An Exclusive Wine Reception Is Coming to Summer Nationals — and the Guest List Is Extraordinary

Share:

by Bryan Wendell

USA Fencing's official wine partner is hosting an intimate reception during the opening weekend of Summer Nationals. The headliner is one of the most celebrated winemakers alive — joined by a Fencing and Film panel featuring some familiar faces. 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Rob Edwards, the award-winning screenwriter behind Disney's Oscar-nominated "The Princess and the Frog" and Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World," will join legendary winemaker Véronique Drouhin for an exclusive reception in partnership with USA Fencing on Sunday, June 28, at the Oregon Convention Center.

Tickets are $99 per person and available at this link. This is a 21+ event.

Meet the Winemaker

Véronique Drouhin operates in a category essentially of her own: she oversees winemaking at both Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Dundee Hills and Maison Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy, making her one of the very few winemakers producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the highest level on two continents simultaneously.

Her wines have earned a 99-point score from Wine Advocate and a No. 6 ranking on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024, and she personally received France's highest civilian honor: the Légion d'Honneur. Most recently, Drouhin graced the cover of the May 2026 issue of Wine Spectator, with the headline: "Sweet Home Oregon: A French Winemaker Thrives in the Willamette Valley."

The story of how she landed in Oregon is one of wine's great origin stories. In 1980, her father Robert organized a blind tasting in Beaune after an Oregon Pinot Noir stunned the establishment at a prestigious Paris competition. Oregon finished second by the narrowest of margins. Robert was convinced the region could produce world-class wine — and in 1987 purchased what is now 225 acres in the Dundee Hills. At 24 years old, Véronique was named winemaker. The philosophy she brought with her from Burgundy: "French Soul, Oregon Soil."

An Evening to Remember

The reception runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and features exceptional wines from Domaine Drouhin Oregon and Maison Joseph Drouhin, including some of their most celebrated Pinot Noirs, alongside a generous selection of seasonal hors d'oeuvres. Champagne Billecart-Salmon, USA Fencing's official Champagne, will also be served. A live panel discussion will explore the connections between fencing, film and winemaking — followed by a live auction featuring exclusive Domaine Drouhin Oregon and USA Fencing experiences.

Seating is limited, so secure your tickets now.

Get tickets — $99 per person