Welcome to the page for my book Around the World in Eighty Wines. (2018).  Available in hardback, eBook, audiobook and paperback (June 2020). Winner of the Gourmand award for best American wine tourism book. Ranked #20 on the BookAuthority list of best wine books of all time.  #3 on  BookAuthority’s list of best wine audiobooks of all time.

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You will find Around the World in Eighty Wines and the other wine books by Mike Veseth at  all the usual online and brick-and-mortar locations (click on the Amazon, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, Powell’s or Barnes & Noble button to order your copy today).

 

 

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Inspired by Jules Verne’s classic adventure tale, Mike Veseth takes his readers Around the World in Eighty Wines. The journey starts in London, Phileas Fogg’s home base, and follows Fogg’s itinerary to France and Italy before veering off in search of compelling wine stories in Syria, Georgia, and Lebanon. Every glass of wine tells a story, and so each of the eighty wines must tell an important tale. We head back across Northern Africa to Algeria, once the world’s leading wine exporter, before hopping across the sea to Spain and Portugal. We follow Portuguese trade routes to Madeira and then South Africa with a short detour to taste Kenya’s most famous Pinot Noir. Kenya? Pinot Noir? Really!

The route loops around, visiting Bali, Thailand, and India before heading north to China to visit Shangri-La. Shangi-La? Does that even exist? It does, and there is wine there. Then it is off to Australia, with a detour in Tasmania, which is so cool that it is hot. The stars of the Southern Cross (and the lyrics of a familiar song) guide us to New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina. We ride a wine train in California and rendezvous with Planet Riesling in Seattle before getting into fast cars for a race across North America, collecting more wine as we go. Pause for lunch in Virginia to honor Thomas Jefferson, then it’s time to jet back to London to tally our wines and see what we have learned.

Why these particular places? What are the eighty wines and what do they reveal? And—spoiler alert!—what is the surprise plot twist that guarantees a happy ending for every wine lover? Come with us on a journey of discovery that will inspire, inform, and entertain anyone who loves travel, adventure, or wine.

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Mike Veseth has deftly captured the magical worldwide journey of wine. This is a great rollicking educational roller coaster of a ride that the global fraternity of wine enthusiasts will embrace.
— Robert Hill-Smith, vigneron, Yalumba, Australia

Like a master blender, Mike Veseth stimulates the mind’s appetite with a wonderful balance of illusion and substance, as complex as a fine wine.Structured with cultural nuance and imagination, this delightful book is a must-read for serious wine enthusiasts and neophytes alike. Circumnavigating the world in eighty wines should be enjoyed with a glass of your favorite origin in hand.
— George Sandeman, Sogrape Vinhos, Portugal

This captivating book is about more than just wine—it’s about human nature, travel, and enjoyment. As the Rick Steves of the wine world, Mike’s talents as a writer and storyteller transport the reader to a new territory to explore as each of the eighty wines are opened.
— Howard Soon, Master Winemaker, Sandhill Wines

Mike Veseth takes the reader on a Phileas Fogg–inspired odyssey in search of the answer to the question: why wine? The solution is a true global adventure—a mosaic of stories that illuminate wine beyond the glass to embody the enduring human spirit through controversy, love, endurance, loss, and hope. I was packing my bags to join the journey before the end of part one. A must-read for all who love wine and life.
— Michelle Williams, freelance writer and author of the Rockin Red Blog

“This adventurous book show us that wine is about more than what’s in the glass: it is about meeting new people and discovering vibrant cultures and amazing landscapes. Mike’s engaging storytelling reveals the histories behind the wine he tastes, which are often just as complex and delightful as the vino itself.

—Matteo Bisol, Venissa Winery, Italy

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Around the World in 80 Wines by Mike Veseth

Table of Contents

Part 1: From London to Beirut

1.      London: The Challenge is Made and the Journey Begins

2.      France: Which Bottle? Which Wine?

3.      Italy: Batali’s Impossibility Theorem

4.      Syria, Lebanon and Georgia: The Wine Wars

Part 2: Rounding the Cape

5.      Spain: El Clásico

6.      Any Porto in a Storm

7.      Out of Africa

8.      India and Beyond: New Latitudes, New Attitudes

Part 3: High and Low

9.      Shangri-La

10.  Australia: The Library and the Museum

11.  Tasmania: Cool is Hot

12.  Southern Cross

Part 4:  Sour Grapes?

