2026 Symposium Speakers

Tradition with Innovation to Drive Excellence (Presented in Spanish), Tradición e Innovación para Impulsar la Excelencia (Presentada en español)

To be announced.

Sessions:

To be announced.

Sessions:

Danny Brager has a wealth of experience in the U.S. Beverage Alcohol industry, analyzing trends over many years. He formerly headed Nielsen’s Beverage Alcohol Practice Area in the U.S, leading teams that supported relationships with Nielsen’s clients as well as key industry groups and the media.

In his current consulting role, Danny provides data-driven analysis and insights to Beverage Alcohol companies seeking to translate information into authoritative, fact-based insights in support of their corporate and brand goals. Each year, he presents at a large number of notable industry and company events and is a frequent thought leader contributor to the media/press. His informed opinions are highly respected by the beverage alcohol producers, importers, distributors, retailers and financiers.

Danny currently partners with 3 Tier Beverages – a company that facilitates the provision of data, and provides outsourced analytics, is on the Board of Directors of the Wine Market Council, and is Managing Director of Category & Consumer Insights at Azur Associates. Azur was founded to bring comprehensive advisory & consulting services – including strategic advisory, mergers & acquisitions and route to market solutions – to wine and spirits companies.

Danny was born in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Toronto where he graduated from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He relocated to Mission Viejo, California in 1993 where he now resides.

Sessions:

Wine AND? Niche Festivals & Experiences in Wine – Why They Work and How They Appeal to New Consumers

To be announced.

Sessions:

To be announced.

Sessions:

Breathing New Life into Wine: Redox Potential Management During Fermentation (includes tasting)

Based in Europe, Felicity Carter is the founder of Drinks Insider podcast, newsletter and consultancy, delivering analysis and insight on the drinks business. She’s also Editorial Director of Areni Global, the fine wine think tank headquartered in London, and a guest lecturer at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town.

Previously, she was founding Executive Editor of The Drop at Pix, editorial consultant for Liv-ex, and Editor in Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, which she built into the world’s premier business publication, with subscribers in 38 countries. Her work has appeared in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers in Australia, and in The Guardian US, among many others.

She has given keynotes on global trends, wine tourism and the anti-alcohol lobby in New York, Verona, London, Hong Kong and at many other conferences. Felicity has judged wine competitions in Germany, Georgia, Portugal, France and Luxembourg. She was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly and won the 67 Pall Mall Global Communicators Award for Audio in 2025.

Sessions:

Keynote Speaker Luncheon

Dr. Federico Casassa received a BS in Viticulture and a MS in Enology from the School of Agronomic Sciences in Mendoza (Argentina), and a Ph.D. in Wine Chemistry and Sensory Analysis from Washington State University (USA). Federico Casassa is an Associate Professor of Enology with the Wine and Viticulture Department of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California. He also teaches Wine Sensory Analysis in the Wine Program of Hancock College in Santa Maria. His past published research includes studies on the effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) and intrinsic variations of berry size in grapes and wines, cluster thinning, as well as on the various aspects of phenolic extraction and sensory outcomes of different maceration techniques in red wines, including extended maceration, whole cluster and stem additions, cofermentation and prefermentative cold soak. His research laboratory at Cal Poly focuses primarily on non-volatile and volatile wine chemistry and combines chemistry with formal sensory data, with strong focus on grapes and wines of the Central Coast of California, including Pinot noir, Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec), Rhône varietals (Syrah, Grenache), and California heritage varietals such as Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.

Federico has been awarded the “Best Paper of the Year Award” of the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (AJEV) in three opportunities: 2014, 2017, and most recently, in 2022. He has completed 22 vintages as winemaker in very diverse regions such as Mendoza (Argentina), France (Cotes du Rhone), and USA (Washington State and California). He was recently awarded the Distinguished Scholar Award of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He serves in the Board of Directors of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, and regularly judges for local and international wine competitions. He is also a Vinitaly Italian Wine Ambassador.

Sessions:

To be announced.

Sessions:

Keynote Speaker Luncheon

Leticia, a wine professional with more than 20 years of experience in California, and currently the Winemaker and Winery Manager at the University of California, Davis. Previously, Leticia has been at Safe Harbor Wine Storage, Treasury Wine States, E&J Gallo Winery, Golden State Vintners (now Wine Group) and Delicato Family Vineyards.

She is on her third year as co-chair of the Program Development Committee for Unified Wine and Grape Symposium and participates actively on the Spanish Track.

She is an active member for the American Society for Viticulture and Enology (ASEV), a professional society dedicated to the interests of enologist, viticulturists, and others in the fields of wine and grape research and production. She is past President (2012-2013) for this Society, and she has served as a Poster Chair for the National Conference, Best Paper Award Committee, and others.

She enjoys her free time with her husband and her two young sons in various activities like cooking, reading, swimming, biking, watching movies, attending symphony orchestra concerts, among others.

MS in Food Sciences (Enology emphasis), UC Davis.
BS in Chemical Engineering, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico City.

