• October 21 2025
• Category: Press Releases

SACRAMENTO, Calif., October 21, 2025 — With the wine industry at a pivotal crossroads, the Program Development Committee for the 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is answering the call to “reframe the narrative” through innovative programming that challenges conventional thinking and inspires fresh perspectives. Under the strategic leadership of returning co-chairs Devin Parr, founder and managing partner of Devin Parr & Associates and Susan Owen, senior director of sales at G3 Enterprises, the committee is developing a groundbreaking educational experience that empowers wine and grape professionals to reshape perceptions, overcome industry challenges and unlock new opportunities through sessions spanning winemaking, grapegrowing, public relations and marketing, business and operations, and a pioneering Spanish-language workshop.

The Program Development Committee brings together an impressive roster of 30-plus wine and grape industry professionals who have been selected for their expertise, intimate knowledge of the wine industry and fresh perspectives on the latest innovations and trends.

Distinguished Committee Leadership

Devin Parr is a leading voice in the wine industry and founder of Devin Parr & Associates, a PR, marketing and content agency for the beverage, travel and tourism sectors. She holds a WSET diploma and was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in 2017. Parr is a frequent industry speaker, regular contributor to major wine publications and co-founder and editor-in-chief of “The Vintner Project.”

Susan Owen brings 15 years of wine industry experience that began in Chile’s Casablanca Valley. As senior director of sales at G3 Enterprises, she leads a team of wine packaging experts across North America. Owen previously served as general manager of Juclas USA, specializing in enological ingredients and membrane technology equipment, and is an active member of Rotary International.

Industry Expertise Across All Sectors

The 2026 Program Development Committee represents a comprehensive cross-section of the wine industry, featuring leaders from:

Academia and Research: Federico Casassa and Miguel Pedroza (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Leticia Chacón-Rodríguez and Cristina Medina Plaza (UC Davis), Tom Collins and Jim Harbertson (Washington State University), Alfredo Koch (Allan Hancock College) and Keith Striegler (GALLO).

Vineyard Management and Winemaking: Erin Amaral (Pacific Farming), Francisco Araujo (Atlas Vineyard Management), Carmen Giuffre (Agrovin Group), Charlie Hamilton (KG Vineyard Management), Randy Heinzen (Vineyard Professional Services), Steven Kukesh (Delicato Family Wines), Anne Sery (NW Wine Company), Matt Stornetta (Stornetta Made Farming), Sean McKenzie (Crossbarn Winery), Hillary Sjolund (Aperture Cellars) Norm Peters (Silver Oak) and Luciana Turkovich (Turkovich Wines)

Marketing and Public Relations: Meghan Phillips and Maggie Giordanengo (Honey)

Business and Operations: Peter Andrews (Culture Wine Co.), Audra Cooper (Turrentine Brokerage), TJ Douglas (Urban Grape), Ed Feuchuk (Tank Garage), Gaspar Roby (Terlato Wine Group), Dale Stratton (Azur Associates) and John Trinidad (DPF-Law)

Supply Chain: Ali Bowyer (G3)

Regional Associations: Krista Chaich (Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association).

Consulting and Independent Professionals: Eva Bertran (Eva Bertran Consulting), Juliana Colangelo (Frederick Wildman & Sons), Alisa Jacobson (Turning Tide Wines) and Julie Lumgair (Winemaker/Consultant)

Looking Ahead to 2026

The Unified Symposium will host its conference and trade show on January 27-29, 2026, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California, with the exhibits open January 28 & 29. The trade show will feature more than 800 booths displaying products and services from across the wine and grape industry. Registration is now open.

For more than three decades, the Unified Symposium has been the premier gathering place for wine and grape industry professionals across the Americas, hosting the largest trade show of its kind. Co-sponsored by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), this collaborative platform brings together growers, vintners, and allied industry members to share knowledge, drive innovation and shape the future of the industry. For more information about the 2026 show, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.