13.  Napa Valley Wine Train

14.  A Riesling Rendezvous

15.  Cannonball Run

16.  Back to London: Victory or Defeat?

The Wine List

Acknowledgements

References

About the Author

Notes

Index

Welcome to Money, Taste, and Wine: It’s Complicated!, my new book about the incredibly fascinating world of wine, which received the 2016 Gourmand International awards for best U.S. wine book and “Best in the World” wine writing.

“It’s complicated!” That’s a simple way to describe the sort of relationship that seems to defy simple explanations. Like one of those romance novel love triangles, money, taste and wine are caught up in a complicated relationship that affects every aspect of the wine industry and wine enthusiast experience.

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You will find Money, Taste, and Wine and the other wine books by Mike Veseth at  all the usual online and brick-and-mortar locations (click on the Amazon, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, Powell’s or Barnes & Noble button to order your copy today).

 

 

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What’s the Book About?

As wine economist and best-selling author Mike Veseth peels away layer after layer of the money-taste-wine story he discovers the wine buyer’s biggest mistake (which is to confuse money and taste) and learns how to avoid it, sips and swirls dump bucket wines, Treasure Island wines and toasts anything but Champagne. He bulks up with big bag, big box wines and realizes that sometimes the best wine is really a beer.

Along the way he questions wine’s identity crisis, looks down his nose at wine snobs and cheese bores, follows the money, surveys the restaurant war battleground and imagines wines that even money cannot buy before concluding that money, taste and wine might have a complicated relationship but sometimes they have the power to change the world. Money, Taste & Wine will surprise, inform, inspire and delight anyone with an interest in wine – or complicated relationships!

Pre-publication reviews:

Money, Taste, and Wine is a great read; entertaining, informative and heartfelt. Like Wine Wars it is packed with economic and historic insights into the world of wine. At times I found myself laughing out loud and also reaching for my notebook to jot down facts and add (wine and non-wine) books to my reading list.

— Caro Feely, Terroir Feely Wines & French Wine Adventures

Written in Mike Veseth’s ineffable style, Money, Taste, and Wine goes down as easily as the finest pinot, will make you laugh, and fatten your wallet. If you’ve ever suspected that wine’s pricing is rigged, fumed at stratospheric restaurant tariffs, or want to be amazed at how the revolution in global trade has affected your favorite drink, then look no further than this book. A must for any consumer of the fruit of the vine.

— William Bernstein, Author of Birth of Plenty, A Splendid Exchange, and Masters of the World

With his usual wit, wisdom, and whimsy, the ebullient Mike Veseth (aka the Wine Economist) unravels the complexities of what he calls the ‘unhealthy love triangle of money, taste, and wine.’ For anyone with taste who is remotely interested in discovering hidden, undervalued vinous treasures and willing to learn a little about themselves along the way, this insightful book is a must read. Having fought the good fight in Wine Wars and tickled the imagination in Extreme Wine, Mike’s insights into the vexed relationship between Money, Taste, and Wine could be subtitled ‘choose your wine and those you share it with carefully.’
— Michael Hince, HinceOnWine, Australia

I laughed out loud several times reading Mike Veseth’s new book, Money, Taste, and Wine. He has such a humorous and down to earth style when writing about wine, and this new book that involves romps through the supermarket aisles, restaurants and discount stores to find a good deal on wine is hilarious at times. It also has its serious points, and provides useful information for wine lovers in analyzing their own palates and expectations. A definite read for all wine enthusiasts, wine students and wine newbies.

— Dr. Liz Thach, Master of Wine, Professor of Wine Business & Management, Sonoma State University

Mike has the unique ability to look at wine differently and discover facts beyond the mythology. In this fascinating book, he gives the poor consumer overwhelmed by choice and myth an eye-opening look at wine.
— Paul Cluver, Paul Cluver Wines, South Africa

In Money, Taste, and Wine, preeminent wine economist Mike Veseth teaches us how to be a rational, informed wine consumer by better understanding available wine choices, personal tastes and preferences, and common wine buying mistakes. Along the way, he provides fascinating insights into the workings of the wine industry in a fun and interesting way with his engaging and provocative writing style. A must read for anyone who drinks wine or has an interest in the wine market.
— James Thornton, Eastern Michigan University, author of American Wine Economics

A remarkable blend of research, history, and examples straight from the heart of a genuine explorer makes this book a must read. Mike skillfully walks his readers through the multifaceted relationship of money, taste, and wine and leads them to a smart, optimistic, and enjoyable conclusion. A perfect fit for those who thirst for more.
— Evy Gozali, CEO of Sababay Winery, Bali, Indonesia

Money, Taste & Wine: It’s Complicated!

Table of Contents

Part I: Buyer Beware!

