Who is going this year March 2-5?

Tricia and I bought our tickets on the first day they were offered and then called the hotel to get a room. The hotel (The Cliffs Resort) had been completely booked months before. I called my friend at WOPN and she said that it was not them that had reserved the hotel and that they were "shocked" when they learned it had been booked. Evidentaly there were a couple of people that took multiple (like lots) rooms. They're not even sure if the people are there for WOPN.

We are on the waiting list at the hotel but so far it doesn't look good. If we can't stay at the main hotel we will not attend. Staying at the Cliffs allows one to come and go to the events as desired. Not staying there means that one has to park on the street, walk at least a quarter mile up to the hotel and stand in a long line and wait for the official opening time.

So call me spoiled. It's a very nice event but I don't need to walk up and down hills and wait in a long line to drink Pinot Noir.

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World of d'Yquem

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I would pay for that.

Winebrat is the real Yquem expert.

I think it's a helluva great idea!

Speaking of Aabalat... they are having a wine dinner at Spago with a bunch of Burgs and for "dessert" the 2001 Yquem. I'll post that in another thread.

Didn't the Count say the 1811 was one of his four favorites?

Things are looking bad for WOPN. Tricia is definitely not going. We have a meeting in Vegas earlier that week we must attend and going from Vegas to Shell Beach is "tough" on Tricia (she doesn't want to leave the dog in the kennel that long).

I'll still stay on standby for the hotel. I hope I hear something soon.

Hope it works out. Have fun at the Spago event.

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Have fun at the Spago event.

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Yeah, right

WOPN is a go but I will be going stag.

Maybe I will see you there.

My schedule:

Friday
8:30am... Pinot Noir 102 with John Haeger.
9:30am... Seminars: Bien Nacido Vineyard Tribute // Revisiting clones: Dijon vs. Field Selection.
3:00pm... Pinot Noir Focus Tasting

I am not going to the "gala" dinner Friday night. Actually I'm looking for someone to have dinner with both Thursday and Friday nights.

Saturday
10:00am... The wines of Maison Luis Jadot.
2:00pm... Pinot Noir by the Sea Tasting
6:30pm... Santa Barbara-style Paulee at Au Bon Climat Winery.

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I will be canceling Tricia's tickets sometime the middle of next week. Let me know if anyone would like to purchase one of her tickets for themselves. Some of the events are sold out.

Friday
10:30am... Riedel seminar with Sommelier series glasses.
Saturday
10:00am... Pinot Noir Pairings with Sommelier Panelists at Sycamore Mineral Springs. Lunch included.
6:30pm... Paulee at Au Bon Climat.

Not sure I will see you, but I will look out for you. I was chosen as one of the 15 national Sommeliers to work the event. My job during the seminars and tastings are to "Test" every bottle (1000's) to be sure they are not off. Maybe I will get your table the night of the big event.

I'm not attending the "big" Friday night dinner. It is just too hectic albiet a lot of fun. It is a fight to get a decent taste of the better wines. And I have never been able to stay in my chair. I end up schnoozing all over the room and never get to my dinner.

There is an eBob offline Friday night that I will probably be attending.

The best party is Saturday night at ABC.

And congratulations on being invited to be one of the somms. You will find yourself in some amazing company. It is worth the price of admission alone to be able to get to know these somms. I can't tell you how much money I have saved because of having corkage waived at these somm's restaurants.

And, unlike Board_O , I think they are a great group of people.

Freudian shlip

It is all by assignment and I won't know what I am doing until the sommelier meeting on Thursday night. For me that night will be a big party as we are all bringing something nice from our cellars. I am thinking most are bringing Burgundies.

Do I want to be at your party instead?

Actually Saturday night at ABC is about tasting literally thousands of wines and eating some good grunts (served at various stations around the winery) by some of the best Chefs in the world. My favorite Chef, Cal Staminov from Bernardus should be there. Jim Clendenin brings out large format bottles from his cellar (most of it Burgundy and Champagne) plus every attendee brings a couple of bottles also. The winemakers there (they pay to go also) bring their barrel samples and their bests and civil folks like me bring a couple of real ball-busters too.