Sessions:

Tradition with Innovation to Drive Excellence (Presented in Spanish), Tradición e Innovación para Impulsar la Excelencia (Presentada en español)

To be announced.

Sessions:

Bridging Tradition with Innovation: Flavored Wines and the Evolving Wine Landscape (tasting session)

Juliana Colangelo is a senior brand manager at Frederick Wildman & Sons, a leading importer and wholesaler of fine wine and spirits. She is a leader in their Italian wine marketing division with a focus on developing the shareholder brands under the Gruppo Italiani Vino and Cantine Riunite portfolios.

Juliana was previously a Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S. During her tenure at C&P, Juliana established the first secondary headquarters for the agency, moving to the Bay Area in 2016 to open up a California office.

Over the last decade plus, Juliana has become one of the most dynamic and influential public relations and marketing executives in the wine business. She has also served as a mentor and connector for women in the industry, using her network and platform to connect others with jobs, press and opportunities. Her entrepreneurial spirit and leadership is admired by peers, colleagues and clients alike. She is on the forefront of the changes in marketing and communications in the beverage alcohol industry and passionate about working with new and established brands to attract younger drinkers. Juliana has been featured speaking on the topic of how the wine industry can attract new consumers in Forbes, Fortune and more.

Sessions:

Wine AND? Niche Festivals & Experiences in Wine – Why They Work and How They Appeal to New Consumers

Bob Coleman has nearly 30 years of experience in the wine industry, that time spent primarily as a winemaker at Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma County. He more recently finished a PhD in 2019 on the kinetics of wine oxidation. Currently, he is working at Beringer Winery leading commercial winery innovation and precision winemaking, including efforts towards energy and water efficiency practices and improved fermentation performance. Additionally, he is serving as an adjunct faculty at Washington State University.

Sessions:

Breathing New Life into Wine: Redox Potential Management During Fermentation (includes tasting)

Dr. Collins is an Assistant Professor of Grape and Wine Chemistry in the Viticulture and Enology Program at Washington State University. He manages a research program in wine and spirits aroma and flavor chemistry and teaches course in wine chemistry and winery operations. Tom’s current research focuses on the impacts of wildfire smoke exposure on grape and wine quality.

Prior to joining WSU in 2015, Dr. Collins was the Director of Research for the Food Safety and Measurement Facility at U.C. Davis. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from U.C. Davis in 2012. He has also served as the President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.

Sessions:

Clarity In the Smoke: Integrating Wine Sensory to Chemical Analysis and Predictive Modeling for Wildfire Smoke Events

Pat DeLong is the Founder and Managing Partner of Azur Associates. Based in the Napa Valley, Azur Associates is a leader in comprehensive fine-beverage consulting and M&A advisory.

Prior to founding Azur, Pat had over 30 years of experience working with consumer brands across private and public companies. Pat has served in a number of roles including Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at some of the leading consumer beverage companies, including Crimson Wine Group, Constellation Brands, Robert Mondavi Corporation and Francis Ford Coppola Companies. In addition, Pat served in management roles for Carnival Corporation while based at Holland America Line in Seattle. Pat’s early career includes consulting and advisory work with Deloitte in San Francisco.

Pat’s history as a leader has provided him with significant experience working with Board of Directors and executive management teams on strategic planning, management and organization structure, financing, capital allocation, mergers and acquisitions, route to market strategy and performance management. Pat’s background in mergers and acquisitions includes some of the most significant transactions in the wine space, both on the buy and the sell side.

In addition, Pat has significant experience with public companies and public company BOD’s having served as a public company CEO, CFO and Senior Vice President of Planning and Finance over a 20-year span.

Pat completed the Strategic Planning Executive Program at the University of Michigan, post graduate studies in the Master of Applied Economics Program at the University of Seattle and his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Finance & Accounting from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In his early career, Pat earned his Certified Public Accounting license in both California and Washington.

Pat has served on multiple Board of Directors (BOD’s) in the beverage space. In addition, he has served on college BOD’s including Cal Poly’s Alumni Association where his work there led to his award as Alumni of The Year for the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business in 2011. Pat also served on the Cal Poly Wine & Viticulture BOD along with the team that assisted with the groundbreaking and construction of the new Cal Poly Center for Wine & Viticulture in 2018.

Sessions:

Love It or List It? Wine Edition: Mergers, Acquisitions and Exit

To be announced.

Sessions:

The New Rules of Attraction: Using Design to Seduce, Sway, and Snare the Right Wine Customers

To be announced.

Sessions:

The New Rules of Attraction: Using Design to Seduce, Sway, and Snare the Right Wine Customers

Steve Fredricks joined Turrentine Brokerage in 1991 as a bulk wine broker. Over the years he has established himself as an expert in the sales of bulk wine and grapes, understanding market cycles, and building long term relationships. Steve is currently managing all Turrentine Brokerage operations and directly responsible for Turrentine’s international relationships and strategic alliances in France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Chile and Argentina.

In addition, he also oversees the publishing of the Turrentine Brokerage Collateral Value Report and The Turrentine Spotlight. Steve is a frequent speaker at several annual wine industry meetings discussing the bulk wine, grape and international markets.

