In one  week, my wife, Melissa, and I will be packing my bags and going to camp.  TasteCamp 2010.  What is TasteCamp you say.

Here is a brief description from the TasteCamp Website:

The concept for TasteCamp is a simple one: getting enthusiastic journalists and bloggers together in a region that is new to them to taste as much wine as possible and speak to as many winemakers as possible over the course of a weekend.

I remember reading tweets about TasteCamp last year.  Organizer Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report put this together last year, the inaugural year here on Long Island.  It was fun to follow along and see the great stuff that Long Island was offering the attendees, many of whom have never been here before.

This year TasteCamp will be up in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  It kicks off on Friday May 7th and concludes on Sunday, May 9th.  35+ wineries will be pouring their wine’s for us over the course of the weekend.  Alot of wine will be tasted.

I am  really looking forward to the chance to explore a new wine region and visit a breathtaking area like the Finger Lakes.  I cannot wait to taste some Gewürztraminer and some world-class Riesling. 

But more importantly, I cannot wait to meet the people behind the label, behind the wine;  the blood, sweat and cheer that goes into the bottles, and I hope that I can bring their stories to you.

I am also looking forward to meeting some of my favorite writers as well; Joe Roberts of 1 Wine Dude, Julia Burke of New York Cork Report and Stellenbauchery, Richard Auffrey of The Passionate Foodie, Tom Mansell of Ithacork, and Evan Dawson  and Bryan Calandrelli of New York Cork Report.  I am hoping to get some inspiration from you, since I read you on a regular basis. 

I also cannot wait to meet the rest of the 30+ attendees.  I hope to build relationships with you over the course of the weekend.

Lenn and John: I have already met you and you both inspire me already 🙂

The one event I am looking forward to is the BYOB dinner on Saturday….I wonder which wine I will bring from Long Island to show the quality and the future of Long Island Wine!  You can check out the rest of the whirl wind weekend here on the agenda page.

So, look for a number of posts following my adventures in the Finger Lakes.  But I have to finish a few Long Island Posts before I leave.