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Welcome to the first Chenin Blanc Petite Sirah Conference at Clarksburg, November 14 –15. I’m delighted to say that I didn’t have to create this one. This tells me that Petite Sirah is beginning to stand on its own two legs… Yeah! the people behind this one are the following:

• Patricia Schneider, Program Chair
• Mary Tye, Conference Co-Chair
• G.M. Pooch Pucilowski Co-Chair

Moderator for the two days will be Rick Kushman, New York Times best-selling author, wine commentator for Capital Public Radio, Sacramento’s NPR station, and an award-winning journalist who was a longtime columnist for Sacramento Bee.

I was asked and created a panel for this event, with my PS I Love You group.

• Karen J Wood, Cedar Creek Ranch Wines
• Miro Tcholakov, Trentadue Winery and Miro Cellars
• Jose Diaz, PS I LOVE YOU
• Ken Wilson, Wilson Wines

We had one member who had to drop from the panel, so I easily filled in that void with Jose Diaz.  Jose’s been with me every step of our 12-year marketing journey for PS I Love You. If anyone knows as much as I do about this group and variety, it’s Jose. He also seems to articulate it better than I do, I believe.

I write, he speaks…it’s a good balance.

Here are the details for anyone who wants to attend.

Two Days of Exploring Chenin Blanc & Petite Sirah at Clarksburg

Old Sugar Mill, Clarksburg, California

November 14th and 15th

Discover, Appreciate and Savor

Covering Chenin Blanc and Petite Sirah from vineyard to market to consumer is the broad range of the First Annual Chenin Blanc Petite Sirah Conference. Interact with winemakers, industry experts and thought leaders on trends, new research and best practices.

For the complete schedule, click here.

This is what my group is bringing to the plate:

Friday, November 13, 2013

10:45 – 12:15 p.m.

Anything but Petite:

The Underdog American Varietal Thinks Big

Long in California history, but short on mainstream success, the Petite Sirah grape has been disdained and misunderstood, playing a hidden role in the blends of many popular wines, but, rarely a star on its own. Never one to follow trends, these experts fell in love with the grape’s flavor intensity, wide range of expression, age-worthiness and old vine American history.

Why does Petite Sirah intrigue and what is the potential to showcase a new style: vineyard driven, food-friendly yet age-worthy, nuanced, handcrafted and perhaps elegant. Again…

• Karen J Wood, Cedar Creek Ranch Wines
• Miro Tcholakov, Trentadue Winery and Miro Cellars
• Jose Diaz, PS I LOVE YOU
• Ken Wilson, Wilson Wines

Moderator: Jo Diaz, Executive Director, PS I LOVE YOU

See you there!

Moderator: Rick Kushman

10:45-12:15 PM

Anything but Petite: The Underdog American Varietal Thinks Big

Long in California history, but short on mainstream success, the Petite Sirah grape has been disdained and misunderstood, playing a hidden role in the blends of many popular wines, but, rarely a star on its own. Never one to follow trends, these experts fell in love with the grape’s flavor intensity, wide range of expression, age-worthiness and old vine American history.

Why does Petite Sirah intrigue and what is the potential to showcase a new style: vineyard driven, food-friendly yet age-worthy, nuanced, handcrafted and perhaps elegant.

• Karen J Wood, Cedar Creek Ranch Wines
• Miro Tcholakov, Trentadue Winery and Miro Cellars
• Jose Diaz, PS I LOVE YOU
• Ken Wilson, Wilson Wines
• Moderator: Jo Diaz, Executive Director, PS I LOVE YOU

Here’s the link to the conference: http://www.cheninpetiteconference.com/#!registration/ca36

Cost is $395.