Joel

this is a test post... oh wait, it's my dad's birthday.... Glad I thought about that...

30th annual Wineries Unlimited, the largest trade show and seminar program for the industry east of the Rockies! Event Schedule We’re excited about our 30th anniversary program, to be held as usual at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster, PA. Once again we expect a sold-out trade show with 250 exhibit booths, in two locations; the expo hall, and the Lampeter Room by the front entrance. The conference theme for 2006 will be "Sustainability", with sessions ranging from biodynamic farming to cold climate viticulture. The schedule will return to the traditional Sunday-Wednesday configuration in 2006. Seminars will feature a day of dedicated newcomer-oriented sessions on Sunday 3/12, with three concurrent tracks for viticulture, winemaking and business/management on Monday 3/13 and Tuesday 3/14, with an advanced workshop on bottling issues and protocols on Wednesday 3/15. Riesling will be the major varietal focus in Monday sessions, supplemented with a raspberry/blackberry fruit wine workshop on Tuesday. Monday afternoon will feature a plenary session on "Uniting our industry through organization and alliances", with speakers who will bring success stories on the local and national level about how we can all benefit by working together to help all sectors of the national wine industry. Monday will also feature a two-session workshop on estate succession planning, featuring an attorney, an accountant (Jeff Sully, V&WM financial columnist) and a family farm planning consultant. Back by popular demand will be Elizabeth Slater to speak on "improving the customer tasting room experience and profitability", and Amy Mumma, who will speak on "developing a professional palate" and specific wine flaw issues. More program details and schedule will be forthcoming on this site. Social events will include a regional Bring Your Own Wine tasting Sunday evening, regional tastings, a theme lunch on Monday, grazing lunch with wine in the exhibits, and a new Best of the East on Tuesday night, with a sit-down dinner followed by a live band, dancing and a cash bar. Save money by registering for seminars by January 31, 2006. To mail or fax in your registration, download our Registration Form here (large file) or simply click on the Register Now button at left to enter online immediately. There’s no better opportunity for professional development, doing business and having fun with your industry friends than at Wineries Unlimited — see you in Lancaster in March! Richard Leahy, Program Director Bob Mignarri, Exhibits Director, Quality Event Management Our event is held at the The Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center in Lancaster, PA. Location 2300 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30) Lancaster, PA 17602 Tel: 800-233-0121 Wineries Unlimited Room Rate $93/night (single or double rooms) Distances & Directions New York - 180 miles Philadelphia - 70 miles Washington, DC - 130 miles Pittsburgh - 250 miles I may see you at this one too, Joel

IL Grape Growers & Vintners Association (IGGVA) Conference - February 24 - 26 - Springfield, IL You are cordially invited to attend the 2006 Annual IGGVA Conference. This year's conference will feature an impressive array of speakers on enology, viticulture and marketing. Additionally we will have an expanded vendor presence, a wine reception, and a five-course banquet dinner paired with wine, our annual auction, regional and state IGGVA membership meetings. The Hilton Hotel has reserved 96 rooms at a rate of $85 plus tax. Call the Hotel to reserve your room at (800) 445-8667. The Group Code is VIN , which you should use when registering. Please call right away, because we expect these rooms will sell out. The Hilton Hotel is located in downtown Springfield at 700 East Adams Street . A parking garage is located just behind the hotel. Illinois Wine Web Page Conference Registration Form Conference Agenda I'll be there for the Saturday events. Hope to see you there. Joel

First Annual WinePress.US WineCon 2005 You've talked to everyone in this forum, you've read everyone else's posts in this forum, now's your chance to meet those who can attend and share a glass of wine to compliment or thank them for their participation in the WinePress.US forum. WinePress.US member WineMaking contest Presentations from manufacturers Silent Auction to raise money for WinePress.US operating expenses Attendance Prizes Wine Swap - Bring a couple of extra bottles to trade with other WinePress.US members This event will be held in Denver, CO, USA (exact location to be determined). This event is open to WinePress.US forum members only, so register for FREE if you're not already registerred and join in the fun. Details will be posted here as well as in the thread : http://www.winepress.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=2952 I also hope to have available WinePress.US wine glasses for sale in groups of 4 or individually. This is still in the research phaze.

