Late last night I downloaded the newest version (1.3) of the HdR 2010 iPhone app. This version lets you take notes on individual wines. You can also email those notes. If you don’t already have the iPhone app, check it out and download it from the iTunes store. Even if you don’t make it down to Paso Robles for Hospice du Rhone, there’s value in the app for you.

Hospice du Rhone always opens with Rhone ‘n Bowl. However, this will be my first time attending that particular event. I’m not exactly sure what to expect, but I’m looking forward to excellent Rhone-style wines, loud shirts and mad alley skillz from at least a few of the winemakers. I’m also wondering at what point the bowling pins get replaced by empty wine bottles.

I’ll be tweeting and live blogging at every opportunity during this year’s event. However, it looks like my shiny new 3G iPad doesn’t ship until the 30th, so I won’t have that with me. I am so disappointed about that. I’m not looking forward to lugging my laptop through the whole event.

While I’m sure that my digital comments and those of my fellow writers in attendance will be scintillating, there’s nothing like attending the event in person. So, I encourage you to drop everything, postpone your wedding, reschedule any pending surgery, and get some last minute tix to the event. Online ticket sales are now closed, but tickets for will be available at the venue starting 8AM on Friday.

Here’s the agenda once more (if you can’t make it to the event in person, let this agenda be your guide to the Twitter conversations):

Friday, April 30, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - We've Come a Long Way Baby! The Past, Present and Future of South African Syrah
James Molesworth of Wine Spectator moderates this session that features seven South African wineries. It’s a survey of the changes that have taken place in South African winemaking over the past 30+ years, regional differences and a discussion of where it’s headed now.

10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Côte Rôtie - The Next Generation
John Alban moderates this panel with Stephane Ogier about the changes in the wineries and vineyards of Cote Rotie brought about by the new generation of winemakers, such as himself, and how that is leading to even greater recognition for the wines.

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Rosé Lunch
The food at this lunch and all of the other events is by Chef John Toulze of the girl & the fig of Sonoma, excellent Rhone-inspired cuisine.

3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - A massive walk-around tasting featuring hundreds of Rhone varietal wines.

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Sommelier Soirée
Sommelier's from around the country bring excellent Rhone-varietal wines from their personal cellar just for me (and the other lucky attendees). I'm looking forward to seeing (tasting really) what they offer.

Saturday, May 1, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - Washington State: The Perfect Haven for “The Ultimate Terroirist”
Alan Kropf of Mutineer Magazine speaks with Charles Smith, Food & Wine Magazines 2009 American Wine Awards Winemaker of the Year, about the varied terroir of eastern Washington and how to ensure that originality is reflected in the wine. I’m really looking forward to this one, some of my favorite Rhone-varietal wines are coming out of eastern Washington these days.

10:30 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. - An Incredible Cambie-nation
Jeb Dunnuck of the Rhone Report leads this discussion with three of the most prominent figures in the Southern Rhone. This area has exploded in both popular and critical acclaim over the past 15 years.  Learn more about the changes which have led to the recent success and what the future holds.

12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Lunch and Live Auction

3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Grand Tasting: An even more massive walk-around tasting featuring completely Rhone varietal wines from those poured on Friday.

6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Farewell BBQ

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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2010 NorCal Wine. iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. All rights reserved.

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