The annual Society of Wine Educators conference draws attendees from around the country and speakers from around the world. The program for the 43rd conference was both educational and widely diverse, and seminars included wine regions as far-flung as Uruguay, Sardinia, Harlan Mountain (Central Coast), South Africa, New Zealand and Chile.
Virginia Wine sponsored the opening lunch on Wednesday 8/14. Many attendees in other parts of the country had not tasted Virginia wine recently or at all and everyone was impressed with Virginia wines today.
This author presented the seminar “Virginia Wine: 400 Years Young and World-Class”, to an audience of about 75 attendees.
After reviewing the 400 years of documented Virginia wine history, the attendees tasted six Virginia wines, carefully chosen for both quality and for demonstrating something significant in a category or grape variety in the market today. The featured wines were:
– Muse blanc de blancs 2015
– Horton Viognier ’17
– Granite Heights Petit Manseng ’15
– Rockbridge chardonnay
– King Family Meritage 2016
– Veritas Petit Verdot 2016
Attendees were then given autographed copies of Richard’s definitive book on Virginia wine, Beyond Jefferson’s Vines.