Trade Registration Now Open for Sonoma County Barrel Auction May 4-5, 2023
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (January 19, 2023) – Registration is now open for the ninth annual Sonoma County Barrel Auction (SoCoBA), produced by Sonoma County Vintners and presented by American AgCredit. Wine industry trade members from across the country and around the world will have the exclusive opportunity to acquire “never before, never again” wines from Sonoma County’s acclaimed vintners during the live auction on May 5.
“The Sonoma County Barrel Auction is an opportunity for winemakers to apply their creativity and personality to some of the most carefully grown grapes in the world,” said Cody Radelfinger, Regional Banking Executive for American AgCredit. “It is our honor to support the event that brings those wines under one tent.”
SoCoBA will again be held at the beautiful MacMurray Estate Vineyards and feature one-of-a-kind wine futures crafted exclusively for the auction. From Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Zinfandel and numerous varieties in between, trade attendees will bid on five, ten and twenty case lots which showcase the world-class quality and diversity of Sonoma County wines. These distinctive lots from across Sonoma County provide trade buyers with original wines for resale to their customers and ultra-premium wine collectors.
“With the continued support of presenting sponsor American AgCredit, vintner participants, trade guests, sponsor and event partners, we look forward to an exciting auction,” said Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director Michael Haney. “SoCoBA provides a valuable opportunity for meaningful connections with visiting trade and participants, as well as promoting Sonoma County wines nationally and globally at this annual event.”
Bacchus Landing will host the SoCoBA Lot Tasting Preview Event on May 4, giving attendees the opportunity to sample the 2023 lots, learn more about the participating vintners and their wine portfolios. Trade guests are also invited to attend intimate SoCoBA Vintner Dinners held throughout Sonoma County the same evening. The Sonoma County Barrel Auction will be held on May 5 with a welcome reception at the historic MacMurray Estate Vineyards, followed by a wine country lunch under the live auction tent and a special Sonoma County Icons & Innovators honoree presentation.
Marcus Ajnemark, Founder of LaMarc Wines in Oslo, Norway, attended his first SoCoBA in 2022. When asked what he enjoyed most about the event, he said, “Going through the lots the day before, tasting, discussing the wines and meeting the winemakers. And of course, the day of the auction was magic! We were already working with several producers from Sonoma County, two of them attended the auction, and we were able to bring both lots home to Norway.”
Trade registration for the 2023 Sonoma County Barrel Auction is by invitation. Only licensed wholesalers, retailers and restaurateurs will receive a paddle to bid. To learn more or request a ticket, visit the Sonoma County Barrel Auction website at SoCoBarrelAuction.com.
Proceeds raised from the Sonoma County Barrel Auction assist in creating Sonoma County Vintners marketing programs and initiatives that support the wine trade and community.
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About Sonoma County Vintners
Sonoma County Vintners is the leading voice of Sonoma County wine, dedicated to raising awareness of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier wine regions. Sonoma County Vintners represents over 250 wineries throughout the county. The organization actively promotes Sonoma County through educational programming; advocates for its members at local, state and federal levels; and contributes to the local communities through our Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. Sonoma County Wine Auction, its annual fundraiser, benefits non-profit organizations throughout the region. To learn more about Sonoma County Vintners, visit SonomaWine.com.
About American AgCredit
American AgCredit was chartered in 1916 as part of the nationwide Farm Credit System and is the nation’s fourth-largest Farm Credit association. American AgCredit specializes in providing financial services to agricultural and rural customers in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma, and serves capital market customers throughout the United States. Financial services provided by American AgCredit include production and mortgage financing, equipment and vehicle leasing, crop and life insurance, lines of credit, and the Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Program. In addition, the Association provides interest-free loans for qualifying 4-H and FFA AgYouth programs, as well as college scholarships to young people interested in agriculture. Learn more at www.AgLoan.com.
About Bacchus Landing
Founded by siblings Monica and Francisco Lopez, along with their parents Al and Dina, Bacchus Landing is a curated collective of wineries representing a diverse spectrum of grape varieties and winemaking styles. It is located in the heart of Healdsburg at the crossroads of three of Sonoma County’s premier wine regions. Designed to reflect the Lopez family’s deep-seated passion for hosting family and friends, Bacchus Landing welcomes guests to come and stay the day, offering a relaxing escape from everyday life. The three-acre property boasts five spacious, open-air tasting rooms, an artisanal food market serving local wine-friendly bites, a more casual green space with picnic tables and bocce courts, a central piazza with café tables, a full commercial kitchen, and a variety of spaces for corporate meetings and events. For more information, please visit BacchusLanding.com.
About MacMurray Estate Vineyards
With vineyards in California’s most sought-after Pinot Noir regions, MacMurray Estate Vineyards is synonymous with one of the world’s most celebrated grape varieties. We grow our grapes where Pinot Noir thrives — in the Russian River Valley and the Central Coast. By carefully tending to each vineyard block and making discerning choices in the cellar, we create wines that reflect the unique terroir of each estate vineyard while showcasing the elegant flavors of the delicate Pinot Noir grape. Our namesake in the Russian River Valley, the 1,500-acre MacMurray Ranch, has a rich farming history that stretches back to the early 1850s. In 1941, actor Fred MacMurray bought the ranch as an idyllic family retreat and cattle ranch. In 1996, MacMurray Ranch was transformed to include a world-class vineyard with 450 acres of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vines, ushering in a new era for the legendary Sonoma County property. Learn more at MacMurrayEstateVineyards.com.
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