The Academy of Wine Communications, the organization of wine public relations and marketing professionals, will host its first meeting since the group relaunched earlier this year at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California on June 30, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The event will take place at the CIA’s Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies and include a wine reception and short presentation on the new direction of the Academy of Wine Communications (AWC).

“I am very excited that the CIA has generously offered to host the first event of our new era at the Rudd Center,” said Michael Wangbickler, Executive Director for the Academy of Wine Communications. “It is the perfect venue for us to relaunch our endeavor. I will enjoy making the acquaintance of members I haven’t met in person and reconnecting with members I haven’t seen in a while. It should be a very enjoyable and productive evening.”

Attendees to the first meeting will be treated to a selection of member-donated wines and delicious nibbles supplied by the exceptional CIA kitchens. A short presentation in the Napa Valley Vintners Tasting Theatre will kick off the evening with a review of the AWC mission and intended direction of the organization. The presentation will be webcast for members who are unable to attend in person.

“Times of challenge bring new reasons to come together as a community and act collectively on behalf of the wine-related businesses we represent,” notes Cate Conniff, CIA Greystone’s Marketing Manager. “There’s a lot we can accomplish together that might be harder to do as individuals under the current economic climate.”

AWC members participating in the event are asked to pay a nominal fee of $15 per person. Non-members are also welcome to attend for a fee of $30 per person. Individual membership in the Academy of Wine Communications is $100 per year.

Attendees that choose to stay for dinner at the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant following the meeting will receive complimentary corkage on any bottle of wine, as well as a round of the restaurant’s signature Temptations, an array of small bites prepared by their chef, to be shared by all at the table. To make reservations, please call 707.967.1010 and ask to have your attendance at the AWC meeting put in the reservation notes.

To register to attend this event, or find out more about the Academy of Wine Communications, visit the Academy website at www.academyofwine.org or contact Michael Wangbickler at (707) 255-7667 or mwangbickler@balzac.com.

About Academy of Wine Communications
The Academy of Wine Communications was founded in 1994 by wine communications pioneers Paul Wagner, Harvey Posert, and Sam Folsom. The original concept was to lend support to wine media through its awards program and provide education on media relations to its members. Since that time, the organization held regular meetings until a hiatus in 2007.