2026 Expression of Interest Forms are NOW CLOSED
Sommer Camp is the premier volunteer experience at the TEXSOM Conference. Volunteers have exclusive educational opportunities that are not available to other conference participants to include: educational tastings, skills training, networking with peers and mentors, Sommer Camp Lounges and Polishing Events, and contending for multiple scholarships.
2026 Partners include: Acqua Panna, Beaujolais, Bordeaux CIVB, Ca’ del Bosco, Champagne Taittinger, DO Cava and Jamón ConsorcioSerrano, Evaton INC, Famiglie Storiche, Gallo, Gregory + Vine, HERITA USA, Hirsch Vineyards, Hopscotch, I.E.M. – International Exhibition Management S.r.l., Kettmeir, Loire Wines, Maze Row Portfolio, ROCO Winery, TEXSOM Awards, Saint-Émilion AOC, The Hills Association, Virginia Wine, William Chris Wine Company, Wine Australia, Wines of South Africa, and more to be announced!Once we move to the main conference days, you’ll have opportunities to continue education alongside conference attendees while also enjoying exclusive to you opportunities in lounges, polishing events, dinners with conference speakers, and more!
Scholarship Opportunities
The Merendino Foundation and Ethics Suite have graciously renewed scholarship opportunities again this year for a series of awards totaling over $5,000. Scholarship details are shared at the conference and awards distributed at the Sommer Camp Appreciation Event on Tuesday, August 25th.
Sommer Camp Benefits
Volunteers have access to mentored education, the chance to connect with professionals from all over the world, the experience of learning side by side with industry leaders, and the opportunity to gain relevant skills for all beverage professionals. Exposure to world class, and sometimes rare, beverages of all types affords those who join the team to see, taste, and carefully prepare and serve things you may have only read about. Mentors celebrate the knowledge you bring to the event and make every effort to send you home with new ways of executing tasks or new thought processes for solving challenges to real life scenarios in hospitality. Everyone who serves on this team learns the importance of community, camaraderie, and the value of teamwork.
Due to the large number of volunteers each year, TEXSOM is not able to provide air travel, accommodations or local transportation to and from the conference, but we do negotiate with hotels for discounted rates. Accommodations and TEXSOM group rates at various hotels will be announced upon opening of TEXSOM conference registration. Double occupancy rooms are limited and available. In addition, there are other options for accommodations near the conference venue, Irving Convention Center, that can be booked outside the TEXSOM room blocks.
TEXSOM provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner for days you are scheduled, and most meals include additional tastings and education exclusive to Sommer Campers.
TEXSOM SOMMER CAMP ELIGIBILITY
We encourage all interested enthusiasts and beverage trade professionals to submit an expression of interest form for Sommer Camp. Participants must be 21 years of age or older.
Please be advised your completed form is not a registration to the TEXSOM Conference and does not guarantee a Sommer Camp position or attendance to seminars. As time slots fill, we will remove options from the form and advise all interested to submit a form as early as possible to secure your preferred schedule. The first 20 form entrants will receive a special advantage. All forms will be reviewed for compliance (age and availability) and participation will be confirmed by TEXSOM.
Confirmed participants may help execute the conference beginning with load-in, set-up, and exclusive education on Thursday, August 20, 2026, continuing through the week and weekend, and concluding with load-out on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The form gives you the option to customize your availability for the specific days and times you would like to volunteer. Whether you choose two days or the full schedule, we pledge to build in lots of education and tasting opportunities. Please only select days and times for which you plan to attend, as the courtesy of your participation for your selections is expected. Your participation is not contingent on volunteering for multiple shifts per day. You can always add on to your schedule after you arrive!
If you know anyone who may benefit and want to participate, please send them our way!
Sommer Camp Education Partnerships are available for confirmation. Please send all inquiries to info@texsom.com.
All participants at the TEXSOM Conference must be 21 years of age or older and are required to sign the TEXSOM Participant Code of Conduct and Ethics agreement. The TEXSOM Conference is a professional educational event for wine, food & beverage service, enthusiasts, and hospitality professionals.
TEXSOM Sommer Camp Partners
Sommer Camp Meals and Education Topics
—–DO Cava + Jamón ConsorcioSerrano with Doreen Colondres
—–Style Shifts: Australia’s Varietal Evolution with Mark Davidson
—–Pinot Noir at the Peaks: Marc Pfitscher Shares Alto Adige’s Girlan in a World Context presented by Maze Row Wine Merchant
—–Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion with Mary Gorman-McAdams MW
—–Giovanni Rosso: The Language of Limestone and Lava, Barolo to Etna
—–Perrier | S. Pellegrino | Acqua Panna | Essentia with Lyn Farmer
—–From An Original: Pere Ventura Features Cellar Selections and the New Laws Elevating Cava Quality presented by Maze Row Wine Merchant
—–A Portuguese Wine for Every Occasion with Eugenio Jardim
—–Passport to Portugal: Hidden Gems, Grand Discoveries
—–Famiglie Storiche: Amarone: Fine and Contemporary Wine
Sommer Camp Tasting Breaks, Lounges, Polishing Events, and Toasts
—–Beaujolais
—–Champagne Taittinger
—–Gregory + Vine
—–Herita USA
—–HOPSCOTCH
—–Kobrand Wine & Spirits
—–Loire Wines
—–Mountain Wines: Hirsch Vineyards, G.D. Vajra
—–Rías Baixas
—–The Hills: Rattlesnake Hills AVA
—–Virginia Wine
—–Vinitaly.USA
—–William Chris Wine Co
—–Williams Selyem
—–Wines of South Africa