing for Caymus Vineyards, Clos Du Val Wine Company and then as General Manager of the Niebaum-Coppola Estate (Inglenook). Inspired by the charms of the Cabernet Franc grape, John Skupny and his wife, Tracey, launched Lang & Reed Wine Company in 1996.

John operates a consulting practice, Vineyard Avenue Marketing, providing strategic planning for wineries. John is a past Chairman of the Napa Valley Vintners Board of Directors (‘96), Chair of Premiere Napa Valley Barrel Auction (‘06). President of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers (’90) and founding Vice-President of the Rutherford Dust Society [‘93/94].

The Unexpected Napa Valley seminar will be presented on Friday, August 18, 2018 at 1:15 pm as part of the 42^nd Annual Conference of the Society of Wine Educators to be held in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

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Registration is now open for the Society of Wine Educators’ 42nd Annual Conference!

Experience three phenomenal days—August 15 to 17, 2018—with the best wine educators, winemakers, and wine experts from around the world. If you want to take your wine education to the next level, this is the conference to attend. We hope you’ll be able to join us in the Finger Lakes region of New York! We will sell out, please don’t wait to register.

Here is just a sample of some of the sessions we have to offer this year:

• GSM: Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre Blends Around the World—led by Roger Bohmrich, MW
• Wine Tasting: The Object, the Perceiver and the Experience—led by Serafin Alvarado, MS
• To Disgorge, or Not to Disgorge (sparkling wines and sparkling wine production)—led by Eric Bauman and Nancy Irelan
• A Journey through American Whiskey—led by Russ Kempton, CSS
• Vino Auténtico: Sustainable, Organic, & Biodynamic Practices in the Ribera del Duero & Rueda Regions—led by Felipe Gonzalez-Gordon
• International Syrah Styles, A Comparative Blind Tasting—led by Eric Hemer, CWE, MW, MS
• Better ’Bang for the Buck’ – Second Wines From Renowned Châteaux or Unclassified Petits Châteaux—led by Mary Gorman-McAdams, MW, and Linda Lawry, CWE, DWS

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SWE’s 42nd Annual Conference (August 15 – 17, 2018)  will take place at the picturesque Woodcliff Hotel and Spa, located close to the Finger Lakes and just 20 minutes from downtown Rochester, New York.

For more information, see the conference website.

See you in New York!