Steve graduated from U.C. Davis in 1988 with an individual major of Wine Production Management and Marketing, combining business and fermentation science. During the weekends, Steve can be found on his road bike or mountain bike climbing the hills of Marin County or in the mountains skiing with his family.

Sessions:

The New Rules of Attraction: Using Design to Seduce, Sway, and Snare the Right Wine Customers

To be announced.

Sessions:

Hilary Graves is a winegrower, winemaker and viticulture educator with more than 20 years of field experience on California’s Central Coast.

Hilary graduated from high school in Hawaii and studied business at CSU Fresno. While her father hailed from a Central Valley farming family, she never planned to pursue agriculture—but, in time, her true calling came clear. After earning a master’s degree in library and information science, she returned to CSU Fresno to serve as the academic librarian in the university’s Viticulture and Enology Research Center. It was here that Hilary’s interest in viticulture was awakened, prompting her to pursue master’s studies in Crop Science and ultimately a career in wine and viticulture.

After studying Crop Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Hilary taught viticulture at Cal Poly for four years under Dr. Keith Patterson. She also started her own business in 2002, planting a vineyard and making wine under the Mighty Nimble brand. She later started a vineyard management company and grew fruit for, among others, Booker Vineyard’s Farmer- Winemaker Eric Jensen. Hilary and Eric formed a strong connection, and she ultimately joined Booker Vineyard as Vineyard & Grower Relations Manager in 2020.

Sessions:

Rooted in Story: The Need for a New Generation of Agricultural Storytellers

Jason Haas is the second-generation proprietor of Tablas Creek, serving in the dual roles of Partner and General Manager. In his two decades at the winery his family founded in partnership with the Perrins of Chateau de Beaucastel, Jason has overseen the business, production, sales and marketing.

In addition to his work at Tablas Creek, Jason has led the boards of directors of both the Rhone Rangers and the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and is a board member of Free the Grapes and WineAmerica. His writing has been published in Wine Business Monthly, Wines & Vines, Decanter, Wine Industry Network and Wine Searcher. His photography has appeared in Wine Spectator, Forbes, the Washington Post, and Wine Enthusiast. He is principal author of the Tablas Creek blog, an eight-time finalist and two-time winner for the Wine Blog Award’s “Best Wine Blog”.

In recognition of his contributions to the Paso Robles wine community, he was voted by his peers 2015 Paso Robles Wine Country Wine Industry Person of the Year and 2017 San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Person of the Year. In 2022 he was named a Food & Wine Magazine Drinks Innovator of the Year and in 2024 he was nominated by the Wine Enthusiast for the “Wine Person of the Year” Wine Star Award.

Sessions:

To be announced.

Sessions:

Technology in Vineyard Operations: Practical Use and Real-World Challenges

To be announced.

Sessions:

Jim Harbertson is a Professor in Viticulture and Enology Department at Washington State University’s Wine Science Center in Richland, Washington. He received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and doctorate in agricultural chemistry from the University of California at Davis.

Jim’s research focuses on the phenolic compounds found in grapes and wine and their biochemical and chemical changes during grape ripening, winemaking and aging. Though of late his research has strayed into the impacts of ethanol on wine flavor and “Frost Taint.”

Jim serves as an associate editor for the Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research and the MDPI journal Beverages. Jim is a past president of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and currently serves on both the Unified LLC managing committee and the Unified Program Committee.

Sessions:

Cabernet – The King of Grapes (tasting session)

Randy Heinzen is the owner of Vineyard Professional Services (VPS), a farm management company operating across the Central Coast of California and based in Paso Robles.

Before becoming President of VPS, Randy farmed for Beckstoffer Vineyards Napa Valley, and prior to that was the Director of Vineyard Operations at Saintsbury Winery. Beyond being an ASFMRA Accredited Farm Manager, his educational background includes studying Viticulture at the University of Adelaide, earning a degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Winery Business Management Certificates from Sonoma State and UC Davis.

Randy’s commitment is demonstrated through involvement in a number of organizations. He serves as an At-Large Board Member of the National Grape Research Alliance, Treasurer of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Board President of the CDFA Pierce’s Disease and Glassywing Sharpshooter Commission, and appointee to the AgWest Local Area Committee (Coastal Region). His leadership contributions were recognized recently as CAWG’s 2025 Wine Industry Leader of the Year.

Outside of work, Randy and his family lead full lives engaged in local activities from athletics to agricultural pursuits. Randy and his wife, vineyard Realtor Jenny Heinzen, contribute as animal haulers and sports coaches, while their children assist in running the family vineyard and businesses.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

To be announced.

Sessions:

2026 State of Marketing: Bridging the Gap to Consumers

Owner, winemaker, environmentalist, and outdoor enthusiast Alisa Jacobson “AJ” founded Turning Tide Wines in 2018 under her company name, Wines by Alisa Jacobson, with the goal of showcasing the true essence of the grapes she harvests, respecting the elements each vineyard site provides, and helping Turn the Tide toward more sustainable and eco-friendly practices in vineyards and winemaking round the globe.

