Keynote Luncheon Speaker Announced for 2026 Unified Symposium

  • November 10 2025
  • Category: eNews

The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium will tackle one of the industry’s most critical topics: wine and health. See it live and in person in a chat-style conversation between Dr. Laura Catena and Felicity Carter!

Dr. Laura Catena and award-winning wine journalist Felicity Carter will deliver the 2026 Keynote presentation, “Wine and Health: Separating Science from Spin,” offering much-needed clarity on an issue that impacts everyone in our industry.

Dr. Catena brings a unique dual perspective as both a physician who practiced emergency medicine in California for 27 years and managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina. Carter, founder of Drinks Insider, has spent years investigating the intersection of wine, health policy, and international trade.

With U.S. Dietary Guidelines under scrutiny and consumer perception shifting, this timely session will cut through the noise. Carter will moderate a conversation with Dr. Catena to explore what the science actually reveals and how the industry can communicate responsibly with consumers.

“What I’ve found in covering wine and health is a persistent gap between what the science actually says, what public health lobbyists emphasize, and what consumers believe,” said Carter. “This discussion is about laying those differences out clearly so the industry understands the landscape it’s operating in.”

Attendees will gain a clear understanding of current health research and its limitations, strategies for communicating with consumers without legal or ethical missteps, and insights into how health policy is shaped.

The Keynote Luncheon is priced separately and includes a plated lunch and wine. Space is limited.

The 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium runs January 27-29 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California. Don’t wait, register today

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