I would like to truly thank all the SPONSORS of the 2014 Wine Bloggers Conference who made this event possible.   Thanks to your support and generosity, more than 350 wine bloggers from all parts of the world were able to converge in the pristine Santa Barbara Wine Country for an unforgettable weekend in the vines.

As a Scholarship recipient, and a   first time attendee of the Wine Bloggers Conference, I must say, that it was far better than I could have hoped for and a little overwhelming at the same time.

To be in the presence of noted fellow wine bloggers and industry experts and top local wine makers was beyond fabulous!  

 

 

Looking back, one of my favorite parts of the conference, however, was meeting the Santa Barbara County wine makers.

I must admit that I was literally awestruck mingling among the legendary wine makers only to find out that they’re very genuine, down-to-earth people who loved to share their passion of making wine.  Best of all, there was no pretense or awkwardness as they each shared their humble beginnings and triumphs, only great pride.

Discovering the Ballard Canyon AVA through the eyes of the vintners was also very exciting   ~ I look forward to following the new AVA and and to supporting these fine Syrah wine makers.  We were fortunate to taste eight Syrahs, all which exhibited the earthy, full-bodied essence of the Ballard Canyon AVA.

Every aspect of the 2014 Wine Bloggers Conference was a class act!  The Friday night mystery wine excursion was absolutely priceless!  I was elated to be on the mystery bus to the Melville Vineyard & Winery where a host of eight Santa Rita Hills vintners personally poured vertical tastings of their finest 2007, 2009 and 2011 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Thank you to all of the sponsors of the Live Wine Blogging events – both white wine and red wines!  Wine presenters had five minutes to pour and describe the wine.

Wine Bloggers had five minutes to taste the wines and tweet their reviews on Twitter to #WBC14.

 

Kudos to the White Wine Sponsors ~ 

Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard @FollowFess Cornerstone Cellars  @CraigCamp BevMo @BevMo Hope Family Wines @hopefamilywines J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines @JLohrWines

Wente Family Estates @Wente Grassini @GrassiniWines Ferrari-Carano Winery @ferraricarano Ramey Wine Cellars @RameyWineCellar Danza del Sol Vineyard & Winery  Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard Jordan @JordanWinery

Rios de Chile @Rios_de_Chile Marianello, Consilience, & Tre Anelli Wines SIPcertified.org   @SIPtheGoodLife Bandit @BanditWines Taken Bianchi Winery  @binachiwinery Gypsy Canyon Winery  @DHallPinot Yorkville Cellars  @YorkvilleWinery J Wine @JWinery Maryhill Winery @MaryhillWinery Agnitio Wines

Concept Wine Group Charles Krug @charleskrugwine Aridus Wine Co @ariduswineco Banfi @BanfiWines Uproot Wines @DrinkUproot

E2 Family Winery E2FamilyWineryWesterly Wines @WesterlyWines Alta Maria @AltaMariaWine Urban Legend Cellars @ulcellars Terravant

 Kudos to the Red Wine Sponsors ~ 

Tantara Coquelicot Wines @coquelicotwine Cornerstone Cellars @CraigCamp BevMo @BevMo J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines @JLohrWines Davis Bynum Wines @DavisBynumWines Alexander Valley Vineyards @avvwinery Urban Legend Cellars @ulcellars Grassini @GrassiniWines Carr Winery @CarrWinery Ferrari-Carano Winery @ferraricaranoDanza del Sol Vineyard & Winery

Adelaida Cellars @AdelaidaCellars Jordan @JordanWinery  Pacific Wine Group Wine4.me Vineyard 511 @vineyard511 Garnett Vineyards @GarnetVineyards Marianello, Consilience, & Tre Anelli Wines Brecon Estate @BreconEstate Labyrinth Winery @LabyrinthWine Bandit @BanditWines Taken @takenWINE Trione Winery @TrioneWinery Bianchi Winery @binachiwinery

Gypsy Canyon Winery @DHallPinot Maryhill Winery @MaryhillWinery Charles Krug @charleskrugwine Ottimino @ottiminowines Casey Flat

Ranch Aridus Wine Co @ariduswineco Banfi Punch Vineyards Wines of Georgia @GeorgiaWineUSA Westerly Wines @WesterlyWines

Thank you to ALL the Sponsors for making the 2014 Wine Bloggers Conference Memorable in every way!   Salute~