The 2005 U.S. HWBTA Wine Competition will be sponsored by the Grape & Granary in Akron Ohio. Deadline for entries is April 9th; judging will take place on April 16th. Click here for entry form: http://hwbta.org/winentryform.htm Click here for rules: http://hwbta.org/2005competitionsnew.html

HWBTA Wine Competition will be sponsored by WINEXPERT in Port Coquitlam, BC. Deadline for entries is April 1st; judging will take place on April 2nd. Click here for rules: http://hwbta.org/2005competitionsnew.html Click here for entry form: http://hwbta.org/winentryform.htm

Wineries Unlimited 2005 The Premier Trade Show and Seminar Program In the East Lancaster Host Resort Lancaster, PA March 21- 24, 2005 Monday - Thursday Exhibits open Tuesday-Wednesday SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: • Monday 3/21: All-Day Newcomer Sessions, Keynote Address and Regional Wine Welcome Reception • Record 250 Exhibit Booths, Grazing Lunch with Wine 3/23 • Chardonnay, Blueberry Fruit Wine • “Best of the East” Gala Tasting and Buffet 3/23 • “E” Slater Seminar on “Wine Clubs for Fun and Profit” 3/23 • Phenolic Management in Challenging Vintages Seminar 3/24 (for both Vineyard Mgrs. And Winemakers) For more details: http://www.vwm-online.com/WU/2005/WineriesUnlimited.htm

The date has been set for the 2005 Wine Fair! It will be Sunday, March 6, 2005. Each year the Missouri Winemaking Society (MWS) Wine Fair committee strives to improve our annual wine competition. This year we have made significant changes in the entry classifications. In the past, we have expanded generic classifications based on entries in order to compete varietals head-to-head. This year we have taken the opposite approach by defining specific varietal categories which may be combined or eliminated based on this year’s entries at the discretion of the wine fair committee. This year participants will see that there are two new Sections. The previous “Table Wine” Section has been split into “Dry” and “Off-Dry” wines. We have also made some minor changes to award categories and added a special award for MWS members in honor of the late Charlie Franke. The following page contains a one page summary of deadlines and entry information, but please read the remainder of the document since it has changed significantly from last year. Quick Reference Fair is Sunday, March 6, 2005; judging begins at Noon Entries are $8 each ($6 for MWS members), no limit on number of entries. Max. 2 categories for the same wine. Label competition is $1.00 per label (one free entry into label competition when you enter 3or more wines) Deadlines: Deadline for entry form/fee: February 7, 2005 Deadline for shipped entries: Arrive by March 1, 2005 (MWS Members bring entries to February meeting) Deadline for delivery to site: March 6, 2005, 9 am to 10 am go to www.mowinemakers.org for more info

Open to any home wine maker, not just Missouri. This is the entry deadline date to have your forms filled out and sent in. Quick Reference Fair is Sunday, March 6, 2005; judging begins at Noon Entries are $8 each ($6 for MWS members), no limit on number of entries. Max. 2 categories for the same wine. Label competition is $1.00 per label (one free entry into label competition when you enter 3or more wines) Deadlines: Deadline for entry form/fee: February 7, 2005 Deadline for shipped entries: Arrive by March 1, 2005 (MWS Members bring entries to February meeting) Deadline for delivery to site: March 6, 2005, 9 am to 10 am Download your entry form and rules here: http://www.mowinemakers.org/fair.htm

THE 2004 GREATER KANSAS CITY WINE CLASSIC WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2004!!!! Here are the entry forms for the 2004 Wine Classic: Information Packet (to have a paper packet mailed to you, email your name and address to classic@cellarmasters.org) Web-based Entry Form CLICK HERE Printable Entry Form (2 per page) CLICK HERE Awards Celebration Registration Form CLICK HERE We have some great sponsors this year: Holy-Field Winery (event hosts), White Labs (yeast certificates for all 1st place winners), Hanna Instruments (Checker pH meter prize), Cynmar (Erlenmeyer flask prizes), WineRacks (gift certificate prize), WineMaker Magazine (one year subscription prize). Many thanks to our sponsors! The Greater Kansas City Cellarmasters are in their sixth year of the Greater Kansas City Wine Classic, a judged event for amateur winemaking. This event is open to entries from any home/amateur winemakers, regardless of location, and provides valuable feedback on winemaking efforts. In addition, first, second, and third place ribbons are awarded for each judged category. The Classic has grown to nearly 200 entries in eighteen categories. Additionally, for those who can attend, the Wine Classic culminates in a fantastic Awards Dinner the evening of the event. Great food by an excellent chef is matched with remaining entrants' wines from the day's judging, providing a wonderful opportunity to sample many varieties and styles of wine. Over 90 people attended last year's sold out dinner, so make your reservations early! For more information about the competition, please email classic@cellarmasters.org

