10/3/2011 - St Helena, CA--Beginning today and continuing this week, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association is hosting 30 influential wine professionals who are on track to complete their advanced certificates in either the Court of Master Sommeliers or the Institute of Masters of Wine. The educational intensive on the Napa Valley is an NVV signature program for visiting wine professionals and is known as Master Napa Valley. The program was launched in 2000 and has had excellent reception and review from participants over the years, giving them the rare opportunity to experience Napa Valley from the ground up.
"The success of this program has been terrific as we are able provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences for this impressive group of wine professionals from across the US, Canada, the UK, Spain, Germany, New Zealand and Australia," said NVV Executive Director Linda Reiff. "It's a perfect complement to the hard work these industry leaders are putting toward their professional development. The 30 attendees were culled by their respective professional associations from more than 125 applicants."
Through the week the group will meet with more than 50 winery principals on topics including the NVV's Napa Valley Rocks which explores the unique attributes of soils, geology, geography, climate, history of the appellation, its leadership in land stewardship, climate study and green initiatives like Napa Green that are leading the wine industry. Along the way they will be greeted by renowned, high-profile vintners along with trend-setting up-and-comers at both formal and informal gatherings, and will get out into the vineyard with the NVV's in-field workshop known as "down and dirty."
And the highlights each day will be the chance to taste incredible wines from throughout the appellation and its nested sub-appellations with the vintners who made them showcasing what makes Napa Valley America's premier wine region. Attendees include wine directors from the top restaurants, wine shops and wine media including Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago, Pappas Brothers in TX, The Bellagio Resort and Caesars Palace in NV, Whole Foods Market in DC, The Pacific Club in HI, among others.
Past Master Napa Valley alum have gone on to be integral members of the wine trade across the country and around the world and are some of the appellation's greatest ambassadors promoting its wines, leading tastings and educational programs highlighting the Napa Valley globally.
About the NVV
The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents more than 420 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.napavintners.com.
Contact: Terry Hall, Communications Director 707-968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
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