[Official Pressrelease]
The fifth annual EWBC – Digital Wine Communications Conference welcomed communicators from 40 countries to the three-day event held in Izmir (Turkey) November 9-11, 2012, with 280 wine bloggers and wine industry professionals taking part.
The only international event dedicated to the convergence of wine and the web, the EWBC provides a unique platform for the global wine community to address today’s online communications opportunities. The 2012 conference theme – Source – covered a broad range of sessions from the origins of wine and the vine, to wine tourism and natural wine, as well as technical sessions and numerous educational wine tastings.
The Keynote sessions of the EWBC – Digital Wine Communications Conference included presentations by Andrew Jefford, Randall Grahm and Christian “Documentally” Payne, and also brought together wines from Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Lebanon in the “Grand Terroir” Tasting, led by Tim Atkin MW and Charles Metcalfe.
Organised by Ryan and Gabriella Opaz and Robert McIntosh of social media company Vrazon, the annual three-day event combines educational and informative content, practical workshops, wine experiences and many networking opportunities.
Event co-organiser Robert McIntosh said: “This has been the most rewarding EWBC yet, and the first where the digital conversation has been embraced by mainstream wine communicators, including MWs, retailers and generics. Everyone has told us how useful and exciting they found the event and we are already seeing new projects emerge. In the five years we have run the conference, Digital Communications has gone from a quirky pastime to an essential part of wine business marketing plans, and the momentum is building still further. These are exciting times.”
As well as the communications sessions, thanks to the Host Sponsor, Wines of Turkey, as well as the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, attendees had plenty of opportunities for technical tastings of Turkish wine, food and even Raki, with around 150 participants attending trips to Turkish wineries as well as historic and cultural sites. Content being released from the conference can be read on either the EWBC Eventifier account or the EWBC Bundlr account.
“We had so many interesting conversations, and sparked dozens of great ideas. Our brains are fizzing with the possibilities of introducing Laithwaite’s customers to some of the wines of the ancient world. Nearly a million people around the world trust us to source their wine for them, and we are excited about finding new ways, using the power of digital communities, to help them to fall in love with our wines.” ~ Justin Howard-Sneyd, Global Wine Director, Laithwaite’s Wine (UK)
“At the 2012 EWBC, a great community of passionate wine enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the world of wine and the craft of communicating about it. This year’s conference offered two days of insightful sessions matched with a deep dive into the burgeoning Turkish wine scene.” ~ Alder Yarrow, www.vinography.com (USA)
Sponsors and Contact
Vrazon is very grateful for the support of our many sponsors, including:
Host Sponsors: Wines of Turkey, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Platinum Sponsors: ARKAS
Premier Sponsors: Groupe ESC Dijon, Born Digital Wine Awards, Doluca, Kavaklıdere, Kayra, LA, Pamukkale, Selendi, Sevilen, Sulva, Vinkara, Yazgan
Grand Terroir Tasting Sponsors: Georgian Wine Association, Wines of Lebanon, Wines of Turkey, Zorah
Gold Sponsors: Nomacorc, Laithwaite’s Wine, Pegasus, Akuvator
Partners: Izmir Chamber of Commerce, Izmir Convention and Tourism Bureau, BSTIP Black Sea
Tech Sponsors: Bundlr, Eventifier, Liebherr, Laffort, Mercury France, Teknokrom, Eaton Begerow, Donatim, Get Social, AVIN, Showmapper
Media Partners: Harpers, DiVino, Vitis, Hurriyet, Wine Industry Insight, Wein & Markt, VinCe, El Conocedor, Karaf, Bouquet, Hurriyet Daily News, Radikal
The venue for EWBC 2012 will be announced in January 2013. If you have any questions regarding the EWBC or wish to contact us to discuss participation or sponsorship, please send an email to: contact@vrazon.com.