Kathy and I have been on two trips with Washington State University’s Viticulture and Enology Program. Our first was in 2010 to New Zealand and in 2013 we went with the group to France. In 2017, the VE program will travel to Sicily. On our previous trips we were with a great group of winemakers, wine growers, a chef and a distributor. A few students in the VE program also attended. The group was very pleasant and we have made some lasting friendships.

WSU Viticulture and Enology trip to New Zealand

If you are a wine grower, winemaker, tasting room staff, wine trade or a wine writer, the WSU VE trip to Sicily may be of interest. Theresa Beaver, the Viticulture Enology Certificate Coordinator, sent the following information about the trip.

Theresa Beaver, the Viticulture Enology Certificate Coordinator at Romanee Conti in Burgundy, France

Washington State University has a great international Winery and Vineyard Tour planned to Sicily, March 15-25, 2017. This small group tour (max of 25 participants) offers a behind-the-scenes winery and vineyard tour to Italy’s largest wine producing region. The Sicilian wine industry has gone through a major transformation – from producing wine mostly through cooperatives in the 60’s, it is now considered one of the most exciting wine regions in Europe. We’ll visit some of the wineries and winemakers that are making history in Sicily. Join the VE Program Director, Thomas Henick-Kling  for this exciting educational tour. Past participates have said how much having Thomas along adds to the trip as the wine conversations and discussions continue to happen on the road and over meals.

For more information about the tour visit the WSU VE site.

Although most of the winemakers and wine growers on our previous trips were from the Pacific Northwest area, there were also participants from across the country.

Cheers,
Terry