JUNE 14 - 18, 2006

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LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! Whenever Mondiale members flock to its National Convention, they do so with a sense of steadfast concentration, refusing to swerve from their conviction that a vibrant few days lie ahead. Sonoma County, California will be the nerve center for this Bacchanalian festival lasting four full days, featuring the best wines from Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties, wines from Italy, culminating with Champagne Mumm to be poured at the Young Sommelier Awards Gala Dinner at Clos du Bois the evening of 17th June.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 14TH Dan and Jett Gulbronsen will be opening their home on this first evening, expressly for the Big Bidders Auction and Dinner. All proceeds will benefit the Best Young Sommeliers Fund. This event will be hosted by eight of the best wineries in the Russian River Valley and those attending are considered and expected to be active bidders, spending a minimum of $1000. There will be many exciting and excellent auction lots and will include rare wines from the cellar of the Guild of Sommeliers as well as the personal cellars of the Master Sommeliers, plus lifestyle and travel auction lots.

THURSDAY JUNE 15TH Vintner luncheons have been arranged at three different outstanding wineries and venues – Iron Horse Vineyard, Russian Hill Vineyard and Mayacama Golf Club. Expect a day of great fun at a reasonable price. The BYOB tradition in the evening never fails to be a high point, giving members the opportunity to bring interesting wines from personal cellars, sharing bottles with fellow enthusiasts engendering debate - all of it happening around a friendly table.

FRIDAY JUNE 16TH The “Taste of Wine Country” will feature some of the top wineries in California as well as over 40 gourmet food purveyors displaying and serving their products – represented by Savor California. Members will be able to sign up for direct shipment of this often hard to find merchandise. During the evening the Italian Wine Merchants will bring the diverse flavors of Italy to Sonoma, in the form of a traditional Italian feast prepared by the IWM culinary team and a full complement of Italian wines chosen by IWM proprietor Sergio Esposito, widely considered the leading authority on Italian wine today. This will take place at the Wine Country Hilton Inn. Dinner will be preceded by the Mondiale Induction Ceremony in the Hilton Ballroom, officiated by Grand Échanson Dan Gulbronsen.

SATURDAY JUNE 17TH From early in the morning through until mid-afternoon the Young Sommelier Competition will be taking place with only competitors and Judges in attendance. The Champagne Mumm Gala Dinner at Clos du Bois winery that evening will be an outstanding event that will honor the best young sommeliers in the country who, inevitably, will go on to become leaders in the wine industry of the future. Seven of our former competitors have progressed onward and achieved their Master Sommelier credentials. This dinner will feature a stunning array of foods, each of the six courses paired with the best Champagnes of G. H. Mumm.