Wine Worth Its Salt? The 2019 International Volcanic Wine Conference Explores Saltiness and Minerality in Volcanic Wines

John Szabo, Master Sommelier and award-winning author, and Volcanic Wines International (VWI) are proud to announce this year's International Volcanic Wine Conference (IVWC) theme: "Saltiness: Defining Minerality in Volcanic Wines," as well as confirmed wine regions and producers. Following the successful inaugural conference in 2018, the IVWC aims to continue its mission of establishing a volcanic wine category, and to provide educational and promotional opportunities for volcanic wine producers internationally. The conference will be held at The Stewart Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, June 5th and will be open exclusively to qualified wine trade and media.

In 2019, the VWI continues its mission of exploring the defining characteristics of volcanic wines. John Szabo will be working with Benoît Marsan, Professor at the Université du Québec in Montréal and Wine Chemistry Specialist, to develop a research study related to minerality, including the presence of succinic acid in volcanic wines and its influence on perceived saltiness. Szabo and Marsan will co-present the research at this year's IVWC in June.

"The inspiration for this year's sub-theme came from feedback I received during last year's conference. Minerality has always been a controversial subject in the wine industry and this study will allow us, through scientific research, to better understand and define it, specifically in terms of volcanic wines," says John Szabo. "I look forward to presenting the results of our research during this year's conference."

Returning participants from last year's conference include leading wineries from the regions of Santorini, Soave, Etna, Pico and Vesuvius, as well as volcanic wines from leading fine wine importers. This year, the conference welcomes wineries from Germany, Oregon and Spain, among others.

Further details regarding the conference, including additional confirmed participants and seminar schedules, will be announced in the following months.

For more information and latest updates, be sure to visit the Volcanic Wines International official website http://www.volcanicwinesinternational.com, and follow the VWI's Facebook (Volcanic Wines International) and Instagram (@volcanicwines_intl) pages.

About John Szabo
John Szabo is a Toronto-based author and wine critic, and in 2004 was the first Canadian to add the Master Sommelier credential to his name. He was named 'Canada's best-known sommelier' in Meininger's Wine Business International, and he is a partner and a wine critic for WineAlign.com and freelances widely. In addition to Volcanic Wines, Salt, Grit and Power, his book titles include Pairing Food and Wine for Dummies and Sommelier Management. John also works as a restaurant consultant, and speaks and judges internationally, when he's not making a few dozen bottles of wine from his vineyard in Eger, Hungary.

About Volcanic Wines International (VWI)
The mission of Volcanic Wines International is to take the leading role in defining and establishing a Volcanic Wine Movement, and to provide educational and promotional opportunities for volcanic wine producers internationally. Volcanic Wines International also plans to establish the volcanic wine brand as a premium category of high-quality wines with a true sense of place.

About Colangelo & Partners
Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine and spirits brands, and has long-established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on "closing the loop" between creative communications programs, distribution, promotion, publicity, and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results. Founded in 2006, Colangelo & Partners was honored as one of the year's top integrated communications firms at the 2013 Agency Elite Awards and for one of the best digital marketing campaigns at the 2014 Digital PR Awards.

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