Sold Out! Wine Bloggers Conference - Walla Walla!

Yup, that's right. The Third Annual North American Wine Bloggers' Conference in Walla Walla is now SOLD OUT!

This year in Walla Walla the attendance was raised to 300 from 270 in the last two years when the conference was held in Napa/Sonoma. Destination Walla Walla was ahead of the game and selling out before Napa/Sonoma did in 2008 and 2009. Three hundred wine bloggers and wine industry representatives are registered to attend the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, Washington June 25 – 27. Registrations will continue to be accepted and names are now being added to a "Wait List." Participation in the conference will be on a first-come, first-serve basis from the wait list as space becomes available.

And "they" say it couldn't be done - for many reasons and for many reasons that went without research: "Walla Walla is too far and the closest airport is in Seattle. Walla Walla produces wine? There are vineyards in Walla Walla? The only wine country in Washington state is in Woodinville." Even when it was announced at last year's conference in Napa/Sonoma, there was speculation made that "Napa/Sonoma set the bar pretty high and Walla Walla better be on top of their game." Was there any doubt? Walla Walla is on top of their game!

In the last five years, wine bloggers have changed and are still changing the way wine consumers gather information about the wines they want to drink. Traditional media is still a valuable and reliable tool, but for how long with the new up-and-coming wine drinking generations who rely on their iPhones and iPads for information? Why do you think traditional wine media are adding blogs to their websites?

In the mean time, now more than ever, the WBC Scholarship needs your help. Currently there are 13 scholarship applications needing assistance to attend WBC10. The committee will need to make some difficult decisions in the next few days and without your generous support, they will be unable to fulfill all of their wishes. Please donate generously and assist a wine blogger to "blog 'n walla" in Walla Walla!