I’d love to attend this event, but it won’t be this year. Held in Napa Valley, California, May 15-16, 2009, the WineMaker Magazine conference will have something for all home wine makers. There will be 26 seminars, wine making classes and social events where attendees can mix and mingle.

One of the problems with such conferences is that there are often several different seminars going on at the same time, forcing attendees to choose one over the others. For example, during the first time slot on May 15th, 9:30 to 10:30AM, there will be:

1. Mastering Maceration – How long should you let your red grape juice ferment on the skins? Tannins, color and flavor compounds are all extracted during maceration and give red wines their structure. Learn about the keys to running a productive maceration, specific techniques and what to avoid to bring out the best in your red wines. – Chik Brenneman Winery Manager & Winemaker, Department of Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis

2. Understanding the Role of pH and Acidity – pH and acidity are two intertwined keys to better wines. The more you know about the important impact of pH and acidity on the quality of the wine in your glass, the better a winemaker you can be when faced with key decisions. Gain a greater understanding of pH and acidity with award-winning professional winemaker Pat Henderson of Kenwood Vineyards. – Pat Henderson Senior Winemaker Kenwood Vineyards

3. Vine Pruning Strategies – Grapevines require careful pruning to promote balanced growth and better fruit quality. Understand the basic pruning styles including cane pruning and spur pruning and how to properly space shoots to gain the right exposure to sun and air circulation. Learn the techniques and strategies you need for your home vineyard. – Dr. Stephen J. Krebs Instructor & Coordinator Viticulture & Winery Technology Program, Napa Valley College.

At this point in time, the third seminar during that time slot wouldn’t be of much use to me. Perhaps someday I’ll realize my dream of having my own vineyard but that’s a bit off in the future. On the other hand, the first two seminars interest me very much, and I’m not sure which one I’d choose over the other.

One thought would be that it would be nice if after the Conference, DVD’s of the various seminars were made available for sale for those who could not attend. Or even for those who did attend, but weren’t able to make one of the seminars they had an interest in.

If you’re interested in attending, there is more information here.

Cost of the seminar if you register before March 2, 2009 is $499.00USD. After that, the cost increases to $599.00. If you are able to make it, a report would be wonderful!

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