Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/297564
W i n e s & V i n e s M AY 2 0 1 4 21 C openhagen, Denmark—A two-year- old bid to build markets in Europe took another step as wineries from Washington state, Oregon and California banded together in advance of ProWein, held March 23-25 in Germany. Upwards of 100 wine brands from the three states called on London before making what Alex Sokol Blosser of Oregon's Sokol Blosser Winery called a "lap across Lapland," with stops in Copenhagen as well as the Swedish cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg. "All was wonderful and great for all our wine regions and great for business," Sokol Blosser told Wines & Vines from his hotel room in Oslo, where he traveled following the tastings earlier in the week. Sokol Blosser said it marked the first time (in recent memory, anyway) that the three major wine regions on the West Coast had collaborated on a tasting event for the trade and consumers. "Go West!" brought the three states together to tell attendees more about the United States' diverse West Coast wine regions. The first event was held March 17 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center in London, which Washington State Wine Commission communications manager Erica Waliser said attracted "several hundred media, sommeliers, wine buyers and import- ers." A seminar informed participants about AVAs in Washington state and Oregon. This event was followed by a March 20 tasting in Copenhagen, where California highlighted wines from Napa, and Wash- ington state featured wines from its top- produced grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Oregon highlighted Pinot Noir. The events were the first international marketing initiative by the three states. For Janna Rinker, international sales director with Charles Smith Wines, the attention wineries received showed that the West Coast is a strong region, and one in which individual success reflects well on other segments of the industry. "The collaboration between California, Oregon and Washington brought more cus- tomers and importers and helped expand the knowledge and awareness of Washing- ton state as a premium wine region that offers great value," she said. "We'll defi- nitely be back in 2015 and hope to expand our collaborative efforts." —Peter Mitham West Coast Wineries Take on Europe Three states unify to promote wines in UK, Denmark, Sweden and Germany Learn more: Search keywords "West Coast collaboration." winesandvines.com Shannon Jones of Hestia Cellars (right) talks with Rufus Gifford, U.S. ambassador to Denmark, in Copenhagen. M A Y N E W S