1. The Wine Buyer’s Biggest Mistake

2. Anatomy of a Complicated Relationship

3. Wine Drinker, Know Thyself

Part II: Get a Clue! Searching for Buried Treasures

4. Dump Bucket Wines

5. Treasure Island Wines

6. Bulk Up: Big Bag, Big Box Wines

7. Sometimes the Best Wine is a Beer (or a Cider!)

Part III: A Rosé is a Rosé? Money, Taste & Identity

8. More than Just a Label: Wine’s Identity Crisis?

9. Wine Snobs, Cheese Bores and the Globalization Paradox

10. Anything But Champagne

Part IV: What Money Can (and Can’t) Buy

11. Restaurant Wars

 12. Follow the Money

13. Invisible Cities, Imaginary Wines

 14. Groot Expectations

Acknowledgements

Selected References

Money, Taste & Wine answers a host of intriguing questions including …

• Who is the wine buyer’s biggest enemy? What is the wine buyer’s biggest mistake?
• Why is “know thyself” the best way to overcome the wine buyer’s biggest mistake?
• Do you sometimes wear your underwear inside-out (to avoid the itchy seams)? What does your answer to this question say about your taste for wine?
• Why do Parisians like not drinking wine and what does this have to do with the money-taste-wine trilemma?
• What’s the difference between dumped wines and dump bucket wines (and why should bargain hunters seek out one but not the other)?
• Who is Fred and why were Fred’s Friends wines such a bargain? (Hint: Fred is not Fred Franzia of Two Buck Chuck fame.)
• Are “second wines” a good deal?
• How do Costco, BevMo and Total Wine use different Treasure Island wine strategies to produce happy customers and strong wine sales?
• How big of a choice do U.S. wine consumers really have (and why is this a complicated question to answer)?
• Why is the best wine sometimes a beer or a cider and what are the implications for the wine industry?
• King Midas had the golden touch. What did he drink and how do we know?
• What comes in a 24,000 liter bag inside a 20-foot shipping container? (Hint: you may be drinking it now!)
• How are big bag, big box wines changing the global wine business?
• If you can’t judge a book by its cover, why do so many people judge wines by their labels (and does this mean that cute kitty wine labels should be outlawed)?
• What do wine snobs and cheese bores have in common? And how does the globalization paradox explain them both?
• Anything but Champagne? Really?
• Wine in restaurants is one of those love-hate things. What’s the key to winning the restaurant wars?
• When is the best time to invest in wine?
• Some wines are so scarce that money cannot buy them — they are almost imaginary. What do truly imaginary wines taste like?
• The money-taste-wine relationship is both complicated and powerful. Can it really change the world? How?

About the Author

Mike Veseth is a leading authority on the global wine business. He is editor of The Wine Economist blog and author of a dozen books including Extreme Wine (2013) and Wine Wars, which was named a 2011 Wine Book of the Year by JancisRobinson.com. Mike is emeritus professor of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

Mike is currently working on his next book, Around the World in 80 Wines, when he isn’t actually traveling around the world with his wife, Sue, looking for great wines, great wine stories and speaking at wine industry conferences.

Wall Street Journal wine columnist Lettie Teague writes that “Of all the wine blogs in the wide, wide blogosphere, one that I look forward to reading the most is Mike Veseth’s Wine Economist.  There’s nothing else quite like it—a blend of economic insight … and often irreverent winespeak.”

Economist Mike Veseth (pronounced VEE-seth) is an authority on global wine markets who travels the world studying wine economics and speaking to wine industry groups. He reports his discoveries on this blog, The Wine Economist, and in more than a dozen books including    Wine Wars (2011),  Extreme Wine (2013) and Money, Taste & Wine:  It’s Complicated! (2015).

Around the World in Eighty Wines (2018), received the Gourmand International award for best U.S. wine tourism book and is included on BookAuthority.com’s lists of the “Best Wine Books of All Time” and (#2) “Best Wine Audiobooks of All Time.”

Wine Wars II: The Global Battle for the Soul of Wine (2022) received a special Gourmand International award for outstanding “Sustainability & Wine” book.

The Wine Economist was named 2015 “Best in the World” wine blog by Gourmand International.  Money Taste, and Wine received the 2016 Gourmand International award for “Best in the World” wine writing.

Mike speaks frequently at national and international wine conferences. Click on “The World Tour” link to see where Mike’s been recently and where he is going next.

Scroll down for more information and video clips of Mike in action.

