I still find it exciting–the anticipation of travel. Especially travel to the great wine regions of the world and the opportunity to taste new wine. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to visit most of the world’s major (and some of its minor) wine areas. But this month will be something new for me.

This month I will be a guest at Wine Australia’s Global Wine Forum–Savour Australia 2013–in the beautiful city of Adelaide. Getting there from Florida will take about 30 hours including waiting time between planes, but once I set foot in Adelaide I will be involved in a busy and exciting itinerary of wine events. Glancing quickly at my schedule I see three days of engaging seminars and a grand tasting with over 150 Australian winemakers pouring their wines. I will be representing ABC Fine Wine & Spirits as one of about 750 key wine-trade and media delegates from around the world in the largest and most comprehensive industry tasting event ever held in Adelaide.

And as if that wasn’t enough, I will then spend time visiting some of the great wine estates in the Barossa and Clare Valleys. Included will be lunch at Jacob’s Creek historic 1847 Heritage Vineyard, formal tasting sets of the 1800s Club, dinner at Penfold’s Magill Estate, a cycling tour along the Riesling Trail in Clare Valley with stops for Riesling and fresh oysters, a bonfire dinner under the stars, a ‘Best of the Barossa Masterclass’, a ‘new clones’ tasting at Yalumba, and a Rare and Distinguished dinner at Peter Lehmann Wines among so much more.

Of course I am aware of some difficulties in the public’s current perception–here in the USA at least–of what Australian wine represents. One of the things I look forward to is hearing from the winemakers and estate owners about how the Australian wine industry is attempting to challenge that perception. I expect to be surprised and engaged, and I hope to bring some new thoughts and ideas about the quality of Australian wines back to the USA.

So–I’m almost ready. Passport in order. Got my visa and travel insurance. Ordered my Australian dollars. Just have to pack my bags and head for the airport. Watch this space next month for details on this amazing trip.

Bill Stobbs, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills