Meetings

Conference Circuit: Vino Veritas

The Iowa Wine Growers Association's 2016 Annual Conference officially kicks off this weekend.

The Iowa Wine Growers Association’s 2016 Annual Conference officially kicks off this weekend.

Nearly 200 winemakers, grape growers, vineyard and winery owners, and others in the Iowa wine industry will gather together for two days to network, learn new information, and have a little fun.

Association:  Iowa Wine Growers Association

Conference:  2016 IWGA Annual Conference

Venue: Prairie Meadows Conference Center

Location: Altoona, Iowa

The 2016 IWGA Annual Conference starts on Sunday with two updates: one from the Midwest Grape & Wine Industry Institute on the past year and what’s in store for 2016, and another from Travel Iowa on how to promote Iowa wine to bring tourists to the state. Other details worth sipping on:

Rare blend. As one of only four people in the world to carry the titles of both Master Sommelier and Master of Wine, David Frost is a perfect choice for Monday morning’s keynote session. He’ll explain the new wine landscape to attendees and how it should affect their marketing decisions.

Bottle of red, bottle of white. No, unfortunately, Billy Joel won’t be onsite to perform his hit “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.” But attendees are in for a treat at the Iowa Wine Reception when Dave Moore hits the stage. Moore—who plays guitar, button accordion, and harmonica in a blend of Americana and folk music—is a frequent performer on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion and records with Red House Records.

Perfect pairing. You want some cheese with that wine? Of course you do! That’s why CJ Bienert, owner of The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, will help attendees pair up Iowa wines with the seven common types of cheese (samples included). The goal: Get attendees comfortable enough to hold tastings at their own wineries.

Whether you prefer red, white, or rosé, you can consider yourself an amateur enologist by following the meeting on Twitter and Facebook.

(iStock/Thinkstock)

Samantha Whitehorne

By Samantha Whitehorne

Samantha Whitehorne is editor-in-chief of Associations Now. MORE

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