Details

School of Cool

White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa

$189.00 + (Processing Fee + hst) per person, includes Walk-Around Tasting

Signature Event

Your favourite classroom is calling. This signature i4C event features a keynote address from Clive Pursehouse, North American Editor of Decanter Magazine, along with three dynamic sessions and guided tastings. Lunch and networking breaks offer plenty of opportunity to connect with your fellow cool-climate classmates.

8:30am: Registration opens, coffee and food items available
9:30am: Doors open
9:45am: Opening remarks & Keynote Address

Tickets include: keynote address, three (3) industry sessions with tastings, coffee break, full lunch and Walk-Around Tasting from 4:30pm-6:00pm, following the School of Cool sessions. (Please note: The Walk-Around tasting is included in the purchase of the School of Cool ticket but it is also sold as standalone event.)

Session 1: Modern Chardonnay for the Modern Consumer – What’s Next?
Moderated by Clive Pursehouse

Chardonnay is evolving, and so is the way we experience it. From alternative packaging to skin-contact expressions, early-pick freshness to innovative fermentation and aging techniques—winemakers are pushing boundaries to continuously challenge themselves and charm today’s drinkers.

In this blind tasting experience, a lineup of mystery Chardonnays will stretch perceptions and showcase the innovations shaping the future. Are premium single-vineyard expressions the way forward, or are winemakers also embracing fun, easy-drinking styles to connect with a new generation? Is French oak still king, or are alternatives reshaping structure and balance?

Join an all-star panel as they explore what’s next for the world’s most iconic white. The wines remain a mystery—your palate will decide the future.

Session 2: Sparkling Chardonnay – No Occasion Required
Moderated by Eugene Mlynczyk MW

The world can’t get enough bubbles, and Chardonnay is at the heart of some of the finest sparkling wines. But what truly defines the best? Is it the elegance of Traditional Method or the fresh vibrancy of Charmat? The richness of oak aging or the purity of stainless steel? Vintage vs. non-vintage? Blends vs. Blanc de Blancs?

This lively session will explore the techniques and choices that shape its style, complexity, and appeal. Whether you’re a die-hard Champagne lover, a fan of crisp and zesty bubbles, or just here for the fizz—this conversation (and tasting!) is sure to spark a new conversation.

Session 3: Chardonnay’s Coming of Age – A Retrospective
Moderated by Jennifer Kelly PhD, Scientist, Oenology | CCOVI

Chardonnay doesn’t just evolve in the bottle—it evolves in the vineyard, the cellar, and in the hands of winemakers shaping its future. This exclusive session offers a side-by-side tasting of current-release wines and older vintages (5+ years) to explore how both time and winemaking innovation influence style, expression, and identity.

Is today’s Chardonnay a reflection of the past or a bold step forward? How have shifting techniques, climate, and consumer tastes reshaped what’s in the glass? This isn’t just a study in aging—it’s a look at Chardonnay’s coming of age.

An unmissable session for those who appreciate where Chardonnay has been—and where it’s headed next.

Tickets are non-refundable. This is a 19+ event.

You’re the picture of COOL!

The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Association encourages photography and videography at our events by, our agents, and attendees. These visuals may appear on our website, social media platforms, or be utilized for promotional purposes. Your attendance at our events is considered consent for such use, both for yourself and your guests.

Better yet, share your experience with us on Facebook/CoolClimateChardonnayCelebration and Instagram @coolchardonnay and tag #i4C25

 

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