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Show a Little Leg with Social Media

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Tweet Screen at HdR 2010

Don’t be shy, Social Media won’t bite. Really, it won’t. Just take it one step at a time and don’t get in a hurry. Watch what others are doing and create a program that will fit the personality of your business.

At Hospice du Rhône we just love Social Media. If there is a day without Tweeting or a Facebook post, then it has been a very busy day in the office. For us, Social Media is an awareness builder. This has been our goal from launching our program and continues to be to this day. We thrive on this instant communication tool that allows us to shoot out information and receive information on what is happening out there in our greater Rhône loving community.

When our program began, in the winter of 2009, we jumped in with an open mind and an overall idea of what we thought we wanted to accomplish. We never could have imagined where we would go in one year. We have so many newfound friendships, an iphone application and have held online tastings in multiple countries all at once! Today, we continue to explore, develop and execute programs within the Social Media world. We find this communication tool effective in reaching a varied demographic and we find that we learn something new each day.

Tomorrow, our Communications Director, Faith Wells will be speaking on Social Media at a seminar hosted by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council. Faith will speak specifically as to how Social Media has been integrated into the overall communication plan at Hospice du Rhône during the past year. Her discussion will include how we developed focused online Rhône tastings hosted through TasteLive.com to launching the first wine event/organization iPhone application, iRhône. We are excited for this opportunity and are in hopes that we will encourage other businesses and individuals to take their Social Media platform to another level.

Before we depart, do know it is okay to take small steps. Watch what others are doing out there. Ask questions and know that you will learn something new each day, as this is an ever-changing communication tool. So with this we say, show a little leg with Social Media.

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The “After Tasting Tasting”

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

The “After Tasting Tasting.” What it is? It is an opportunity that comes around once a year to those in the wine trade on the Central Coast. It is an opportunity to taste, discuss and explore Rhône wines from all wine producing regions in California. The “After Tasting Tasting” is a result of Robert Parker, Jr.’s annual California Rhône Wine Review.

Last week we had the pleasure to once again host Robert Parker, Jr. for his annual California Rhône Wine Review. This was the eighth year he has called upon Hospice du Rhône to coordinate this annual tasting. A tasting that stretches over three days and encompasses over 400 California Rhône wines. At his request, the focus at this year’s tasting was on California Rhône wines from the 2008 vintage with late releases from the 2007 vintage.

Each day, Mr. Parker tastes through an average of 140 wines. Our role is to arrive early, to the tasting venue, set-up the tasting and then leave the room so he can do what he does best. After hours have passed he emerges from the tasting and we head in to pack-up. In the end, we are left with nearly full bottles of Rhône wines.

Alas, the “After Tasting Tasting” was born. For the past eight years, we have worked with local Central Coast wineries to hold the three-day “After Tasting Tasting.” So, on the day Parker tastes wines A-H so does the wine trade; just in a different location and with industry peers. Open to all wine trade in the region or wine trade who happen to be passing through this is a three-day opportunity to taste a versatile group of Rhône wines with a specific vintage focus from throughout California. These tastings allow those in attendance to expand or even begin their quest of exploring the world of Rhône.

We hope those in attendance enjoyed the three “After Tasting Tastings” as much as we did. So, until the next “After Tasting Tasting,” cheers!

*The Robert Parker, Jr. California Rhône Wine Review comes open every spring. Hospice du Rhône does its best to collect emails for all California Rhône producers but with so many new producers coming on board we know we don’t have them all. To add your email to this notification list please email hdrinfo@hospicedurhone.org.

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Hospice du Rhône has an App for That!

Monday, April 12th, 2010

iRhone Application

We are thrilled to announce the Hospice du Rhône application for your iDevice! With over 1000 Rhône wines and over 140 international Rhône producers and importers you will never be at a lost for Rhône wines when at the event or at home. From inside the application you will be able sort by attending producers, variety and region or filter by any combination of the three. Tweet from inside the application to share your tasting notes or adventures at the event. Try your hand at a variety quiz, chart your course with our event schedule and much more! Download iRhône today from your iDevice or iTunes. Search Hospice du Rhône for this free Rhône guide! In the coming days, updates to this application will occur which will give you even more sorting ability and interactive elements!

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Drum Roll Please! Moderators Announced for the 2010 HdR Seminar Series

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

We are so very excited to share with you the astounding moderators who will guide the 2010 Hospice du Rhône Seminar Series. Below is the list of moderators along with the specific seminar they will preside over. Please join us in welcoming them to the 18th Annual Hospice du Rhône Celebration.

Seminar One

Moderator: James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Six South African producers will share their wines, winemaking styles, techniques and history surrounding the South African Rhône movement. They are: Boekenhoutskloof based in Franschoek, De Trafford based in Stellenbosh, Mullineux Family Wines based in the Swartland, Sadie Family based in the Swartland,  Stellenzicht based in Stellenbosch, and Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards based in the Tulbagh Valley.
 

Seminar Two

Moderator: John Alban, Founder of Hospice du Rhône and Alban Vineyards

Stéphane Ogier of Domaine Michel and Stéphane Ogier of Ampuis, France has been confirmed for the 2010 lineup. 

Seminar Three

Moderator: Alan Kropf, Mutineer Magazine

Charles Smith of K Vintners and Charles Smith Wines of Washington State is set to lead a rousing seminar.

Seminar Four

Moderator: Jeb Dunnuck, The Rhône Report

Vincent Maurel of Clos Saint Jean and Michel Tardieu of Tardieu-Laurent, both hailing from Châteauneuf du Pape, along with consultant Philippe Cambie (named by Robert Parker as “the Michel Rolland of the Rhône”), will join the 2010 Seminar Series.

Posted via email from Hospice du Rhône

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Blackberry Farm

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Hospice du Rhône is heading to Blackberry Farm for a mesmerizing weekend of Rhône, March 18-21, 2010!

This exceptional weekend, in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains, will feature worldly Rhône producers along with their alluring wines. The seminars will indulge your palate with wines from Domaine les Cailloux and Domaine de Pegau both hailing from Châteauneuf du Pape along with Chris Ringland Wines from Australia. Representing California’s Central Coast will be Paul Lato Wines and Torrin.

The weekend could not be complete without the Rhône inspired dishes from our friends Proprietor Sondra Bernstein and Chef John Toulze of the girl & the fig from Sonoma, California. These passionate Rhône advocates will lead a cooking demonstration as well as create a multi-course dinner, one that is sure to tantalize taste buds.

We hope you will join us for this leg of the 2010 Rhônely Hearts Club tour where together we will bring you an unbelievable taste of Rhône. To reserve your place for this remarkable gathering, contact Blackberry Farm at 800.648.4252.

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The Story Behind the 2010 Rhônely Hearts Club

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

Hospice du Rhône (HdR) is a community of wine lovers, specifically Rhône wine fanatics. Once a year for 18 years, Rhône enthusiasts from throughout the world travel to Paso Robles, California USA for a three-day Rhône extravaganza. One filled with Rhône focused seminars, meals featuring Rhône inspired cuisine and over 130 worldly Rhône wine producers sharing their wines with eager Rhône zealots.

Drawing on the Rhône loving community that has been cultivated over the past 18 years, the 2010 event will boast the “Rhônely Hearts Club.” The 2010 theme image, that resembles an album cover of a well-known singing foursome, holds photographs of 22 dedicated Rhône advocates and pioneers from around the world. The gathering of 22 is significant as it pays tribute to the unique 22 Rhône wine varieties and is a snapshot of the greater Rhône community that is celebrated at the annual international Rhône event.

Head into our official website to see who is present in the crowd.

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