Registration open for Sommcon,™ a four-day educational conference for wine industry professionals and enthusiasts in southern California
SAN DIEGO, CA — The glass is half-full for oenophiles with the debut of SommCon™ in San Diego, CA Nov.18-21, 2015 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Designed to offer wine industry professionals and serious enthusiasts convenient and affordable access to education and networking opportunities, SommCon™ launches with 50 sessions, and brings together some of the greatest thought leaders, entrepreneurs and artisans to discuss, develop and lead the conversation on the business of wine.
At the helm of SommCon™ is a group of over 25 industry experts dubbed “Team SommCon.” Together these industry leaders have had a role in the selection of SommCon’s education, sessions, workshops, tastings and certification offerings. Jesse Rodriguez, Advanced Sommelier and member of Team SommCon™ says that a forum for professionals to network, learn and share their knowledge is long overdue in Southern California.
“This is an opportunity that until now, has not existed in this way in San Diego. Through SommCon™, our industry members have access to a wide variety of educators from all different backgrounds – enhancing the skill set of both established and aspiring professionals,” continued Rodriguez.” SommCon™ provides an avenue for us to gather as friends, colleagues, teachers, students and mentors to further the industry that we are all so passionate about.”
SommCon™ begins on Nov. 18 with professional certification opportunities including the WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Level 1 Award in Wine offered by the Neptune School of Wine, as well as Certified Cicerone®, the second level of certification through the Cicerone Certification Program.
The main conference is held Thursday, Nov. 19 and Friday, Nov. 20, and includes in-depth sessions led by industry thought leaders, power speed dating style blind tastings, round-table discussions, regional explorations, and a trade tasting featuring over 100 wineries, breweries, spirit purveyors, and service industry brands. SommCon™ concludes on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival’s Grand Tasting – the west coast’s most exciting weeklong epicurean experience.
For many current and aspiring wine and spirit professionals, access to the education required to further their career is logistically, geographically and financially out of reach. Over just a few short days, SommCon™ opens the door to a wealth of knowledge from some of the most celebrated minds in the industry.
Young professionals under the age of 30 who have a passion for entering a profession in the wine industry or expanding their knowledge can apply to receive free conference registration through the Young Leader’s Summit Scholarship. Applications are due by Sept. 15, 2015.
“ I am excited to bring two sessions to SommCon™, and offer seminars that are relevant to today’s professionals and consumers looking for a deeper dive into the word of wine,” said Master of Wine and member of Team SommCon,™ Amy Christine. “We have an incredible collection of pros teaching this year and it’s an honor to be among them. The sessions that have been added to the lineup are diverse and touch on a wide variety of topics, appealing to an audience from varied backgrounds.”
SommCon™ is only open to 300 registrants, and for those in attendance, there are several ways to participate, with conference packages and single day passes available.
• Level 1: Full Conference Registration (Nov. 19-21) – Full conference access with choice of seminars, trade tasting, San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting, continental breakfast and roundtable discussions, networking tasting, winemaker and pairing lunches, $395 before Nov. 1 ($710 value)
• Level 2: Single Day Conference Registration Package (Nov. 19) – One-day conference access with choice of seminars, trade tasting, winemaker lunch and networking tasting, $225 before Nov. 1 ($455 value)
• Level 3: Single Day Conference Registration Package (Nov. 20) – One-day conference access with choice of seminars, trade tasting, and pairing lunch. $195 before November 1 ($320 value)
• Level 4: SommCon™ Trade Tasting (Nov. 20) – Admission to trade tasting. Free for qualified members of the trade, and $65 after Nov. 1
For more information or to purchase Conference registration, visit: SommConUSA.com.
Discounted accommodations are available at the Manchester Grand Hyatt for SommCon™  attendees, to make a reservation call: 877-385-9595.