REGISTRATION OPENS FOR SOMMCON® WASHINGTON, D.C.
SommCon® launches in Washington, D.C. July 22-24, 2018, bringing together beverage industry professionals of all levels to discuss, develop and lead the conversation on the business of wine.
SommCon’s® education is built by some of today’s most influential palates for trade professionals and serious enthusiasts who have a passion for wine and spirits, and an unyielding quest for knowledge.
SommCon boasts over 30 educational sessions, workshops and master classes. Learn and taste alongside the industry’s best and brightest through professionally designed seminars and power networking created to advance palates and shape the future of today’s rising food and beverage professionals.
The conference begins on Sunday, July 22 with pre-conference workshops and professional certification opportunities including the Certified Cicerone®, the second level of certification through the Cicerone Certification Program, the French Wine Workshop by the Wine Scholars Guild, and the Italian Wine Workshop from the Napa Valley Wine Academy.
The main conference is held Monday, July 23, and Tuesday, July 24, and includes in-depth regional explorations, hosted tasting breaks, and thought-provoking discussions about the business of wine.
Young professionals under the age of 30 who have a passion for entering a profession in the wine industry or expanding their knowledge, can apply to receive free conference registration through the Young Leaders Summit Scholarship presented by The SOMM Journal. Applications are due by April 27, 2018, and can be found here.
SommCon® D.C. is only open to 200 registrants, and for those in attendance, there are several ways to participate, including:
Full Conference Pass (July 22-24)
- Choose from over 30 educational sessions
- Networking Breaks and Hosted Tastings
- Admission to Opening Tasting Reception
- Full Conference registration is priced at $425 before May 15
Single Day Monday (July 23) or Tuesday (July 24)
- One day education conference access with choice of sessions
- Networking Breaks and Hosted Tastings
- Admission to Opening Tasting Reception
- Single Day registration is priced at $295 before May 15
SommCon® D.C. takes place July 22-24, 2018 at the Westin Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and SommCon® San Diego takes place November 14-16 at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego, California. For more information or to purchase conference registration, visit: SommConUSA.com.
Accommodations are available at the Westin Georgetown for SommCon attendees..
SommCon® panelists and presenters include some of the industry’s greatest thought leaders including: Cristina Mariani-May, President and Chief Executive Officer, Banfi; Dave McIntyre, Wine Columnist, Washington Post; David Cohn, Dom Pérignon; Geoff Labitzke, Master of Wine, Director of Sales & Marketing, Kistler; Geralyn Brostrom, Certified Wine Educator, Italian Wine Central, Italian Wine Professional; Gretchen Thomas, Wine & Spirits Director, Barteca Restaurant Group; Jay Youmans, Master of Wine, Director and Owner of Capital Wine School, Capital Wine School; Joseph Spellman, Master Sommelier, JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery; Kathryn Morgan, Master Sommelier, Director of Wine Education, Lauber Imports and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits of New York; Lisa Airey, Education Director, Wine Scholar Guild; Bree Boskov, Master of Wine; Caroline Hermann, Master of Wine; Meredith May, Owner of The SOMM Journal, The Clever Root and THE TASTING PANEL Magazine; Toshio Ueno, Masker of Saké; Wes Hagen, Winemaker; and Will Costello, Master Sommelier. For a complete list of presenters visit www.sommconusa.com/presenters-panelists.
ABOUT SOMMCON®: SommCon® is a leading conference and exposition for sommelier-level education and training of wine professionals and serious enthusiasts. Held annually, the conference brings together industry professionals of all levels to discuss, develop, and lead the conversation on the business of wine. SommCon’s® education is built by Sommeliers for trade professionals and serious enthusiasts who have a passion for wine and spirits and an unyielding quest for knowledge. Attendees learn and taste their way through keynote sessions and educational classes. SommCon® is produced by Fast Forward, an event management agency specializing in productions for the wine, beer, spirits and hospitality industries, fastforwardevents.com.