Every August, for most of the last ten years I have gone to the Society of Wine Educators conference. Often it has been in California, hence the above picture. This year it is in Portland, Oregon I city I am excited to explore. Every year before and after the conference, trips are scheduled to wine regions near the site of the conference. Some years ago I visited the wineries in Virginia and California. Hopefully, time permitting the same will be true this year.

I love this conference. It is 2-3 days of packed seminars, lunches and dinners. I always learn so much and get to see old friends and make new ones. I also love the feeling I have when I leave conference. I have a renewed desire to study wine in depth. The conference feels like the quasi start of the “school year.” I am still on the semester mind-set with the summer as a separate entity. This year I will be speaking at conference for the second time. I’m excited and admittedly a little nervous. If you are going, come say hello please.