Wabash Valley Wine and Arts Festival www.illinoiswine.org

Rend Lake Wine and Art Festival, Whittington, IL www.illinoiswine.org

The judging will be held Saturday September 18th at the Collinsville Italian Fest using a Modified UC Davis 20 point Scoring System and all wines will be judged according to their relative merits within the category. Multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze ribbons will be awarded to wines or appropriate merit withing each category. One Best of Show winner will be chosen from the Gold winners. Results will be announced on Saturday evening after the judging along with Best of Show. go to http://www.italianfest.net/

Collinsville, IL Italianfest Wine Making Competition Registration is FREE You may enter as many wines as you wish. Entry is FREE and open to all non-commercial winemakers 21 years of age or older. One (1) 750 ml bottle of wine is required for each entry. Please label clearly with your name & wine name. Meads may be in beer or champagne bottles with crown caps. Entries will not be returned. Entries can be dropped off between September 1st and September 16th at the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. or at Dave's Homebrewing, 122 East Main, Belleville, IL Entries can also be shipped (VIA UPS ONLY) to the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce 221 West Main Collinsville IL 62234 All entries are due by 5:00 p.m. Thursday September 16, 2003. Results will be announced on Saturday evening after the judging along with Best of Show. Results will also be posted here on this web page. Ribbons and scoring sheets will be available to entrants approximately one month after the judging. Click here for an entry form: http://www.italianfest.net/PDF/2004_wine_making.pdf

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Fall Festival, Union County, IL www.illinoiswine.org

The State Fair is in Colorado's biggest annual celebration of agriculture, art, musica nd food. Amateur winemakers are invited to enter the hobby wine competition and label competition. The entry deadline is August 23rd, with the events taking place August 25th. Download more info here: http://www.coloradostatefair.com/pdf/preiumbook/special/hobby_wine.pdf

Well, I've finally come to pick a day to do this. August 19th from between 6pm (CST) to ??. I have 60 gallons total of various varieties. We'll have 300 bottles to fill. We'll be using the new Vigneron #4 bottle filler with the Argon gas purge system that I just got. From my understanding, it should take me just 20 seconds to fill 4 bottles. I hope you can find time to check out the action. We're expecting a lot of viewers, so it may take some time to get the video to load. It is all FREE for the viewer. Don't forget to check out the largest wine making & grape growing discussion forum www.WinePress.US as well. Cheers, Joel

Indiana State Fair, Indy International Wine Competition Amateur and Commercial awards www.in.gov/iwc Entry Form: http://in.gov/statefair/fair/entry/openclassentryPDF/winecomp2004.pdf Rules : http://in.gov/statefair/fair/entry/open04/Dept_113_wine_comp.pdf

Indiana State Fair, Indy International Wine Competition Entry Deadline: Amateur and Commercial awards www.in.gov/iwc Entry Form: http://in.gov/statefair/fair/entry/openclassentryPDF/winecomp2004.pdf Rules : http://in.gov/statefair/fair/entry/open04/Dept_113_wine_comp.pdf

The Greater Shawnee Grape Growers Association in collaboration with the Viticulture & Enology Program at Shawnee Community College will conduct a Pruning Workshop. This will be broken down into a lecture portion as well as a field component for hands on training. Location: Newman Center, 715 Sourth Washington Street in Carbondale, IL For more information please email Ben Maragni at benm@shawneecc.edu or call him at 618-634-3284 Please RSVP by March 12 and be sure to mention the WinePress.US web site.

Live Wine Racking on the www.WinePress.US live cellar web cam!! www.WinePress.US A Wine Making / Grape Growing discussion forum with over 350 registerred members, 4,300 posts in just the last year, and over 500,000 hits during the month of February alone invites you to be a part of the WinePress.US family. March 11th, at 6pm CST, USA, we'll be racking 6 gallons of Apple, 6 gal of Apple Cinnamon, 6 gal of mulberry, 6 gal of blackberry, 6 gal of cranberry, 6 gal Merlot and 6 gallons of Chianti wine. Be sure to tune in as it's all FREE as well. We hope you enjoy your visit to our basement & wine cellar for the evening. Also, we hope you enjoy the site, the discussion forum, the FREEBIES, www.WinePress.US and all its features!! Cheers, Joel

Illinois Grape Grower Vintner Association Conference The Annual Conference will be held February 27-29 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. Public wine tasting from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Educational sessions Feb. 27 and 28. All events open to the public. Details will be posted as they develop. For more information about the IGGVA, contact: Bill McCartney, Executive Director billmc@kcds.net RR #3 Box 3159, Pittsfield, IL 62363 1.217.285.6305 The IGGVA a non profit organization, was incorporated in 1987 as a joint effort for information exchange and cooperation among grape producers and vintners.

Midwest Grape and Wine Conference in Tan-Ta-Ra, MO February 7-9 I'll post a link on more info when I can find one.