The 2016 American Wine Society (AWS) National Conference took place on Thursday, November 2 to Saturday, November 5, 2016, at the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa, South of Los Angeles.
More than 400 AWS members from all over the USA came to this 3-day event, filled with tastings, seminars and presentations. Prominent wine makers included: Joel Peterson, Founder of Ravenswood Winery; Bérénice Lurton, Owner of Château Climens; Peter Mondavi Jr., Co-Proprietor, Charles Krug Winery and Randall Grahm, Bonny Doon Vineyard.
Annette Schiller, member of the AWS, led 2 well-attended tastings about German wine and had an ombiasy WineTours booth.
Thursday was the day of wine judging. There were full-day courses for those who want to become a certified AWS Wine Judge. This is a 3-year program. Also, the Amateur and Commercial Wine Competitions took place on Thursday.
Friday and Saturday was filled with about 50 wine seminars, led by winery owners, wine educators, and renowned wine makers. The breakfasts, lunches, dinners and after-dinner gatherings provided ample opportunities to network with other AWS members.
There were 2 pre-conference trips, in which Annette and I did not participate. Instead, we explored the Los Angeles area before and after the conference.
This is the first in a series of postings related to the American Wine Society National Conference 2016 in California:
American Wine Society National Conference 2016 in California, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
The New Germany: Red, Dry, Sparkling - Annette Schiller, President of Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours
The New Classification of German Wines: The VDP Classification - Annette Schiller, President of Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours
The Insider’s View of Charles Krug Winery - Peter Mondavi Jr., Co-Proprietor, Charles Krug Winery
Bordeaux: the Grands Crus Classes 2013 Vintage - Paul Wagner, President of Balzac Communications Marketing
Château Climens, Premier Cru Barsac and Savory Dishes…who knew? - Bérénice Lurton, Owner of Château Climens & Tony Lawrence, Global Food & Wine Pairing Specialist
The American Wine Society
The American Wine Society was founded in 1967 as a non-profit, educational, consumer-oriented organization for those interested in learning more about all aspects of wine. On October 7, 1967, around 200 grape growers, home winemakers, and wine lovers gathered at Dr. Konstantin Frank’s vineyard on Keuka Lake near Hammondsport, NY for the AWS’ initial meeting.
In December of the same year, the thirteen charter members, led by Founder Dr. Konstantin Frank, met to determine the organization structure of AWS and elect officers. Now in its 49th year, the American Wine Society is the largest consumer based wine education organization in North America. Membership is open to anyone interested in wine and over 21 years of age.
In the early days, AWS members were located primarily in the eastern part of the country. As the society grew , we established chapters throughout the eastern U.S., then into the south and Midwest, and finally into western states. Today, the American Wine Society has over 5,000 members in 45 states and 120 chapters across the U.S.
Each November the Society hosts hosts a three-day national conference with two full days of educational seminars, nearly 49 to choose from. Winery owners, wine educators, and renowned wine makers are selected to present sessions during this national event. In addition, a program educating members to become AWS certified wine judges is conducted on the day preceding the seminars.
2016 American Wine Society National Conference Schedule
Thursday
7 am to 5 pm: Wine Judge Certification Program
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm: Welcome Reception
10:00 pm to 12:00 pm: Hospitality Suite
Friday
7:30 am to 8:45 pm: Sparkling Wine Breakfast
8:45 am to 6:00 pm: Exhibits
Morning Sessions
Bordeaux: the Grands Crus Classes 2013 Vintage - Paul Wagner, President of Balzac Communications Marketing
12:30 pm to 2:15 pm: Luncheon & Business Meeting sponsored by Santa Barbara Vintners
Afternoon Sessions
The New Germany: Red, Dry, Sparkling - Annette Schiller, President of Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours
Annette Schiller led a similar tasting - with more wines - at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) a week before. See: The New Germany – Red, Dry, Sparkling: German Wine Society Tasting, led by Annette Schiller, at Restaurant Old Europe in Washington DC
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm: Showcase of Wine
10:00 pm to 12:00 pm: Hospitality Suite
Saturday
7:30 am to 8:45 pm: Breakfast and AWSEF Annual Meeting
8:45 am to 6:00 pm: Exhibits
Morning Sessions
The New Classification of German Wines: The VDP Classification - Annette Schiller, President of Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours
12:30 pm to 2:15 pm: Awards Luncheon
Afternoon Sessions
The Insider’s View of Charles Krug Winery - Peter Mondavi Jr., Co-Proprietor, Charles Krug Winery
Peter Mondavi Jr. introduced me to the wines of Charles Krug Winery at a tasting in Washington DC a few years ago: Morton’s Steakhouse Presented Peter Mondavi Jr. at a Charles Krug Winemaker Dinner
Château Climens, Premier Cru Barsac and Savory Dishes…who knew? - Bérénice Lurton, Owner of Château Climens & Tony Lawrence, Global Food & Wine Pairing Specialist
We visited Bérénice Lurton, Owner/ Winemaker, Château Climens, on the 2015 ombiasy Tour to Bordeaux. See: Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm: Grand Banquet
10:00 pm to 12:00 pm: Music, Dancing and Hospitality Suite
Pre- and Post-Conference: In Los Angeles
Lunch at Noma in Malibu
Line Hotel in the Korean District in Los Angeles
Venice Beach and Santa Monica
Los Angeles Downtown, Hollywood and Beverley Hills
Departure
schiller-wine - Related Postings
Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours
Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History
Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Reims - Wine, Food, Culture and History
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany
Approaches to Classifying German Wine: The Standard Approach (the Law of 1971), the VDP Approach and the Zero Classification Approach
New Developments in German Wine - Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society in Philadelphia, USA
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
The New Germany – Red, Dry, Sparkling: German Wine Society Tasting, led by Annette Schiller, at Restaurant Old Europe in Washington DC
Morton’s Steakhouse Presented Peter Mondavi Jr. at a Charles Krug Winemaker Dinner
Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France
Visit and Tasting at Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoss in Mayschoss, Ahr – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016
Dining with Prinz zur Lippe, Owner of Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, at the Lippe’sches Gutshaus - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Cellar Tour, Tasting and Dinner at Wein- und Sektgut F.B. Schönleber in Östrich-Winkel, Rheingau, with Ralph and Bernd Schönleber - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour, Tasting (and Lunch) with Robert Schätzle, Owner and Winemaker, Weingut Schloss Neuweier in Baden– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2015)
Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Oetinger, Rheingau, with Achim von Oetinger– Germany-North 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA