As I mentioned in my last post, the new online wine magazine Palate Press has launched and with it today, my first article hits the virtual presses! 
A few months ago I attended what is currently the most innovative wine event of which I've been lucky to be a part. Hahn Family Wines invited a group of bloggers and social media wonks down to their stunning Estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands for a day of tasting, touring and most of all...planting. Yes, I am now the proud father of one+ Pinot Noir vitis vinifera grape vine in the SLH appellation, replete with distinguishing placard! 
The recovery is almost over...I have managed to survive another incredibly awesome North American Wine Bloggers' Conference, once again headquartered at the Flamingo in Santa Rosa (Sonoma Valley). The 4 days of vino-frenzy began with a trek out to Murphys in the longtime wine region of Calaveras County, where some Twisted wine fun was had by a few lucky bloggers who made the trek. Hosted by El Jefe (Twitter) & Scott (Twitter) of Twisted Oak & Newsome-Harlow, we visited the tasting rooms of Hatcher, Newsome-Harlow, Tanner and finished up at the TO tasting room with some Renner wines. 
It's baaaaackkkkk! Today on this first day at the 2nd Annual Wine Bloggers' Conference in Santa Rosa, we're revisiting one of the most popular events...live wine blogging or speed-dating for lushes! 20 wineries/wines/winemakers, 6 minutes, 20+ tables of thirsty wine bloggers...GO!! The 2nd Annual North American Wine Bloggers' Conference is almost here, starting tomorrow! It is again at the Flamingo in Santa Rosa, CA, deep in the Sonoma Valley. Last year's inaugural conference exploded the reach and understanding of wine bloggers, wine & social media and their effect on the wine biz. It also had a profound effect on myself and my own understanding of social media, blogs and wine. Starting things off, however is a pre-party at Twisted Oak and downtown Murphy's, courtesy of that crazy vinoman, El Jefe, Jeff Stai (Twitter)! 