International Symposium: May 4, 2018
~ FOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ~
Join winemakers, somms, growers, buyers, the media, and wine enthusiasts on May 4th for a full day of technical tastings and trials, presentations, and the opportunity to compare the character of Sauvignon Blanc grown in regions around California, the US, and the world. Celebrate International Sauvignon Blanc Day by immersing yourself in this great varietal.
Friday, May 4, 8 am - 6 pm. (Full schedule below.)
Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill, 5625 Gaddy Ln, Kelseyville, CA 95451
Please note that the International Symposium is now sold out.
Program
Friday, May 4
| 7:45 am | Continental Breakfast |
| 8:15 am | Welcome to Sauvignon Blanc Country Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET History of Lake County. Why Lake County is suited for Sauvignon Blanc. (watch video, view slides, view notes) |
| 8:40 am | Confessions of Two Terroirists — Where the Vines Grow Jean-Jacques Lambert, PhD, Assistant Research Soil Scientist, UC Davis (view slides) Gregory V. Jones, Director of Wine Education and Professor of Environmental Studies, Linfield College (watch video, view slides) |
| 9:30 am | What in the World?! SB Sauvignon Blanc as an International Variety John Buechsenstein, CHE, Culinary Institute of America Nielsen data. Past and future trends. Styles of Sauvignon Blanc in the market. Global differences. (watch video, view slides) |
| 10:00 am | Break |
| 10:15 am | The Immigrant: Sauvignon Blanc Comes to California Nancy Sweet, Staff Research Associate, Foundation Plant Services, UC Davis (watch video, view slides) |
| 10:45 am | Ah, the Smell of Sauvignon Blanc in the Morning: Winemaker Tasting Kristin Belair, Winemaker, Honig Vineyard & Winery (view slides); Fabian Bravo, Winemaker, The Brander Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley (view slides); Erica Loveblock Crawford, Owner, Loveblock Wines (view slides). (watch video) |
| 11:20 am | Tasty and Racy — The French Connection Keynote Speaker: Jean-Michel Boursiquot Overview of Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Speaker’s point of view on Sauvignon Blanc. Where Sauvignon Blanc fits in the wine family. Cultural differences in growers from Loire and Bordeaux. (watch video, view slides) |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch Toast to International Sauvignon Blanc Day. #SauvBlancDay |
| 1:15 pm | How Do Your Vineyards Grow? Viticulture Panel Daniel Bosch, Sr. Viticulturalist, Constellation Brands (Mondavi) – Heritage farming Phil Freese, Owner, WineGrow and Vilafonte David Weiss, Owner, Bella Vista Farming (watch video) |
| 1:30 pm | Four Years Before the Vine: A Sauvignon Blanc Research Experience Glenn McGourty, Viticulture & Plant Science Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension (watch video, view slides) Clonal data for tasting and trellis data for tasting with viticulture panel to discuss. |
| 1:55 pm | Send in the Clones! Clonal Tasting Glenn McGourty, Viticulture & Plant Science Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension Anita Oberholster, PhD, Cooperative Extension Specialist in Enology, UC Davis Presenting six wines of SB01 UC FPS, UC FPS 17, UCFPS 18, UCFPS 25, UCFPS 26, Musque Clone 27. (watch video, view slides) |
| 2:10 pm | Break |
| 2:20 pm | Light Weight vs. Heavy Weight — Who Is the Champ? Crop Load Tasting Joy Merrilees, Director of Winemaking & Production, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines Anita Oberholster, PhD, Cooperative Extension Specialist in Enology, UC Davis Presenting three wines of 6 tons/acre, 4 tons/acre, and 2 tons/acre (blind tasting). (watch video, view slides) |
| 2:45 pm | Leading Voices: Wine Writers and Educators Offer Their Perspective David Glancy, MS, CWE, Founder and CEO of San Francisco Wine School; Sara Schneider, Wine Editor at Sunset Magazine, Alder Yarrow, Wine Blogger and Founder of Vinography Dialogue and subsequent tastings. (watch video) |
| 3:00 pm | The Many Faces of Lake County Sauvignon Blanc: Appellation Tasting Joy Merrilees, Director of Winemaking & Production, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines Presenting five wines of designated Lake County appellations: Big Valley, Kelsey Bench, Red Hills, High Valley, Proposed Upper Lake Valley. (watch video) |
| 3:25 pm | Break |
| 3:35 pm | Little Things That Make A Big Difference: Yeast Selection Anita Oberholster, PhD, Cooperative Extension Specialist in Enology, UC Davis Presenting yeast trial with four wines made from four different yeast types. (watch video, view slides) |
| 4:05 pm | Break |
| 4:15 pm | How Sweet It Is! Fruit Fermented at Different Brix Levels Matt Hughes, Director of Winemaking, Brassfield Estate Presenting six wines of varying brix from High Valley AVA. (watch video, view slides) |
| 4:35 pm | Are You Experienced? What We Learned Today Deborah Parker Wong |
| 5:00 pm | Social Hour Growers and attendees. Toast to the 2018 International Sauvignon Blanc Symposium! |
Saturday, May 5
| 8:30 am | VIP Tour of Lake County Speakers and invited guests visit select vineyards and locations around Lake County. Adventure Seekers Options See Adventures in Lake County for more information. |
| 1:00 pm | Sauvignon Blanc Grand Tasting Media may enter the tasting area at 12:00 pm. |