5/13/2010 - St Helena, CA—The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association will offer the award-winning Napa Valley Wine Educators Academy in Napa Valley from August 22-26, 2010. This exciting "educate the educator"-style intensive is one of the association's signature programs that provides tools for professionals to effectively teach the topics of winegrowing and winemaking along with the unique attributes of the wine industry in California's renowned Napa Valley.
The curriculum was designed in conjunction with wine expert and writer Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and host of PBS's "Wine, Food and Friends with Karen MacNeil." MacNeil, Director of Professional Wine Studies at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, worked with a host of expert winemakers, viticulturists and industry leaders to create this unprecedented insider's wine education curriculum.
This program teaches professional wine educators about the agricultural and enological practices of Napa Valley, as well as the history and culture of America's premier appellation. Attendance in the program is open to qualified individuals who professionally educate about wine and are not associated with a winery.
Attendees will spend time with top-notch winemakers and growers in the winery and in the vineyard experiencing first hand, or "down and dirty," the processes of growing and crafting world-class wine. Educational and social wine tastings will be showcased each day providing educators with rare chances to meet with, taste with and dine with the leaders in the wine world in intimate venues.
Each attendee will depart with a "Napa Valley Rocks" interactive toolkit. "Napa Valley Rocks" includes a one-of-a-kind, multi-media educational presentation the NVV has developed as the go-to resource on Napa Valley. "Our vintners have been very focused on appellation education as all research, and everything we see out in the country, tells us that wine lovers of all ages and all backgrounds are keenly interested in knowing more about how wine is made. We also know they want the information demystified, and that's why this outreach to wine educators is so important," said Russ Weis of Silverado Vineyards, and chair of the NVV Marketing Committee.
"The Napa Valley Wine Educators Academy is one of the most comprehensive wine intensives that provides innovative information and actual tools to better prepare those who educate about wine. There is nothing like it and the testimonials from wine educators who have graduated from this course have been nothing less than stellar," said Kathleen Heitz Myers of Heitz Wine Cellars and vice president of the NVV Board of Directors.
Interested candidates should apply via the NVV's website at www.napavintners.com. The program is $395 per person which covers all conference fees, meals and the "Napa Valley Rocks" kit. Applications are being taken now through June 10, 2010. The NVV has negotiated well-priced industry rates at a local hotel for those accepted into the program. There are a number of scholarships available from NVV member wineries to cover the conference fees. The scholarships will be awarded based on the submission of unique, innovative and well-developed teaching methods that can be shared with other attendees to enhance the overall program and content. Information and submission guidelines are also available on the website
The CIA will again offer continuing education credits in its Professional Wine Studies program for credential-seeking attendees.
About the CIA
The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in the Napa Valley (CIA) is a private, not-for-profit college dedicated to providing the world's best professional culinary and wine education. Excellence, leadership, professionalism, ethics, and respect for diversity are the core values that guide our efforts. We teach our students the general knowledge and specific skills necessary to live successful lives and to grow into positions of influence and leadership in their chosen profession.
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 nearly 400 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry.
Contact: Terry Hall, Communications Director 707-968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
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