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Mike Veseth is professor emeritus of  International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.  He is an authority on globalization and the global wine market. Mike was named Washington Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. His 2005 book Globaloney was selected as a Best Business Book of 2005 by Library Journal. JancisRobinson.com’s annual book review named Wines Wars a Wine Book for the Year in 2011.

Mike has also taught at the American Institute on Political and Economic Systems in Prague  and at the Bologna Center of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Italy.  He was Academic Advisor to the award winning educational website for the PBS/WGBH series, The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy.

Mike earned the B.A. degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Puget Sound  and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics from Purdue University.

Selected Publications

• Wine Wars II: The Global Battle for the Soul of Wine (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022).
• Around the World in Eighty Wines (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018, paperback 2020).
• Money, Taste & Wine: It’s Complicated! (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
• Extreme Wine: Searching the World for the Best, the Worst, the Outrageously Cheap, the Insanely Overpriced and the Undiscovered. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013, paperback 2015).
• Wine Wars: The Curse of the Blue Nun, the Miracle of Two Buck Chuck and the Revenge of the Terroirists. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011, paperback 2012).
• Globaloney 2.0: The Crash of 2008 and the Future of Globalization. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
• Globaloney: Unraveling the Myths of Globalization (Rowman & Littlefield, 2005),
• The New York Times’s Review of the 20th Century: The Rise of the Global Economy (Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 2002),
• Selling Globalization: The Myth of the Global Economy (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998) and
• Mountains of Debt: Crisis and Change in Renaissance Florence, Victorian Britain, and Postwar America (Oxford University Press, 1990).

Mike has also authored or co-authored innovative university textbooks in the fields of Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Public Finance and International Political Economy.

Presentations and Videos

Mike is a frequent speaker at regional, national, and international wine industry meetings. Click here to see a list of recent presentations.

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Here is a brief video from our 2022 visit to the Agriverde Winery in Abruzzo, Italy.

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2019 Porto conference on Climate Change and Wine.

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A 2018 interview at the Washington Winegrowers annual meetings.

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A 2018 television interview about Around the World in Eighty Wines.

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A 2017  interview with Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site, on her “Sunday Sipper Club” Facebook Live program.

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2016 interview at the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s 1st Global Conference on Wine Tourism in Tbilisi, Georgia.

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2015 interview at the California Association of Winegrape Growers meetings in Napa, California.

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2015 interview at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, the largest wine industry gathering in the Western Hemisphere.

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Juneau, Alaska World Affairs Council presentation in February 2015.

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Here’s a highlights video from Wine Vision, 2014 in London.

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An interview with BeverageDaily.com editor Ben Bouckley at Wine Vision 2014, the global wine conference that was held in London in November 2014.

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Here is a video of my keynote at Savour Australia 2013 in Adelaide, Australia (September 2013). Click here to see the speech and the slides together on one page.

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Mike interviewed on Well Read (June 2012)

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Mike interviewed for Wine Press Northwest (February 2012)

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Mike had an unexpectedly large part (larger than this brief trailer suggests) in Boom Varietal: The Rise of Argentine Malbec, a 2011 documentary.

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Here is an older video where Mike is interviewed by an animated character named Roger Numbers.

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Mike on a 2009 economic crisis panel discussion featuring journalist Todd Benjamin.

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Upcoming Wine Economist World Tour Stops
Scroll down to see both my upcoming appearance calendar and the previous World Tour stops. Check back frequently — several speaking engagements are in the planning stage.

 

 

May 2023

• Sue and I will be at a wine literature festival “Co(u)ltura Conegliano Valdobbiadene “ where Susan Gordon and I will have a featured conversation about my latest book, Wine Wars II.

• Wine Wars II has received a Gourmand International award for outstanding book on wine and sustainability. I will be giving a virtual book talk at the celebration in Umea, Sweden on May 26, 2023.

August 2023

• I’ll be giving an “Around the World in Eighty Wines” book talk at a fundraiser for the South Sound Reading Foundation on August 9. Details tba.

October 2023

• “Around the World in Eighty Wines” book talk at Temple Beth-El in Tacoma Washington. October 19, 2023.

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Scroll down to see previous World Tour stops.

March 2023

• Sue and I will attend the Slow Wine event in Seattle on March 7, 2023. Hope to see you there.

January 2023

• “State of the Industry” panel, Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento, California. January 25, 2023.

December 2022

• “Around the World in Eighty Wines” talk as part of the Temple Beth El speaker series. 11 am on December 22, 2022. Postponed due to winter weather alert. Will be rescheduled in 2023.

November 2022

• Webinar on wine economics for Jim Harbertson’s class at the Washington State University Viticulture and Enology Program. Date tba.

