I had an enjoyable time at the #NCWine Bloggers Summit, held on March 3, 2019. Hanover Park Vineyard in Yadkinville N.C. hosted the event. In addition to the summit, pre-summit activities included winery trips and a wine dinner.
The #NCWine Bloggers Summit is an annual gathering. Attendees include wine bloggers, North Carolina winemakers, and industry insiders. The event is in its second year, organized by Joe Brock and Matt Kemberling. Additionally, the pair are the creators of NC Wine Guys.
The conference is an excellent opportunity to network, interact, and gain insight. This year’s summit saw an exciting mix of speakers. The subject matter covered a wide range of social and digital media.
Below you will find some information and handouts provided at the #NCWine Bloggers Summit. The photos were taken by myself — the next best thing to attending!
Social Media Practices
Presented by Bob Aycock
Bob provided a detailed presentation on social media strategy and the effective execution of social media. Additionally, he discussed crafting compelling content, scheduling posts and measuring results.
Panel Discussion: What Bloggers & Writers Expect Wine Writing a Story
#NCWine Bloggers Summit Panel participants:
Triangle Around Town
Husband and wife team Triangle Around Town delve into local wine and beer. Also, they explore their hometown of Raleigh, N.C. seeking out up-and-coming businesses. Bob and Jen share their experiences on their blog at www.winecarolinas.com
Wine Mouths
Wine blogger pair Jessica Byrd and Jessica Adams are ambassadors of wine education. The duo shines the spotlight on North Carolina wine through events, as well as, an online video series.
The panel discussion began with the panelist sharing helpful website tips to wineries. Also, the conversation included expectations and tasting room experiences. Lastly, the Q&A session addressed the topic of winery expectation of bloggers.
Maximizing Blogging and Social Media Content
Presented by Jenn Nelson
Wine enthusiast and creator of Wine Antics blog, Jenn Nelson conducted an interactive session. The presentation addressed digital content. Most importantly, she shared valuable insight on establishing goals. Jenn shared tips and techniques for meeting those goals, as well. Leveraging available opportunities was also part of the lively discussion.
Panel Discussion: Winemaking in North Carolina
Winemakers, Shruthi Dhoopati Addison Farms Vineyards, Mark Roszkowski Childress Vineyards, Michael Helton Hanover Park Vineyard, and Nadia Hetzel Cypress Bend Vineyards.
The guided discussion covered a wide range of topics prepared by Joe Brock and Matt Kemberling.
Additionally, Neha Shah of Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau discussed the benefits of using their services at the NCWine Blogger Summit. The bureau offers a variety of services to assist with exploring businesses within region.
Pre- Summit Activities
Winery Visits
Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery
Winemaker Dan Tallman provided an in-depth guided tour. The tour included a sniff into the ‘bunghole‘ (no pun intended). Also, Dan provided details about his winemaking style, the chemistry of wine, and a peek into the barrel room.
On the tasting room patio, our group enjoyed a fantastic lunch. The menu included Caesar salad, Poulet Rouge Roulade with North Carolina ham, creamy risotto, and chocolate malt pie.
In the tasting room Diana and Chuck Jones, and Karly walked the group through a comprehensive tasting. Of course, my favorites was their Cab Franc and thier award winning Petite Manseng.
Winemaker Sean Ritchie explained his vineyard style. The winemaker emphasized his commitment to producing great fruit. His believes in very minimal intervention and chemical free farming. Additionally, he and his son, Asher lead our group on a tour of the winemaking facilities. We also enjoyed a rare glimpse inside the bottling trailer.
Inside the tasting room, Hannah walked us through an extensive tasting. The lineup included both wines and ciders. However, my favorite was the Petite Manseng Pét-Nat sparkling wine.
Above all, the entire experience was an excellent way for bloggers, winemakers and others to network in a casual setting.
In conclusion, I gained a lot from the event and had a blast attending!
