Next week the Washington State Wine Commission welcomes 42 of the nation’s leading wine buyers to experience harvest in Washington State first hand. This prestigious group of wholesalers, retailers, and restaurateurs will spend five days traveling across the state to meet face-to-face with grape growers and winemakers during the height of the growing season.
This tour comprises the Commission’s annual Road Trip Washington Wine program, launched four years ago to help educate the domestic wine trade on the virtues of the acclaimed Washington State wine industry. Since its inception, Road Trip Washington Wine has brought 177 high-level decision-makers, representing more than $2 billion in annual purchasing power, to Washington State.
“Road Trip has quickly become one of the premier educational opportunities for the domestic wine trade”, says Robin Pollard, executive director for the Washington State Wine Commission. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have another exceptional group of guests coming to learn more about our region and meet the wonderful people behind our world-class wines”, she adds.
For more information on Road Trip Washington Wine, including a full itinerary and list of participating vineyards and wineries, please visit www.washingtonwine.org/roadtrip.
2011 Road Trip Washington Wine guests:
Ryan Allison, Cellar 46° (WA)
David Anderson, France 44 (MN)
Ruth Arista, Arista Wine Cellars (WA)
Craig Brown, Arthur’s Wine Shop (NC)
Brahm Callahan, Grill 23 (MA)
Jeremy Campbell, M Bar (OR)
Tony Capra, El Gaucho (WA)
Scott Chilcutt, Fifth Floor (CA)
Danny Cobian, Southern Wine & Spirits (FL)
Jeannie Cox, Tosti’s Spirits & Fine Wine (FL)
Sean Cummings, Delmonico’s (NY)
TJ Douglas, The Urban Grape (MA)
Timothy Edmunds, CRAVE Restaurants (MN)
Christopher Fronsoe, Portland City Grill (OR)
Flavio Gentile, Printers Row Wine Shop (IL)
Jess Gualano, The Wine Studio of Ashville (NC)
Scott Harney, ENO (IL)
Jal Hastings, Cavallo Point (CA)
Doug Jeffirs, Binny’s Beverage Depot (IL)
Denise Jones, Vino 100 (TX)
Brian Kerr, Morton’s The Steakhouse (OR)
Robb Kimbles, Total Wine & More (MD)
James Lechner, Bastille Café & Bar (WA)
Steve Lotharius, North Street Market (VA)
Susan Magen, Vino Volo (WA)
Kyle McRae, Highlander Wine & Spirits (Alberta, Canada)
Leonard Mello, The Cellar Fine Wines & Beers (MA)
Kathy Morgan MS, Michel Richard Citronelle (DC)
Michael Ochsner, Plonk Wine Bar (MT)
Joe Phillips MS, Michael Mina Bellagio (NV)
Steve Poe MS, Big Canyon Country Club (CA)
John Ragan, Union Square Hospitality Group (NY)
Greg Rivera, The Breakers Palm Beach (FL)
Cecile Roesch-Giannangeli, FineWine.com (MD)
Stephanie Schrankel, Vino Volo (CA)
Natalie Tapken, Green Apple Group (NY)
Michael Thackerson, The Fort Worth Club (TX)
James Tidwell MS, Four Seasons at Las Colinas (TX)
Joseph Via, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PA)
Kate Webber, Webber Restaurant Group (MA)
Paul Wentzel, The Wine Thief (MN)
Brett Zimmerman MS, Boulder Wine Merchant (CO)