Her first Turning Tide wines were released in December of 2020, all showcasing eco-friendly farming and business practices. A year later, Jacobson (who goes by “AJ”) added “AJ”, “Rare North” and “Avec Moi”, all high-quality, sustainable, and value-driven wine brands.

A graduate of UC Davis with a degree in viticulture and enology, AJ has produced California sparkling wine, made Shiraz in Australia (while diving along the Great Barrier Reef), and worked at Joseph Phelps where she met Joel and Sarah Gott. Jacobson rose to the rank of VP of Winemaking, overseeing a team of 35, and managing all winery and vineyard operations throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as international projects all over the world. She passed the baton back to Joel and Sarah Gott in 2020 and set out to forge her own path with a renewed and passionate focus on making wine from organic and sustainably farmed vineyards in coastal regions of California and Oregon.

AJ assumed a lease on an iconic winery in Santa Ynez Valley in August of 2022. This is now where AJ makes her “Made with Organically Farmed Grapes” Avec Moi and Turning Tide wines, both labels certified organic. The winery project has been named Milestone for its commitment to regenerative and organic farming and winemaking practices. She adheres to strict organic and vegan only winemaking practices at Milestone and makes wine from her two vineyards she owns in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Dedicated to her cause of trying to help the wine industry become more sustainable and climate-forward, AJ also serves as Co-Chair of the Unified Grape and Wine Symposium Program Development Committee, the Chair of the Research Committee of the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force and a number of wine industry advisory boards, all to further her passion for education outreach and to raise awareness for global climate change impacts —and of course, to help Turn the Tide on how vineyards are farmed around the globe by way of outreach and education. AJ believes that by demonstrating the success and quality of wines made by organically and sustainable vineyard practices, she can inspire and provide examples to others on how to be more climate pro-active.

Sessions:

Clarity In the Smoke: Integrating Wine Sensory to Chemical Analysis and Predictive Modeling for Wildfire Smoke Events, Cabernet – The King of Grapes (tasting session)

Katherine Jarvis is President and Founder of Jarvis Communications, Inc. based in Los Angeles, CA. Since 2005, her company has created and managed public relations programs for businesses, people and brands in the wine, spirits, restaurant and travel industries.

Though she grew up with wine on the table every night for dinner, Jarvis’ career in wine began in 1997 when she worked in fine wine auctions in Chicago—first at Davis & Company Wine Auctioneers (now Hart Davis Hart) and then with Lionstone International in partnership with Sotheby’s North American wine auctions. In addition to developing new restaurant buyer accounts by working directly with sommeliers, she established wholesale procedures in compliance with the three-tier distribution system. Prior to launching Jarvis Communications in 2005, she was an Executive Director at a leading hospitality PR firm, where she accompanied press to regions as far flung as South Australia and as close to home as Santa Barara.

A native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Katherine credits her upbringing as the child of two professors directing study abroad programs in Malaga, Spain and Bologna, Italy for her love of food, wine and culture.

She studied history and Latin American studies at Northwestern University, taking semesters abroad in both Spain and Brazil, and summers in Petersburg, Alaska, gutting salmon. Upon graduation, she taught history at a bilingual school in Bogota, Colombia, before returning to Chicago to work in wine.

Katherine is proud to have dual citizenship with Italy. In her free time, she loves to cook, entertain friends, hike, go to flea markets, listen to vinyl records, read and spend time with her husband on the sidelines of a lacrosse field cheering for her two teenage daughters.

Sessions:

Pitch Perfectly: Building Better Bridges Between Public Relations and Wine Media

Tim Kensinger is a Sr. Vice President at AgWest Farm Credit Services in Paso Robles, CA with over 20 years of experience in vineyard and winery lending. He leads a team of Relationship Managers with a focus on the vineyard and winery industry along the Central Coast of California. He has had the privilege of working with vintners to finance vineyard developments throughout the state over the past two decades. He is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Pacific Coast Banking School.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

To be announced.

Sessions:

Clarity In the Smoke: Integrating Wine Sensory to Chemical Analysis and Predictive Modeling for Wildfire Smoke Events

To be announced.

Sessions:

Cabernet – The King of Grapes (tasting session)

Tyler is currently the Vice-President/Partner and Viticulturist at Redwood Empire Vineyard Management. He first joined Redwood Empire Vineyard Management in 1997 while attending U.C. Davis and became a partner in 2006. Tyler earned his B.S. in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis in 2000, as well as a B.S. in Health Science from St. Mary’s College in 1997.

Among other responsibilities, he oversees the farming of approximately 2,500 vineyard acres in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Marin Counties. Tyler is currently serving as the vice chair at the Sonoma County Winegrowers and has previously served on the Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group for several years.

Tyler has received several awards, including Young Farmer of the Year in 2013, Excellence in Viticulture by the Sonoma County Wine Growers in 2024. Tyler also completed the pilot UC Climate Stewardship certificate program in 2021. In 2011, Tyler led Redwood Empire Vineyard Management to become the 1st third-party operator to be CSWA Sustainability Certified in CA. Tyler has also been serving on the American Vineyard Foundation board for 10 years.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

Dr Mark Krstic is the Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). He has more than 28 years of experience in grape and wine research, development and extension in prior roles within the AWRI, the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, Victorian Government and CSIRO. Mark is also an Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University. He chairs the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference Inc. and is on the Boards of the National Wine Foundation and the South Australian Genomics Centre. Mark is also a past President of the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology and graduate of the Wine Industry Future Leaders Program and the Len Evans Tutorial.

