How to resolve AdBlock issue? The event will be held on the grounds of Chacewater Winery in Kelseyville.
The International Symposium will take place on Friday, May 4, to be followed on Saturday, May 5, by the Grand Tasting.
This event will bring together winemakers, sommeliers, grape growers, buyers and wine enthusiasts for two days of learning, presentations, technical tastings and trials, and food and wine pairings.
The two-day event will feature a trade-focused International Symposium on May 4 and a consumer-focused Grand Tasting on May 5.
The International Symposium is supported by community partners such as University of California, Davis, and geared toward a technical audience. It will feature a prestigious lineup of presenters and panelists.
The highlight will be a keynote presentation by Jean Michel Boursiquot, an international authority on plant material and professor of ampelography with the Institute for Higher Education in Vine and Wine, Montpellier Sup Agro in France.
Monsieur Boursiquot will provide an overview of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal and discuss where it fits in the wine family and the cultural differences from Loire and Bordeaux.
“It makes sense to hold this event in the epicenter of Sauvignon Blanc winegrowing in California,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, which is underwriting the event. “We’re excited to bring people together from around the world for an in-depth exchange of information on a varietal that is so important on a global scale.”
The Lake County Winegrape Commission previously hosted two International Sauvignon Blanc Symposia in 2002 and 2005.
“Lake County winegrowers are some of the most experienced Sauvignon Blanc growers in the country,” Sommerfield said. “Sauvignon Blanc was one of the first varietals they reached for when post-Prohibition replanting began in earnest 50 years ago.”
The Lake County winegrowing region, part of the North Coast AVA, has long been known for producing high-quality Sauvignon Blanc fruit and today makes up approximately 14 percent of California’s Sauvignon Blanc acreage.
The commission and its collaborative host partner, the Lake County Winery Association, are building on the success of the previous events and the varietal’s new-found popularity. For 2018, the event has been expanded to include a consumer-focused Grand Tasting.
“Sauvignon Blanc has been gaining in popularity among U.S. consumers faster than just about any other wine, according to Nielsen data,” said Maria Brunn, executive director of the Lake County Winery Association. “Sauvignon Blanc has always been a favorite among viticulturalists and winemakers due to its versatility. And now, with the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Experience, consumers can experience the vast breadth of expression as well, with wines at the Grand Tasting ranging in style from bright and crisp to lush and creamy.”
The Grand Tasting will feature Sauvignon Blanc wines from across California, as well as from producers throughout the United States and around the world, providing consumers an opportunity to compare the style and character of Sauvignon Blanc wines grown in some of its most important regions.
Individual wineries and regional associations interested in pouring at the Grand Tasting are encouraged to contact organizers at
Registration and online ticket sales will kick off in early February. Preliminary program information is available online at www.sauvignonblancexperience.com.