October 2022

• “Wine Wars II” book-signing at the University of Puget Sound 4-6 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2022. Watch here for details.

July 2022

Wine Wars II: The global battle for the soul of wine is released on July 1, 2022.

June 2022

• Sue and I will be in Abruzzo, Italy in early June, participating in a program to learn more about the region and its wines.
• I will be speaking at the North Coast meetings of Allied Grape Growers on June 23, 2022.

May 2022

• I will be participating in an online program for Spanish wine producers sponsored by the Portuguese Cork Association on May 31, 2022.

February 2022

• Wine Industry Network Leadership Conference — a free webinar event. February 9, 2022. I’ll be speaking about economic trends that affect the wine industry.
• Idaho Wine Commission annual meetings, February 21, 2022.  I will be talking about the state of the wine industry.

January 2022

• Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento, January 25-27, 2022. I will be moderating the State of the Industry session on Wednesday morning.
• I’m giving a luncheon talk at the meetings of the Winegrape Growers of America on January 25, 2022.

November 2021

• Webinar on wine economics for Jim Harbertson’s class at the Washington State University Viticulture and Enology Program, November 16, 2021.

October 2021

• Wine2Wine Business Forum  October 18-19, 2021. I’ve been asked to talk about Politics and Wine Trade!

February 2021

• Client event for UK finance firm. (Private virtual event). February 4, 2021.
• Institute of Masters of Wine webinar on “Climate Change and the Global Wine Trade.” I’m on a panel that includes viticultural climatologist Prof. Gregory Jones fn Linfield College and Wine Intelligence CEO Lulie Halstead. Moderated by Jane Masters MW. February 17, 2021.
• Idaho Wine Commission annual meeting (virtual event). February 22-23, 2021. I will be speaking about the State of the Industry on February 22.
• WineFuture 2021 (virtual event) February 23-26, 2021. This big international conference boasts an all-star cast. I will lead a panel on the economics of the crisis on February 23.

January 2021

• Unified Wine and Grape Symposium  (virtual event) January 26-29, 2021. I will be speaking and moderating the State of the Industry session on Wednesday, January 27. Danny Brager, Glenn Proctor, Jeff Bitter, and Jon Moramarco join me on the virtual panel.

December 2020

• Client event for UK finance firm (private virtual event) December 15, 2020.

November 2020

• Webinar on wine industry trends — prelude to Wine Future 2021. November 4, 2020.
• Wine2Wine Business Forum (virtual event) November 23-24, 2020.
• Client event for UK finance firm (private virtual event) November 25, 2020.

August 2020

• Colorado Wine Industry Development Board seminar on market challenges and opportunities (vurtual event). August 10, 2020

February 2020

• Vashon Island, USA: “Around the World in Eighty Wines” book talk and wine tasting on Sunday, February 2, 2020 as part of the lecture series at the Vashon Center for the Arts.
• Sacramento, USA: Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, Sacramento. February 4-6, 2020. I will speak at and moderate the “State of the Industry” panel.

July 2019

• Canada: British Columbia Enology and Viticulture Conference and Trade Show July 15-16, 2019 in Penticton BC. I will be talking about an economist’s view of sustainability in the wine business.

June 2019

• Friuli, Italy: Sue and I are looking forward to traveling to Italy to participate in the Consorzio Collio’s Enjoy Collio Experience on May 27-June 2, 2019.May 2019

• Sardinia: Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival May 16-19, 2019.

March 2019

• Portugal: Climate Change: Solutions for the Wine Industry, Porto, Portugal. March 6-7, 2019. I am moderating and speaking at a session on Efficiency & Economics: Call to Action.

February 2019

• Washington: Washington Winegrowers Convention & Trade Show Kennewick, Washington. February 11-14, 2019. I will heading up the State of the Industry panel and also talking about the market for Rosé wine. [I was scheduled to speak but my flight was cancelled at the last minute and I was unable to attend.]

January 2019

• California: Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento, California. January 29-31 2019. I am speaking at and moderating the “State of the Industry” session again this year.

November 2018

• Romania: International Wine Competition Romania, November 1-4, 2018.

September 2018

• Italy: Sue and I will be in Conegliano, Italy in late September to help iconic Prosecco producer Carpenè Malvolti celebrate their 150th anniversary.

July 2018

• I will talk on a panel discussing “Competing on a Global Stage” at the California Association of Winegrape Growers Summer Conference at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California on July 17.
• I am doing a charity-fundraising “Around the World in 80 Wines” talk and tasting on July 29. Private event.

