I woke up last week and came to the sudden realization that we are about two weeks away from my arrival in beautiful Walla Walla, Washington for the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference. This is the event that us wine bloggers wait for, with breathless anticipation, all year long. This is like Christmas for winos, a great opportunity to meet online friends, taste some great wines, spend time in a great wine region, and learn how to sharpen the tools of the wine blogging trade. Oh yeah, did I mention that we get to taste some great wines?
I am very excited about participating in this event, which is my first WBC. I've had the great honor of being invited to participate in a panel at the Conference, called Top Gun Blogging (I know, what were the organizers thinking?) My panel amigos will be Joe Herrig of Suburban Wino and Andrew Lazorchak of Vineyard Vlog and Wine Soirée fame. I'm also excited to be sharing a house with some of my best blogging friends, Josh Wade (DrinkNectar) and Steve Paulo (Notes From the Cellar), which should make for an even more enjoyable stay in Walla Walla. On top of all that, I am also going to be joining some great folks in a tour of some Oregon wineries on my way into Washington, and will be wrapping up my stay in Washington with a tour of the Spokane area, thanks to the good folks at the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Needless to say, I'm incredibly stoked about the entire trip, and look forward to sharing some fun stories with all of you while I'm there (very glad that there will be built in blogging time during the conference), and more when I get back.
This isn't going to be my first experience with Walla Walla wine, as I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a little time there last October, but it will be the first prolonged stay there, and I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the Washington wine scene. Washington is producing some of the best wines in the country right now, and it's exciting to be able to spend some time there, learning more about the area, their wines, and about wine writing. I plan to post some more pre-trip posts about Washington wine, although I'm running out of time. Hope you enjoy reading them.
WBC logo taken from the Wine Bloggers Conference site.
Funny, I just realized last night how close this is now too, and am soooo excited. Walla Walla’s an amazing little town and I can’t believe 350 of us are going to converge there! Poor town, I don’t think they know what’s coming! It’s my first WBC and I have no idea what to really expect. I keep reading over the agenda, but I just get dizzy thinking about it! Looking forward to finally meeting you and congrats on your panel, that is so totally awesome and I can’t to hear what you’re gonna talk about!!
I know, I’ve been going over the agenda as well, and it is a bit daunting.
Yeah, I can’t wait to hear what I’m going to talk about too…, oh, I guess I should get on that, huh?
Dude we’re gonna have the wino version of the Delta Tau Chi house!
This is going to be an amazing time. Congrats on the panel thing. That’ll be pretty cool. Can’t wait to toss a few back with ya!
Josh
Looking forward to meeting you and 299 of your blogging friends here in town. Be sure to stop by my tasting room on Friday night, Sleight of Hand Cellars. I am on the Saturday AM panel as well.
Cheers! Trey
Oh come on Tamara (Sip With Me), Walla Walla does know what to expect from over 300 wine bloggers and after a long initiation of drinking lots of Walla Walla wine, you will become one of us – a honorary Walla Walla Wine-o! Thanks Jack for the reminder, as I am also one of the panelists. I believe my discussion is what downtown alley ways to stay clear of after a long day and night of wine tasting. Looking forward to seeing you all and so are the rest of my Walla Walla wine homies.
Cheers,
C~
I’m with Catie, as a bonafide local, let me assure you that Wallyworld can handle 350 wine-swilling bloggers without blinking. Weather is shaping up nicely – hopefully not too hot. Tweet me @paulgwine if you’re interested in my unsanctioned by very fun tasting of older WA wines. Sunday midday at my home in Waitsburg a few miles north of town. A good time is guaranteed for all.
You know this! Can’t wait.
Right back at you man.
I will definitely look for you! I’ll also make it a point to try to make is out to your tasting room.
Cheers!
Glad to hear that W2 will be ready for us. I’m sure that I will find the weather to be a nice change of pace, as I find it hard to believe that you guys are approaching the kind of hellish temps that we are down here in Texas. Last week topped out at 105.
I would love to make it to your tasting, but I’ll have to see how my schedule shakes out. I have to be making it out to Spokane sometime Sunday, so we shall see. Thanks for the invite!
I’ll be there… can’t wait to meet all of you in person
I’m excited to meet you too! Cheers!