Sessions:

Clarity In the Smoke: Integrating Wine Sensory to Chemical Analysis and Predictive Modeling for Wildfire Smoke Events

To be announced.

Sessions:

Bridging Tradition with Innovation: Flavored Wines and the Evolving Wine Landscape (tasting session)

Steven Kukesh, Director of Winemaking Research & Development at Delicato Family Wines since 2015, brings over 15 years of research winemaking expertise to the industry. A graduate in Biological Sciences from California State University, Stanislaus, Steven’s commitment to winemaking is reflected in his leadership. Upon joining Delicato, he undertook the task of building the research program from scratch. Since then, he has collaborated with the entire winegrowing team to implement a diverse array of projects spanning processing, ingredients, equipment, and vineyard evaluations, ensuring a comprehensive approach to advancing winemaking practices while prioritizing wine quality. Steven has also introduced a sensory program, both internally and externally, and has spearheaded product development initiatives.

Sessions:

Bridging Tradition with Innovation: Flavored Wines and the Evolving Wine Landscape (tasting session)

Craig Ledbetter graduated from California State University, Fresno; with a BS in Agriculture Economics. He is the part of the third generation that has joined Vino Farms, LLC, and the fourth generation in California farming.

Craig joined Vino Farms, Inc May 1st, 2006 as Vice President of Sales. While he manages the day-to-day operations of the family and clients 5300 acres of vineyards in Lodi, he also handles all winery relations and grape sales for Lodi and Paso Robles areas. He is part of the G3 generation that operates roughly 16,000 acres of vineyards throughout CA. He is also closely tied to several of Vino Farms large clients which requires him to travel the state.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

Julie Lumgair is an award-winning consulting and hands-on winemaker. Her wines span nineteen vintages and 25 varietals from Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Italy. She has served in many combined estate winemaking and winegrowing roles with a keen eye on agricultural and cellar practices to significantly elevate sustainability, wine quality and sales. Her calling cards are consistently producing acclaimed wines that reflect their place, excellence in winery operations, substantial innovation and trial programs feasible for artisan wineries’ scale, a passionate attention to customer delight and long-lasting relationships.

Julie is a 5th generation Tennessee family farmer, who honed her sensory science, new product development, team building and executive leadership in her first career at Procter & Gamble and other noted Fortune 100 firms for 15 years. That experience, along with her “roll up the sleeves” work ethic, plus technical and analytical skills learned on the job from many mentors in the vineyards and cellars have been supplemented by years of rigorous independent technical study.

She has made exceptional wines including Art Nouveau, a new artisan Napa winery launching in 2025, J. Moss, Ideology Cellars, Valley of the Moon / Lake Sonoma, Castello di Montegiove, Windsor Oaks Vineyards and other private clients. Julie’s ongoing wine trials and experiments have been featured in industry press and conferences. Over 70 of her wines have consistently achieved 90+ scores and been noted by several leading critics including a Wine Spectator “Producer to Watch,” Wine & Spirits varietal “Top Ten” and “Year’s Best” lists.

Julie deeply enjoys volunteering, mentoring and building community. She is one of thirty industry leaders on the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Program Committee and serves as President of Women for WineSense Napa / Sonoma and long-time Chair of their Winemaking & Viticultural Roundtable. She is a contributing technical writer and wine judge for wine industry trade and consumer publications, frequent winemaker panelist for Napa Valley Vintner’s top trade and media conferences and VIP immersions and masterclass developer / instructor at Napa Valley Wine Academy. She is a past board member for Napa Valley Wine Technical Group and IQ (Innovation + Quality) Conference for luxury winemaking advances.

For more information, please connect via LinkedIn or reach out directly to Julie.lumgair@gmail.com or 415-786-3415

Sessions:

Love It or List It? Wine Edition: Mergers, Acquisitions and Exit

To be announced.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

To be announced.

Sessions:

Wine AND? Niche Festivals & Experiences in Wine – Why They Work and How They Appeal to New Consumers

To be announced.

Sessions:

Pitch Perfectly: Building Better Bridges Between Public Relations and Wine Media

To be announced.

Sessions:

Originally from Mendoza, Argentina, Luciana Moreno Turkovich is a fourth-generation member of a winemaking family. She studied enology at Don Bosco University in Mendoza, where she developed her deep passion for the world of wine.

After completing her studies, she began her international career in Australia’s renowned McLaren Vale. She later moved to Napa Valley, California, where she worked for four years with the Duncan family at Silver Oak, one of the region’s most respected wineries.

In 2009, Luciana and her husband Chris founded Turkovich Family Wines, a family-run winery located in the Winters Highlands AVA in California. The project reflects a fusion of Argentine winemaking heritage with California innovation and terroir. Making Farm to Glass wine.