June 2018

• I’ll be speaking about “Around the World in Eighty Wines” and leading a wine tasting as part of the University of Puget Sound’s Summer Reunion Weekend Alumni College. June 8-9, 2018.
• Sue and I will be in Forte dei Marmi, Italy on June 18 for VinoVIP al Forte. I will talk about money and wine in the global market context.

April 2018

• Sue and I will be in France to participate in two programs: Terroir and Millésimes in Languedoc and Roussillon from April 15-22 and Val de Loire Millésimes from April 22-25.

May 2018

• I’m happy to talk about “Around the World in Eighty Wines” for the Kiwanis Club of Clover Park on May 15, 2018.

February 2018

• I’ll talk about “Around the World in Eighty Wines” on TV Tacoma’s “CityLine” television show.
• Washington Winegrowers convention and trade show February 6-8, 2018 in Kennewick, Washington. I will be speaking at the “State of the Industry” session on the morning of February 7.
• The Idaho Wine Commission’s annual meeting will be on February 13-15 in Boise.  I will be speaking about global trends and local impacts on the morning of February 14.
• Local meets global: I’ll talk about “Around the World in Eighty Wines” from the vineyard point of view at a special evening meeting of the Tacoma Garden Club  on February 21, 2018.

January 2018

• The World Tour comes to Grand Junction, Colorado where I will be speaking at the VinCO Conference & Trade Show January 15-18. I’ll be giving three talks: “Secrets of the World’s Most Respected Wine Regions,” “The Future of Small Wineries,” and “Around the World in Eighty Wines.”
• Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. January  23-25, 2018 , Sacramento California. I will be moderating and speaking at the “State of the Industry” session on January 24.

November 2017

• My new book Around the World in Eight Wines will be released on November 1, 2017!
• Sue and I will be in Spain and Portugal for private wine industry events in November — November 8 in Madrid and Nov 9 in Porto.
• I’ll be chatting with Natalie MacLean on her Facebook live show on Sunday Nov 26 at 6pm EST. Watch for more details.

September 2017

• I am giving a talk as part of a series on the global wine industry at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina at 5pm on Wednesday, September 27, 2017.
• I will speak at the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s 2nd Global Conference on Wine Tourism, which will be held in Mendoza, Argentina on September 28-30, 2017.

May 2017

• Sue and I will attend the 10th Cyprus Wine Competition in Paphos, Cyprus on May 2-6. I will give a seminar about “Secrets of the World’s Most Respected Wine Regions” and lessons that might be useful to the Cyprus wine industry.

March 2017

• I will be speaking to the General Assembly of the Federacion Española del Vino (Spanish Wine Federation) in Valladolid, Spain on March 28, 2017. Here are details.

January 2017

• “Wine Drinker: Know Thyself.” This is a wine tasting and workshop for staff at the University of Puget Sound. January 11, 2017.
• The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California is North America’s largest wine industry gathering. This year I will again moderate and speak at the State of the Industry session on January 25, 2017.

September 2016

• I’m speaking at the first global wine tourism conference to be organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The event is set for September 7-9, 2016 in the Republic of Georgia. Here are links to the preliminary program and registration information.

July 2016

• Sue and I look forward to attending Riesling Rendezvous, the international Riesling symposium sponsored by Chateau Ste Michelle and Dr. Loosen. July 17-19 in Seattle.

June 2016

• I will be speaking and leading a discussion and wine tasting at a special showing of “Somm: Into the Bottle” at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma, Washington on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Click here for details.

May 2016

• I will be speaking at the 10th Alentejo Wine & Vine Symposium in Evora, Portugal on May 4-6, 2016.
• I will be speaking at a University of Puget Sound Seattle-area alumni event on May 19, 2016. Details here.

March 2016

• I will be speaking at a fund-raising event called “Globalization in Your Wine Glass” for the World Affairs Council of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, March 26, 2016.

February 2016

• Sue and I will be joining the faculty of the 2016 Professional Wine Writers Symposium, which will take place February 16-19, 2016 at the Meadowood Napa Valley resort.

January 2016

• Once again this year I will be moderating the “State of the Industry” session at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento on January 27, 2016.

November 2015

• I’ll be speaking at  the International Congress on Sustainability “SUSTAINABILITY AS A TRIBUTE TO WINE QUALITY”, that will be held on 3rd November 2015  and “DISCOVER THE SENSORY FACTORS”, that will be held on 4th November 2015 during the 26th edition of SIMEI – International Enological and Bottling Equipment Exhibition in Milan, Italy. This event is sponsored by Unione Italiana Vini.

