Here’s what you missed in Sonoma with Vinexpo

We bring you a pictorial round-up of what some 70 wine buyers got up to when Vinexpo teamed up with Sonoma County Vintners for the second chapter of the exhibition organiser’s ‘Explorer’ concept.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

As previously reported by db, as many as 69 buyers from 27 countries descended on Sonoma County on 23 September to take part in a three-day immersion in the wines of the region, beginning with a drinks reception at Buena Vista Winery, where Jean-Charles Boisset welcome the attendees with his usual charm and enthusiasm.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

The buyers were treated to a range of Buena Vista wines from different stations at the winery, starting with a glass of sparkling brut on the terrace.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Then Boisset inaugurated a rendition of the song from the Chevaliers du Tastevin, complete with clapping and its customary twisting of raised hands.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Among guests were Michael Haney and Caroline Shaw from Sonoma County Vintners, who had invited Vinexpo to hold its Explorer concept in the region.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Also in attendance was Edouard Baijot, who represents E&J Gallo in Europe, and is the nephew of Philippe Baijot, president of Champagne group Lanson-BCC.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Along with CEO of Jackson Family Wines, Rick Tigner, who, as a board member of Vinexpo, was instrumental in the decision for the exhibition organiser to come to Sonoma. Sharing a glass of Buena Vista Cab with Tigner is Aishwarya Nair, wine buyer for The Leela Hotel group in India.

As for Vinexpo, following the departure earlier this year of CEO Guillaume Deglise, Vinexpo sales director Mathieu Vanhalst (left) took on the role of leader for the three-day tour, looking after the buyers brilliantly.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Addressing attendees at the welcome reception, Boisset said, “We need purchase orders to survive, but also your enthusiasm and expertise.”

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Then it was back to the hotel in Santa Rosa for a wind-down lager and relatively early night before the opening conference the next morning.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Kicking off day one, vintner and congressman Mike Thompson – co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus – told the buyers that Sonoma will be 100% sustainable by next year. He also said, “One in every four people in Sonoma work in agriculture or a business related to agriculture, and our wines will be around for generations to come because of our great commitment to sustainability.” 

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Meanwhile, Tigner said that Sonoma County needed greater levels of awareness on the world stage, and for this to happen, more ambassadors for its wines. He observed, “Wherever I may travel, I am still so amazed how little people know about Sonoma County.”

Then, stressing the purpose of bringing the buyers to Sonoma, he added, “We need storytellers; we need people to take our story back to their neighbourhoods.”

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Included in the itinerary were business meetings between the buyers and wineries from across Sonoma County.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

These followed an extensive tasting of Sonoma’s varied vinous offer from over 70 wineries.

Caroline Shaw, who serves as both president of the Sonoma County Vintner’s Association and executive vice president for Jackson Family Wines, arranged flyovers for buyers in the Jackson family chopper.

These tours drew attention to the huge scale of the county, and it’s high elevation vineyards that are littered across the landscape.

As well as the fog that forms along the coastline, which can lower daytime temperatures by as much as 50 ºF – the cooling mist maintains a band of chilly air near the sea.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

During the second evening, the buyers were split into groups, and attended tastings and dinners at different wineries across Sonoma County, such as this one, owned by famous director Francis Ford Coppola.

db spent the afternoon helping to pick Pinot from the “world-class” 2018 vintage at the dry-farmed Emeritus Vineyards, helped by Johanna Bernstein from Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery.

Following that, Coravin founder Greg Lambrecht launched the ‘Model Eleven’ from the revolutionary wine access tool, alongside two magnums of Kistler Chardonnay (one was a bottle that has been used repeatedly for taking samples using Coravin – and yet yielded wine that tasted identical to the second, ‘control’ bottle, sampled for the first time that day).

However, for the demonstration of the new Model Eleven, it was a bottle of top Sonoma ‘Bordeaux blend’ Vérité that was initially used.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Dinner was then served on the terrace of Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, one of the properties owned by Jackson Family Wines, where Christoper Jackson presented a range of wines, including the Broken Road Chardonnay from 2011, a cool and rainy vintage in Sonoma that he said was his “favourite” for this white wine.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Christopher, who is the youngest child of Barbara Banke and the late Jess Jackson, expressed his delight at the white grapes already harvested from this vintage, declaring the harvest “world-class”. To his right is his wife, Ariel, and behind him is a life-size sculpture of Jess Jackson’s favourite thoroughbred, called Rachel Alexandra, who was 2009 Horse of the Year.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

The third and final day of the event comprised a series of masterclasses, beginning with an introduction to Sonoma’s ‘path to 100% sustainability’, previously mentioned by congressman Mike Thompson.

Then Steve Dutton, who runs grape grower Dutton Goldfield, discussed the sustainable approaches of running a vineyard in the county.

While Geoff Kruth MS introduced the wine regions of Sonoma County.

And a snapshot of the wine styles of the area.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Helped by Rebecca Fineman MS, who gained the top somm qualification last year.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

It was then time for the final evening – a ‘farm-to-table’ dinner at the Kendall-Jackson wine estate.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Where Christopher, along with his mother Barbare Banke (picture to his right) welcomed the buyers.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

And Rick Tigner thanked the organisers.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

While president of the Vinexpo board, Christophe Navarre flew in from London to reveal the next location of the Vinexpo Explorer concept.

Which, as db was the first to report, will be Beaujolais, explaining the presence of Dominique Piron at the evening event too. Piron heads up his family estate, Domaines Piron, as well as being president of Inter Beaujolais.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

It was then time to toast the event with a range of top wines from the properties of the Jackson family, including the aforementioned Vérité, which was served from magnums.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

In attendance was Randy Ullom (centre), who has served as winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Winery for the past 25 years.

Picture credit: Scot Hampton

Before the dinner was over, Caroline Shaw expressed her delight at nature of the three-day event, commenting, “When Jess Jackson started Kendall-Jackson more than three decades ago, it was with a wish that anyone no matter where they lived could enjoy a glass of exceptional wine.

“This week we hosted 69 buyers from 27 countries at Vinexpo Sonoma County. I think we’ve done a bit to make his wish a reality. We also created Sonoma ambassadors, conducted international business and made life-long friendships.”

Picture credit: Scot Hampton