In 2021, she launched a consulting company with her father, a renowned sparkling wine consultant. Together, they advise wineries in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe and central wine regions, specializing in the development of high-quality sparkling wines.

Luciana is also the teaching the Sparkling Wine Program at CETYS University in Ensenada, Baja California, where she mentors and trains the next generation of winemakers.

Sessions:

Tradition with Innovation to Drive Excellence (Presented in Spanish), Tradición e Innovación para Impulsar la Excelencia (Presentada en español)

To be announced.

Sessions:

Bridging Tradition with Innovation: Flavored Wines and the Evolving Wine Landscape (tasting session)

As a Certified Flavor Chemist with 14 years of professional experience, I am passionate about the art and science of flavor creation. I studied at Rutgers University earning my bachelor’s degree in food science. I have developed an expertise in flavor creation covering many different tonalities including diverse fruit and indulgent flavor profiles. My skillset encompasses an extensive range of product categories such as beverage, dairy, and sweet applications, and I continually aim to deliver distinctive taste profiles that enhance consumers’ experiences.

I had the opportunity to advance my leadership and mentorship skills through a two-year Emerging Leader Program. I find guiding flavor trainees to be an especially fulfilling part of my role. My professional contributions have received public recognition, notably in New York Magazine’s feature, “The Group Portrait: America’s Tastemakers Across the River a quiet industry determines the flavors of our foods.”

Beyond my life in the lab, I am deeply interested in food, cocktails, and wine, and I draw creative inspiration from international travel with my fiancé. Exploring diverse cultures shapes and inspires my approach to flavor creation, fueling my excitement for opportunities that challenge my innovation.

Sessions:

To be announced.

Sessions:

Love It or List It? Wine Edition: Mergers, Acquisitions and Exit

Devin Parr is a leading personality in the wine industry. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Devin Parr & Associates, a PR, marketing, and content agency in the beverage, travel and tourism space. She holds her Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma as well as a certification in wine expertise from the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy, and a B.A. in political science and economics from UC San Diego. In 2017, she was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers.

A passionate storyteller, Devin regularly contributes to wine and lifestyle publications, including VinePair, WineCountry.com, NapaValley.com, Sonoma.com, and The Gourmet Insider, and her own blog on DevinParr.com, where she covers the business of wine. She is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Vintner Project, and co-founder of online wine community Grapeloop. When she’s not traveling the world in search of memorable wines, she moonlights as an aspiring ninja, pursuing her black belt in Shorin Ryu karate.

Devin is based in Temecula, California with her husband, two sons, and two bossy Shih Tzus. Follow her wine, parenting, and martial arts adventures at @thesocalwinegal.

Sessions:

Pitch Perfectly: Building Better Bridges Between Public Relations and Wine Media

To be announced.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

To be announced.

Sessions:

Tradition with Innovation to Drive Excellence (Presented in Spanish), Tradición e Innovación para Impulsar la Excelencia (Presentada en español)

Norm is the Director of Vineyard Operations at Silver Oak Wine Cellars, overseeing vineyards for Silver Oak, Twomey, OVID, and the Oregon brand Prince Hill. With 24 harvests under his belt, he proudly calls himself a farmer at heart. His motto: “I have dirt on my boots and I always will. I love the art and science of growing grapes.”

Norm earned his degree from St. Mary’s College in 1988 and returned to complete a master’s there in 2003.

Norm entered the wine industry in an unconventional way; invited by a former boss to run a vineyard and winery operation. “I left my role as Vice Principal/TOSA and dove headfirst into the wine industry,” he recalls. He went on to become the Winemaker and Director of Winemaking at California Cellars before joining The Wine Group as a Grower Representative, where he purchased grapes and oversaw vineyard quality in Lodi, Clarksburg, Sonoma, and Livermore. Working with more than 60 growers, he gained deep insight into every level of grape production.

Missing the hands-on pressure of farming, Norm later became Director of CV Vineyard Operations at Trinchero (Sutter Home), where he spent four harvests. He eventually found his “ultimate last stop” as Director of Vineyard Operations at Silver Oak Wine Cellars, where his passion for farming and grape growing continues to thrive.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

To be announced.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

Originally from Argentina, Gaspar Roby has over 25 years of experience in the wine industry across Latin America and California. With an Agricultural Engineering degree and graduate studies at UC Davis, he specializes in winemaking, vineyard management, and supply chain operations.

As Vice President of Supply for Terlato Wine Group, Gaspar oversees production for renowned wineries like Chimney Rock, Rutherford Hill, and Sanford & Benedict, ensuring exceptional quality and efficiency in wine production. His expertise and commitment to excellence make him a respected leader in industry.

Sessions:

Tradition with Innovation to Drive Excellence (Presented in Spanish), Tradición e Innovación para Impulsar la Excelencia (Presentada en español)

Evan Roscoe is a marketer and visual storyteller rethinking how wine earns attention in a distracted world. As the founder of EXTRACETERA, he partners with forward-looking wineries to transform brands from “nice label” to living culture—bridging vineyard, cellar, and screen with strategy.