October 2015

• I’m giving a luncheon keynote address to the annual meetings of the Academy of International Business US West Chapter at the University of Washington in Seattle on Friday, October 23, 2015.

August 2015

• Sue and I will be attending A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Charles Coury Planting of vines in the Willamette Valley at the David Hill Vineyards & Winery in Forest Grove, Oregon on August 1, 2015. Hope to see our Oregon friends for the trade tasting and then the public BBQ that follows.
• My new book Money, Taste and Wine: It’s Complicated will be released on August 4, 2015.
• I’m doing a fund-raising wine dinner for a local service club on August 15. Private event.

July 2015

• I will be speaking on an “Insights” program at the British Columbia Wine Institute annual meeting, July 6, 2015 Osoyoos, BC. Here is the program.
• I will be on a panel of local bloggers discussing  the blogosphere and its discontents on July 15 from 7-8 pm at the Tacoma Public Library‘s Olympic Room
• California Association of Winegrape Growers Summer Conference on July 22-24, 2015 at the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, California. I’ll be speaking with Wine Market Council president John Gillispie on “Wine Market Update and Insights” on Thursday, July 23.

June 2015

• Scoula Enologica di Conegliano,  Conegliano, Italy. I will be giving two lectures on June 9 and 10.  The first seminar is titled “Anatomy of the U.S. Wine Market” and the second “Wines of the Veneto: A SWOT Analysis of the U.S. Market.”
• I’m giving an “Extreme Wine” talk as part of the Senior University program at Franke Tobey Jones on Wednesday June 24 at 6pm. There will be wine-tasting!

May 2015

• Admiral Theatre Foundation Spring Release Wine Dinner featuring Hedges Family Estate wines. I will be speaking at this fund-raising dinner in Bremerton, Washington at 5 pm on Sunday, May 3, 2015. Details here. Looks like a great meal, wonderful wine and a good cause.
• Ramona Valley California AVA “A Grape Day in the Backountry” Symposium, May 20, 2015. Details here.

April 2015

• Walla Walla Business Summit, April 10, 2015. Marcus Whitman Hotel, Walla Walla, Washington. I’ll be speaking on the topic “How to Make a Small Fortune in the Wine Business (and other lessons for people in and out of the wine game).”
• I’m doing a fund-raising wine dinner for a local service club on April 18. Private event.

March 2015

• Winery & Grower Alliance of Ontario “Insight 2015” conference. March 3, 2015. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

February 2015

• Vino 2015, a series of seminars and tastings sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City on February 2-4, 2015. I’ll be speaking about the U.S. market for Italian wines in the opening session.
• Juneau World Affairs Council event on February 11, 2015. 5pm at the KTOO studios.
• Alaska World Affairs Council in Anchorage dinner event on February 12. Should be great wine, good and extreme wine stories.
• Idaho Wine Commission annual meeting, February 17 & 18, 2015. Here is the agenda.

January 2015

• Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento, California. January 27-29, 2015. I’m on Wednesday’s “State of the Industry” panel again this year.

November 2014

• Peninsula  Book Club Extreme Wine talk. Private event. November 11, 2014.
• Finally Found Books, Auburn, Washington. Wine Wars and Extreme Wine book talk and signing. 6-8 pm. Click on the link to reserve your place.
• Wine Vision.  November 17-19, 2014. London. This is a global CEO-level wine industry conference. I’ll help set the stage on the opening day by talking about the state of the global wine economy today.
• Scoula Enologica di Conegliano,  Conegliano, Italy. I will be doing a pair of wine industry “webinars” on November 26 and 27. The first seminar is titled “Anatomy of the U.S. Wine Market” and the second “Wines of the Veneto: A SWOT Analysis of the U.S. Market.”

September 2014

• Valpolicella, Italy. Sue and I will be joining a team of international wine bloggers to explore this fascinating wine region and test out a new App to help wine tourists navigate the many options. Sept 1-4, 2014. We will also visit Prosecco with wine economist colleagues and then examine the Bisol family’s Venissa winery project in Venice.
• Wine Industry Financial Symposium, Napa Valley. September 22-23, 2014. Click here for details.

August 2014

• Wine Industry Symposium. August 19, 2014.  Willamette Valley, Oregon. Private event.
• “A World of Wine,” World Affairs Council of Tacoma event. Wednesday, August 20, 2014. Click for details.

