I just signed up for the Conference using the on-line registration system and it was FLAWLESS!… well done to the national office~ you guys deserve a STANDING OVATION.  In case you would like to see how the process works here is a link to a “Help file” that shows some screen shots.

Here is a link to a PDF file of the Conference Brochure… the Seminars look OUTSTANDING!

I finally had some free time so I set up SKYPE.  Now you can reach me for all your wine related questions.  In the future we will be hosting a LIVE Internet Show… I’d love to hear your thoughts on potential topics.  The Skype Number is 203-437-4509

I have been asked by many of you to post more information about the Wine Judge Training Program Sponsored by the American Wine Society… Here you go!  Wine Judge Training Program

Pod Cast describing the tasting of 3 wines from Black Rock Vintners Winery (Bridgeport CT.) My guest is Michael Gelven (wine consultant for Black Rock). Episode is about 32 minutes ~ ENJOY~

Terroir Tasting Episode 1

Here are the supporting pictures to go along with the podcast of 3 wines from Black Rock Vintners (Bridgeport CT)

Black Rock Vintners Terroir Tasting

We had a great time at the home of Barry and Sissy. The company, food and wine were almost as lovely as the vistas from the deck… looking out over the vineyard. One of the many perks of joining the American Wine Society.

Barry’s AWS Dinner

We had a great time judging the 2008 wine competition for the Eastern States Exposition.

Big_E_winejudging

I wanted to take a quick moment to give folks a heads up as to the status of shipping wines… there has been a number of emails floating around describing problems with the airlines or rather SOUR GRAPES.  Please be advised that if you intend to ship wines from the conference location in Sacramento… MAKE SURE you have a plan.  The following excerpts are from email first hand accounts:

From Jane and Rege “Here is another tidbit to add to your wine shipping alerts. We were coming back from Europe three weeks ago and had four cases of wine, appropriately packed for shipping. (A total of seven pieces of luggage/wine) Delta allowed five pieces to be shipped as baggage at no charge. The other two cost us a pretty penny(s) (quite a bit more than the $25 charge you see in the news) to have them shipped as baggage. It probably would have cost less to ship by UPS but at the time we either left the wine or paid the toll. After Delta got into the picture, our wine became “expensive”. It might be good to alert people who go on trips and bring back wine to find a means of shipping rather than rely on baggage handling. In California there are shipping agents that will handle this and there is UPS and FedEx. UPS seems to be a bit more picky about shipping wine than FedEx.”

From John:

I wanted to make you all aware of something that happened to me last week when I returned from Sacramento.  I was out there working on details for the AWS conference and I had a couple bottles of wine plus a bottle of olive oil packed in my checked bag.  I checked the bag at the United counter and went to the gate.  I was paged to come back to the check-in counter since they found items they couldn’t accept.

It turns out that United requires wine to be packed in Styrofoam, even if it’s in a checked bag.  It didn’t matter that I had packed them well and there was very little chance they would break, they were not packed in Styrofoam so United wouldn’t accept them. 

They said the same thing applies to all glass bottles so they wouldn’t accept the olive oil either.  I took them out of my bag and was going to give them to someone in the airport who lived in Sacramento.  A lady came up to me and said she overheard what they told me and would ship the bottles to me.  I gave her my card – I guess I’ll wait to see if she actually sends them.

I sent a complaint to United since I couldn’t find any other airline website that has similar requirements – so far no response from them.

Like you, I’ve brought back bottles of wine in my checked bag many times with no problem, but I don’t normally fly on United.   Based on this experience, I probably won’t fly United again.  I just wanted to make you aware of this as you plan for traveling to conference.  I suggest any other airline except United.

Please pass this on to anyone you know who may be flying to conference.”

I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED!