Hospice du Rhone Celebrates 20 Years of Rhône Love with a Sold Out Event
Hospice du Rhone, the world’s largest gathering of Rhône variety wines and producers, will celebrate 20 years of all things Rhône with a sold-out event April 26 – 28, 2012 in Paso Robles, California. Rhône zealots, restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine distributors, importers and a host of winemakers will make up the international audience throughout the upcoming weekend. Guests will tantalize their palates with Rhône wines and Rhône inspired cuisine throughout the three-day weekend.
Ticket sales are now closed for this annual Rhône wine event which continues to make Paso Robles home for the past 16 of its 20 years. Hospice du Rhône will sell only 100 Grand Tasting tickets at the gate. This Grand Tasting takes place Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. It has been noted that to duplicate this tasting one would need a passport, numerous flights and multiple weeks of travel.
“We are beyond excited to be celebrating 20 years of Hospice du Rhône and to be doing so with a sold out crowd is more than we could have asked for,” notes Vicki Carroll, director of Hospice du Rhône. “This year will truly be a reunion for all who have been a part of helping us reach this milestone for the world wide Rhône community.”Starting off the celebratory weekend will be the seminar and dinner series Conversations with Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 70 lucky guests, who grabbed these tickets within days of going on-sale in November, will have the privilege to taste Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines dating as far back as 1954. Author of The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Book, Harry Karis along with Vigneron Philippe Cambie will lead the audience through an in-depth look at this historic region of France before delighting in dinner at Paso Robles’ premier French restaurant, Bistro Laurent. Chef Laurent Grangien has carefully prepared a five-course meal for this enchanting evening.
Those with weekend packages and select individual seminar tickets will take in the 2012 Seminar Series. Friday will begin with wines from four rock star winemakers hailing from the Priorat region of Spain. Eric Solomon of Eric Solomon Selections will bring to the stage Jose Maria Vicente of Casa Castillo, Daniel Jimenez-Landi of Jimenez-Landi, Bixente Ocafrain of Bodegas Mas Alta and Daphne Glorian-Solomon of Clos I Terrasses.
Next, attendees will dive into the stones Walla Walla, Washington with a focused seminar by the ever spirited and knowledgeable Christophe Baron of Cayuse.Day two of the 2012 Seminar Series will begin with a look at the historic Northern Rhône with the wines of Les Vins de Vienne. These wines are crafted by three long-time friends of Hospice du Rhône, Francois Villard, Yves Cullieron and Pierre Gaillard. Closing out day two of the Seminar Series will be Chester Osborn of d’Arenberg, South Australia who will guide the audience through 13 wines showcasing the terroir of multiple vineyard sites and plots.
One of the first events to sell out for the 20th year was the new BIG Rhône Rendezvous. This walk-around tasting for 800 guests will feature 100 producers from near and far who will share their Rhône wines from large-format bottles. To complement this BIG evening of BIG bottles the highly-acclaimed chefs from the esteemed Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee will serve up a taste of the South. This will be the only event throughout the weekend that the “Number 1 Resort in the Continental U.S. and Canada” as voted by Travel + Leisure for their 2011 World’s Best Awards, will showcase their culinary talents.
The Rhône quest continues at the Saturday Grand Tasting with over 135 winemakers pouring tastes from around the globe for over 1000 Rhône zealots. It has been said that to duplicate this tasting, one would need a passport, many weeks off work and thousands of airline miles to taste the variety of wines showcased at the Grand Tasting. While strolling the Tasting Pavilion guests will savor bites from specialty food purveyors who will be stationed throughout the hall.
Cuisine at this 20th celebration will call on the organization’s culinary comrades to make a return visit to the stove. Ticket holders for each of the meals will delight in cuisine from the girl & the fig of Sonoma, California at the Rosé Lunch, the Far Western Tavern of Guadalupe, California for the Saturday Lunch and Live Auction and The Neon Carrot of San Luis Obispo, California at the Saturday Farewell BBQ.
This 20th year anniversary will be packed with Serious Fun in honor of the 22 Rhône varieties grown in multiple regions around the world. Passes for the event are sold out. Only 100 Grand Tasting tickets will be sold at the gate starting at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 26, 2012. These tickets will cost $110 and will be sold on a first-come, first served basis. To learn more about the 20th anniversary year of Hospice du Rhône, visit www.hospicedurhone.org.
About Hospice du Rhône
Hospice du Rhone will celebrate 20 years of all things Rhone, April 26 – 28, 2012 in Paso Robles, California. Noted as the world’s largest International celebration of Rhône variety wines, Hospice du Rhône serves as an International Vintners Association providing promotional and educational opportunities through an annual event. Proceeds from the annual event are used to carry out programs that benefit Rhône producers worldwide. Operating as a non-profit business league, Hospice du Rhône strives to improve the business conditions of grape growers and wine producers of Rhône variety wines and grapes throughout the world. Hospice du Rhône is not affiliated with any other charitable organization. Non-profit 501 (c) (6) Business League
About iRhône – The Third Edition launched in the Spring of 2012
iRhône, the first wine event/organization application for all iDevices and android launched in April 2010. With over 1,000 Rhône wines and over 140 international Rhône producers and importers, application holders will never be at a loss for Rhône wine information when at the annual event or at home. This is the digital guide to all things Rhône.
Editor’s Note—for additional information, photos or logos please contact Faith Wells atfaith@hospicedurhone.org or 805.784.9543.
Related articles
- Hospice du Rhone Flashback – Girl and the Fig! (hootnannieblog.com)
- Hospice du Rhone Flashback – Our Sommelier is in the House! (hootnannieblog.com)
- Hospice du Rhône to Celebrate 20 Years in 2012! (anotherwineblog.com)
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