East Coast Cocktails and West Coast Wines Conversations with Sokol Blosser Winery’s Alex Sokol Blosser and Eastern Standard Kitchen’s Bar Manager Jackson Cannon

Please join me on Thursday, December 9th when we’ll be talking about the amazing wines made at Oregon’s family owned & operated Sokol Blosser Winery as well as the classic cocktail & innovative beer programs at Boston’s Eastern Standard Kitchen & Island Creek Oyster Bar.
My guests, Alex Sokol Blosser and Jackson Cannon, will share their passion and enthusiasm for what they do as well as some inside knowledge of what’s going on behind the scenes in the wine and restaurant industries…please grab a glass of your favorite Pinot Noir or a classic Jack Rose, and join us!

Guest Bios:

Alex Sokol Blosser:

Alex Sokol Blosser, son of Sokol Blosser’s founders, Susan Sokol Blosser and Bill Blosser, grew up working in the family vineyards and winery. After starting college in Texas, he realized his heart lay back on the family farm, so he returned to Oregon to finish his degree and acquire more wine industry experience. In 1998, after working in neighboring vineyards and with a Portland wine wholesaler, he worked for the president, his mom, Susan, while earning his MBA degree. When he achieved his MBA, Alex became Vice President of Sales at Sokol Blosser. In addition to his sales duties, he works harvest and oversees vineyard and winemaking activities. Now a Co-President with his sister Alison, he actively participates in the Oregon wine industry, including spearheading the project to develop six new American Viticultural Areas in the northern Willamette Valley in 2002. He currently serves as President of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association and has twin boys, Nikolas & Avery.

Jackson Cannon:

Jackson Cannon, son and brother of renowned award-winning journalists Lou & Carl Cannon, grew up immersed in a world of travel, politics & literature. A stint booking music acts in Cambridge, MA provided the introduction to the craft of bartending. He found mixology to be the perfect profession and has elevated the craft of bartending in Boston. As opening Bar Manager at Eastern Standard his cocktail program has received national attention. USA Today named Eastern Standard one of the country’s Top 10 Hotel Bars, Boston magazine awarded it “Best Restaurant Bar”, Esquire magazine included it in its list of “Best Bars in America” in 2008 & 2010 and ES was awarded top honor of Spirits Hospitality Restaurant of the Year by Santé magazine. In 2010, he created the bar program for Island Creek Oyster Bar, ES’s sister restaurant. When he’s not traveling or spending time with his wife and two young children, Jackson can be found mentoring the next generation of craft beverage devotees.