Wine-loving ladies and gentlemen, start your drinking engines. The annual Hospice du Rhone, held each year in Paso Robles , California, is nearly upon us. The countdown is on! For three days, this year it’s April 29 through May 1, Rhone wine fans and producers gather together to celebrate Rhone wine.
There are 22 varieties of Rhone wine, and Hospice du Rhone participants are treated to an education about each. Additionally, opportunities abound to hobnob with more than 130 stateside and international Rhone winemakers, such as Yves Gangloff from a Domaine of the same name and Sondra Bernstein from the girl and the fig, at various planned seminars and meals. The two aforementioned wine producers are two of an exclusive group of 22 known as The Rhonely Hearts Club. This is the theme for 2010′s event, with an image spurned from none other than the album bearing The Lonely Hearts Club title. However, instead of four famous musicians in the picture, you have 22 renowned Rhone winemakers. Clever stuff.
A place to stay is vital, as you’ll need time to sleep off all the Rhone wine. All four Hospice du Rhone seminars are included in the $795 Weekend Package, along with two breakfasts and lunches and the Farewell BBQ. Purchasing the Weekend Package is the only way to gain entry to the seminars, as they are not offered separately.
Seminar One will be hosted by six South African producers who plan to share their winemaking techniques, history and wines (the best part) and will be moderated by Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth. Domaine Michel’s Stephane Ogier of Ampuis, France will head up Seminar Two, to be moderated by Hospice du Rhone’s founder, John Alban. Seminar Three, moderated by Alan Kropf of Mutineer Magazine, will be led by Washington State’s Charles Smith of K Vintners. Lastly, Seminar Four will feature two fellows from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Clos Saint Jean’s Vincent Maurel and Tardieu-Laurent’s Michel Tardieu. They will be joined by Phillipe Cambie, a consultant who Robert Parker termed “the Michel Rolland of the Rhone”. The Rhone Report’s Jeb Dunnuck will moderate.
These folks know how to have a good time, as evidenced by the planned kick-off event, Rhone n’ Bowl. Held at the Paso Bowl, $100 will buy you a spot on a bowling squad, perhaps with your favorite winemaker! Roll on over to Paso Robles for a Rhone wine weekend blast.
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