• January 5 2026
• Category: eNews

For winemakers and cellar leaders looking to elevate their craft and stay ahead of industry trends, the Winemaking Track at the 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium delivers an exceptional lineup built around innovation, sensory science, and hands-on learning. Whether you’re refining fermentation strategy or navigating smoke impact on wine quality, these sessions bring practical insights and expert dialogue directly to your cellar door.

Breathing New Life into Wine: Redox Potential Management during Fermentation (includes tasting)
Tuesday, Jan. 27 | 9:00 – 10:45 am

Kick off your Unified Symposium experience with a deep dive into one of winemaking’s most powerful levers: oxygen management. This session unpacks the latest research on how redox potential influences fermentation outcomes and wine quality, exploring oxygen’s role in shaping flavor profiles, managing phenolics, and mitigating volatile sulfur compounds. A guided tasting component connects theory with sensory reality, making this an energizing way to start your day.

Moderator: Bob Coleman, Treasury Wine Estates, California

Speakers:

• Roger Boulton, University of California, Davis
• Federico Casassa, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Cabernet – The King of Grapes (includes tasting)
Tuesday, Jan. 27 | 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Celebrate one of the industry’s most iconic varieties in this tasting-focused session dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon. Designed for both seasoned Cabernet winemakers and those new to the variety, this session pairs expert commentary with sample pours that illustrate stylistic range, vineyard influences, and the winemaking decisions that make Cabernet a perennial favorite.

Moderator: Hillary Sjolund, Aperture Cellars & Devil Proof Vineyards, California

Speakers:

• Anthony Biagi, Paternus Consulting, California
• Charlie Hoppes, Fidélitas Wines, Washington
• Eric Jensen, Booker Wines, California
• Kristina Shideler, Stonestreet Winery, California

Bridging Tradition with Innovation: Flavored Wines and the Evolving Wine Landscape (includes tasting)
Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 1:15 – 2:45 pm

Flavored and infused wines are reshaping consumer engagement, and this session explores why this category matters now more than ever. Panelists investigate both the artistry and science behind flavored wine development, from flavor integration and market trends to scaling for broader distribution. The tasting portion offers firsthand experience of how tradition and innovation intersect in this dynamic space.

Moderator: Steven Kukesh, Delicato Family Wines

Speakers:

• Leah Chapin, Tāst Innovation, Oregon
• Troy Krutal, Robertet, New Jersey
• Alexandra Nicoletti, Robertet, New Jersey
• Marty Spate, Riboli Family Wines, California
• Rob Warren, Oliver Winery, Indiana

Clarity in the Smoke: Integrating Wine Sensory to Chemical Analysis and Predictive Modeling for Wildfire Smoke Events
Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 3:00 – 4:15 pm

Session sponsored by: West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force 

With wildfire smoke continuing to challenge producers across key growing regions, this session brings cutting-edge research to the forefront of winemaking practice. Panelists from leading institutions present findings on sensory impacts, chemical markers, and predictive modeling, delivering actionable tools to connect lab data with real-world sensory outcomes. Expect rigorous discussion, scientific insight, and practical takeaways that can inform vineyard and winery decision-making in smoke-affected vintages.

Moderator: Alisa Jacobson, Turning Tide Wines, California

Speakers:

• Thomas Collins, Washington State University, Tri-Cities
• Michael Kleeman, University of California, Davis
• Mark Krstic, The Australian Wine Research Institute, South Australia
• Camilla Sartori, Oregon State University, Corvallis

Why These Sessions Matter

From fermentation fundamentals to emerging product categories and climate-related challenges, this Winemaking Track equips you with knowledge and tools you can bring directly back to the cellar. Whether you’re refining protocols or expanding your portfolio, these sessions offer perspectives that resonate in today’s evolving industry landscape.

Register now and be part of this conversation!