Evan’s edge is pattern recognition: he blends on-the-ground production experience with sharp consumer psychology to spot the moments, messages, and formats that actually move people. His campaigns connect the magic of wine with digital reach, turning casual scrolls into loyal subscribers, buyers, and club members. His vision for the industry is simple and bold: retire the clichés, honor the craft, snub the snobs, and design for modern attention. That means elevating fieldwork, people, and artistic ideals over ratings and tasting notes; investing in owned communities as much as algorithms; and embracing short-form cinema, editorial-grade photography, and thoughtful experiential moments that help connect people to their new favorite wine.

Sessions:

2026 State of Marketing: Bridging the Gap to Consumers

Raquel Royers, owner of one of the top wine Instagram account’s, Watch Me Sip, is a leading voice in the modern wine industry. Sonoma County–based wine professional, content creator, and an influencer known for redefining how consumers connect with wine. WSET Diploma awarded and Certified Specialist of Wine, Raquel combines approachable wine knowledge with powerful storytelling and a fresh, digital-first approach.

With a background in journalism and over 10 years of marketing experience working alongside top wineries, wine regions and spirits brands, she has become a trusted tastemaker and personality for a global community of wine and food lovers. Her digital content reaches millions, and her work bridges the gap between tradition and innovation in an industry ripe for evolution.

Fearlessly authentic, Raquel’s mission is clear: to make wine more approachable, more engaging, and ultimately, more fun.

Sessions:

2026 State of Marketing: Bridging the Gap to Consumers

Camilla Sartori is a Food Scientist and Sensory Manager at Oregon State University, specializing in wine descriptive analysis. She leads sensory research in Dr. Elizabeth Tomasino’s lab and works with the Oregon Wine Research Institute on projects involving aroma perception, descriptive analysis, and consumer testing. Camilla develops sensory protocols, manages trained and consumer panels, and oversees lab operations and data quality.

Sessions:

Clarity In the Smoke: Integrating Wine Sensory to Chemical Analysis and Predictive Modeling for Wildfire Smoke Events

To be announced.

Sessions:

Cabernet – The King of Grapes (tasting session)

Twenty years ago, Jermaine Stone went from rapping to packing boxes in the shipping department at Zachy’s to becoming the first black commercial wine auctioneer. He has since been heralded as one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40. The Bronx native’s rise in the wine industry has been driven by one key mission: to challenge the narrative about and for black men in America. In founding Cru Luv Selections, an innovative creative agency based in NYC, Stone has found a space that can use marketing, brand partnerships, and content creation to connect wine and hip-hop cultures and bring wine to an audience that has traditionally been ignored.

In 2023, Stone was featured in the New York Times, on Sway in the Morning, and in Us Weekly. He also became the star of the Tastemade original streaming series Street Somm, which has been nominated for both a James Beard Award and an Emmy Award. Additionally, he was a guest lecturer at Cornell University for the second year in a row and hosted the first-ever Wine & Hip Hop event at the Clos de Vougeot, arguably the most historic site in one of, if not the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Burgundy, France. This year, Stone plans to elevate his efforts to bring wine and hip-hop culture together by being more hands-on with the direct integration of wine and hip-hop culture in a way that only he can.

Sessions:

Wine AND? Niche Festivals & Experiences in Wine – Why They Work and How They Appeal to New Consumers

To be announced.

Sessions:

Dale Stratton brings over 40 years of experience in the Beverage Alcohol Industry to his role as an industry consultant working for Azur Associates and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America on their SipSource deliverable.

Dale retired from Constellation Brands in May of 2019 where he was the Vice President, Commercial Insights working across their Beer, Wine, and Spirits divisions. He started his career at the Gallo Winery and covered a wide range of responsibilities that included distributor management, account management, strategic insights, and Lean Six Sigma. Dale has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in Public Relations from Colorado State University and an Executive MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

Daniel A. Sumner is the Frank H. Buck Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis. He is also the director of the University of California Giannini Foundations for Agricultural Economics and for about 25 years was the director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center. For many years Sumner has taught “The Economics of Agricultural Sustainability” to a diverse group of undergraduates. He also teaches “Agricultural Economics” to graduate students.

Sumner’s academic research, teaching, and outreach have concentrated on challenges facing farms, agribusinesses, and industries. He studies cost and supply conditions for farms and agricultural industries, farm product demand tied to farm-based attributes, and competition among firms, regions, and industries. Much of his research has focused on international trade and government subsidy and regulatory policy. He was honored with the award for policy contribution and is a fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. In 2022 he was recognized with the annual distinguished faculty award from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Before returning to California in 1993, Sumner was a senior economist at President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers and was the Assistant Secretary for Economics at USDA, appointed by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In that role, Sumner led economic policy analysis and research, statistical services, and commodity outlook at USDA, with oversight responsibilities for USDA’s professional economists and statisticians. Sumner earned his Ph.D. in economics, with specialty fields in agricultural and labor economics from the University of Chicago, an MS in economics from Michigan State, and his BS in agricultural management from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. A native of Suisun Valley in Solano County California, Sumner grew up on a fruit farm and was active in 4-H and FFA.