June 2014

• The World of Syrah, Walla Walla Washington June 19-21. Sue and I will be attending this celebration of Syrah in Walla Walla and across the globe.
• American Association of Wine Economists meetings, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington. June 22-25, 2014. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the AAWE’s annual conference

May 2014

• Whitman College. I’m giving a talk to  Lee Sanning’s Wine Economics class on Monday, May 5, 2014.
• Northwest Farm Credit Services Financial Summit Conference, May 6-8, 2014. I’ll be talking about what wine can teach us about global business. (Private event.)
• Open That Bottle Night, Saturday May 10, 2014. We are celebrating this important holiday a few weeks late this year because of schedule problems. There is no wrong night to Open That Bottle, is there?

April 2014

• I’m giving a book talk at a private event in Midlothian, Virginia on April 15, 2014. Hope to taste some great Virginia wines while I am in the region.

March 2014

• Wine and book event at the University Bookstore in Bellevue at 6 pm on Thursday March 13, 2014. Click on this link for details.

February 2014

• Special World Affairs Council of Seattle wine dinner event on February 4, 2014. Click on this link for details.
• Book event at King’s Books, Tacoma at 7 pm on the evening of February 13, 2014.
• Book talk and signing at the University Place branch of the Pierce County Library at 7 pm on Thursday February 20, 2014.
• Oporto, Portugal.  ACIBEV (Associação dos Comerciantes e Industriais de Bebidas Espirituosas e Vinhos or Portugal’s Association of Traders and Producers of Spirits and Wine) has invited me to give the keynote speech at their annual meeting, which is being held on February 28  in association with the big Portuguese wine festival called Essência Do Vinho at the historic Palacio dal Bolsa in Porto.

January 2014

• South Africa! VinPro Information Day — Somerset West, South Africa. January 23, 2014. Click here for details.
• Unified Symposium, Sacramento California. The biggest wine gathering in the Western Hemisphere! I’m moderating a panel on Tuesday, January 28 and speaking in the “State of the Industry” session the following day.
• I’m also giving the keynote address at the luncheon meeting of the Winegrape Growers of America at noon on Wednesday January 29.
• Finally, I’ll be signing books at the Wine Appreciation Guild booth at the Unified’s trade show from 2-3:30 on Wednesday.

December 2013

• Otis Kenyon Wine Tasting Room, Woodinville, Washington. Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 3-5 pm. Click here for details.

November 2013

• Great American Wine Festival, Portland, Oregon. November 16, 2013. A celebration of wine from across the U.S. Sue and I will be attending this first-time event. Hope to see you there.
• Page 2 Books, Burien, Washington. Book talk and signing from 2-4 pm on Saturday, November 23, 2013. Details tba.
• Finally Found Books, Auburn, Washington. Wine, cheese and books on the evening of Saturday, November 23, 2013. Click here for info and to purchase tickets.

October 2013

• Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association “Nightcapper” meet the author event in Portland, Oregon.
• Extreme Wine is released on October 7, 2013.
• Peninsula Book Club talk. October 8, 2013. Gig Harbor, Washington.
• Extreme Wine: Idaho. October 18, 2013 at the Mouvance winery in Boise. This is an event for University of Puget Sound alumni and parents.

September 2013

• Savour Australia 2013. Adelaide, Australia 15-18 September 2013. I’ll be speaking about global market opportunities in the Tuesday session of this conference.
• Ninth International Wine Forum, Mendoza Argentina. September 24, 2013. Since I can’t be in two places (Argentina and Australia) at the same time, I’ll be speaking via the internet on an “virtual panel” of international experts.

August 2013

• Southern Oregon Wine Cluster Industry Conference, Jacksonville, Oregon 23 August 2013. I’ll be talking about regional wine identities in the global context. Sue and I will also attend the Southern Oregon World of Wine Festival. August 21-24, 2013 also in Jacksonville.

July 2013

• Riesling Rendezvous 2013. Sue and I will be attending Riesling Rendezvous 2013, sponsored by Chateau Ste Michelle and Dr. Loosen. The event runs from July 14 to July 16.
• Northwest Farm Credit Services 2013 Wine/Vineyard Industry Symposium, Kennewick, Washington. July 24, 2013. I’ll be talking after lunch about how northwest wine fits into the changing global picture.

June 2013

• Oregon Pinot Gris Symposium. Sue and I will be attending this annual event for Oregon Pinot Gris producers, which is held at Oak Knoll Vineyards.

March 2013

• Taste Washington. Sue and I will be attending Taste Washington on Sunday March 24 to check out what’s new in the Washington wine scene. Hope to see you there.

February 2013

• Open That Bottle Night celebration. Saturday February 23, 2013.

January 2013