Sessions:

Adam Teeter is the Co-Founder and CEO of VinePair, the leading media company dedicated to wine, beer, and spirits in America. Since launching VinePair in 2014 with Josh Malin, Teeter has built it into one of the most influential platforms for drinks culture, particularly among millennia and Gen Z audiences. His mission has been to make the world of alcohol more accessible and less intimidating, breaking down the elitism often associated with wine and spirits.

Before founding VinePair, Teeter worked in the music industry in A&R and management. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emory University.

Teeter is also a prominent voice in the drinks industry, regularly writing and speaking about beverage trends and culture. He co-hosts the popular “VinePair Podcast” and contributes regularly to the site.

As an educator and event host, Teeter has led wine tastings and workshops at major festivals including Charleston Wine + Food, Santa Monica Wine Festival, Atlanta Wine & Food, and Brooklyn Crush. He is also a past winner of the Left Bank Bordeaux Cup American Wine-Tasting Championship.

Based in New York City, Teeter continues to shape how people engage with drinks, combining deep industry knowledge with a passion for making beverage culture fun and inclusive.

Sessions:

The Path Forward: Rebuilding Demand and Rethinking Wine’s Future

Dr. Liz Thach, MW is the President of Wine Market Council, a non-profit firm that provides research on U.S. wine consumer purchasing habits, attitudes, and trends. She also works as a Professor, Wine Writer and Consultant based in Napa and Sonoma, California. She is an award-winning author and educator, specializing in wine business strategy, marketing, leadership/executive development, and wine lifestyle.

Liz is considered to be one of the nation’s leading wine experts and has visited most of the major wine regions of the world and 80 countries. She teaches wine classes at Stanford Continuing Education, Burgundy School of Business, and Sonoma State University, and has published over 300 articles and 9 books, including Call of the Vine, Best Practices in Global Wine Tourism, and Wine Marketing & Sales. She frequently publishes in Forbes, Wine Business Monthly, Wine Spectator, and The Somm Journal, amongst others. In addition, she serves as a wine judge and on several non-profit boards.

A fifth-generation Californian, Liz finished her Ph.D. at Texas A&M and now lives on Sonoma Mountain. Liz obtained the distinction of Master of Wine (MW) in May of 2011, becoming the first female MW from California.

Website: https://lizthachmw.com/, Email: Liz@lizthach.com.

Sessions:

Pitch Perfectly: Building Better Bridges Between Public Relations and Wine Media

To be announced.

Sessions:

John Trinidad is a co-managing partner of Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty, and is a partner in the firm’s Wine Law, Business, Alcohol Beverage, and Geographical Indications practice groups. John advises wine and alcohol beverage industry clients on a broad range of legal issues, including business formation, obtaining alcohol beverage licenses, and the drafting of key contracts, such as grape purchase agreements, vineyard leases, and distribution contracts, and the purchase and sale of winery brands and assets. John also advises clients on federal and state alcohol beverage regulations such as franchise laws, tied-house laws, labeling requirements, and the protection and promotion of American Viticultural Areas.

John is a graduate of Harvard College and the New York University School of Law. In 2017-2018, John has led wine law classes the University of California Davis School of Law and Napa Valley College. He is currently a lecturer at the University of California Berkeley School of Law where he co-teaches a wine law class.

John is an avid photographer, and his pictures of vineyards, wineries, and producers were published in a book on the history of the Champagne region, But First, Champagne.

Sessions:

Love It or List It? Wine Edition: Mergers, Acquisitions and Exit

Morgan Twain-Peterson MW is the founder of Bedrock Wine Co. in Sonoma; a winery committed to preserving and rehabilitating California’s historic vineyards. He is a leading voice in the regenerative viticulture movement, with Bedrock Vineyard being one of the first—and the only ancient-vineyard site—to be certified Regenerative Organic in California. He earned the Master of Wine title in 2017.

Sessions:

Rooted in Story: The Need for a New Generation of Agricultural Storytellers

To be announced.

Sessions:

Tradition with Innovation to Drive Excellence (Presented in Spanish), Tradición e Innovación para Impulsar la Excelencia (Presentada en español)

Mike Veseth (pronounced VEE-seth) is editor of The Wine Economist newsletter (WineEconomist.com) and author of more than a dozen books including Wine Wars (2011), Around the World in Eighty Wines (2018) and Wine Wars II: The Global Battle for the Soup of Wine (2022). He is a sought-after speaker at wine industry meetings both in the United States and around the world.

Veseth’s writings on wine and globalization have been widely praised. Globaloney was selected as a Best Business Book of 2005. Wine Wars was named a Best Wine Book of 2011. The Wine Economist was named Best Wine Blog by Gourmand International in 2015. Money, Taste, and Wine: It’s Complicated received the 2016 Gourmand International award for Best Wine Writing.

A noted educator, Veseth is professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. In 2010 he was named Washington Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Veseth received the Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Puget Sound and the Master’s and Ph.D degrees in Economics from Purdue University.

Sessions: