2026 Symposium Speakers

Jeff Bitter is a life-long resident of California. Born into a family vineyard operation, Jeff has always had a passion for agriculture and specifically grape growing. Jeff is the President of Allied Grape Growers (AGG), a 500-member statewide grape growers cooperative marketing association. AGG markets approximately $100,000,000 worth of grapes annually to wineries, shippers, packers and dehydrators. In addition to managing AGG, Jeff is a fourth-generation California grape grower, actively farming winegrapes in Madera County, where he resides.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from California State University, Fresno and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the same. Jeff is also a graduate of Class XXXII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a prestigious two-year fellowship program emphasizing leadership training and development for those involved in California agriculture.

Jeff participates on numerous industry boards, committees and task forces and spends his free time farming, traveling and enjoying time with family and friends. Jeff has one minor and three adult children, one of which is married and provided Jeff with his first grandchild in 2024.

Sessions:

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

Paula Andrea Borgo has been a member of the Raventos Codorniu winemaking team since 2002 where she has managed areas of production including fermentation, quality control, and bottling at Bodega Septima Argentina. Since being named Assistant Winemaker in 2004 and Chief Winemaker in 2010, Paula has explored new viticultural practices and innovations to continue developing the quality and consistency of the Bodega Septima portfolio.

In 2023 Paula also assume the responsibility of Operations and winemaking at Artesa Winery in Napa Valley California, a Raventos Codorniu winery the group has in USA.

Holding a degree in Bchelor of food from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Paula also received a degree in Winemaking Management in 2008 from ADEN Business School in Mendoza prior to completing a Master’s in Business Administration at the same institution in 2012. Paula is committed to crafting wines that are a natural expression of her native Mendoza, a region where she has grown up, studied, and refined her professional techniques.

Prior to joining Bodegas Septima, Paula headed fermentation and managed lab analysis at Viña Doña Paula in Mendoza in 2002. In 2001, Paula also spent one year working with the Kendall Jackson Winemaking team in California, helping to develop their cooperage program and expanding her knowledge of new world winemaking styles. Paula also has experience working in Felix Solís winery in Castilla la Mancha, Spain and Raimat Winery in Lerida, Spain.

Paula enjoys wines from all around the world that shows the identity of the origin. Her passion besides making wines is to know the beauties of the world. She currently resides Napa Valley with her husband and kid and is a big fan of aerobics and science fiction books.

Sessions:

Roger has been involved in teaching and research related to grape and wine composition, fermentation, winemaking and distillation, sensors and measurement systems at the University of California, Davis and throughout the world. He led the design and development teams associated with the world’s first LEED Platinum Winery constructed at UC Davis in 2010. The design features in this facility from its network of 150 wireless fermentors to its self-sustainable rainwater capture and storage, cleaning solution capture, filtration and re-use and solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage system, are generally accepted concepts in sustainability today. His research has been recognized by 5 Outstanding Paper Awards from the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture and keynote presentations at many international conferences. He received several life-time achievement awards on his retirement and is a member of the Jurade of Saint Emilion. He is an Emeritus Distinguished Professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis and continues to work as an advisor to innovative grape and wine businesses.

Sessions:

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

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

Stacy Buchanan is a one-man hype machine with a preacher’s fire—not to save souls, but to fuse wine and heavy metal.

He’s the founder of Blood of Gods, the cult biannual publication that’s become a global underground hit since its 2020 debut. Its sold-out annual Merrymaking festival in downtown Walla Walla, WA is the region’s loudest celebration of wine, art, and music—drawing winemakers like Maggie Harrison (Antica Terra) and Pax Mahle (Pax Wines) alongside bands, artists, and fans. The festival has raised more than $50K for Planned Parenthood, proving rebellion and generosity can share a glass.

Buchanan is no stranger to smashing worlds together. A veteran of the music industry—touring and promoting with System of a Down, Slipknot, and Marilyn Manson, and serving as a publicist at Century Media Records—he returned home just as Walla Walla was exploding as a wine destination. Spotting uncanny parallels between wine and metal—niche obsessions, rabid fandom, gatekeeping jargon—he forged a new communion where none existed.

The result? Critical raves and cult devotion. Named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 and Imbibe’s 75, his work has been featured in Decibel, Saveur, Somm Journal, SIP, and more. Each issue tears down pretension with interviews spanning Master Sommeliers like Bree Stock and Doug Frost to metal legends like Maynard James Keenan (Tool) and Cannibal Corpse’s Paul Mazurkiewicz, alongside savage art from Jim Mahfood, Morgan Beem, and others.

Buchanan’s first book, out from Feral House Publishing, extends the manifesto in full-length volume. He has brought his vision to stages from New Zealand’s SuperWild to Taste Washington, and upcoming in 2026: the Charleston Wine & Food, the fifth edition of the Blood of Gods Annual Merrymaking, and Grenache Fest.

Sessions:

To be announced.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

While Alex grew up in the Eugene area, he proudly states he is a “Beaver Believer.” Originally a student of the biochemistry and biophysics program at Oregon State University, Alex decided to switch to the Viticulture and Enology program to pursue the science and art of grape growing and wine making. Son of an American mother and Peruvian father, his viticultural journey started in Peru, where he worked at his extended family’s pisco business, doing back-breaking work with pergola-trellised grapevines.

After graduating in 2007, Alex started his career as Vineyard Manager at Abacela, the premier producer of New World Tempranillo located in Roseburg, Oregon. He then returned to the cool climate viticulture of the Willamette Valley in 2012 as Director of Operations at Results Partners LLC. As part of a strong team of senior managers, he helped to grow the business into largest vineyard development and management company in Oregon. In 2025 Results Partners LLC was acquired and merged with Atlas Vineyard Management.

Sessions:

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:

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

Dr. Laura Catena
Catena Zapata Managing Director
Owner of Luca Wines
Founder of Catena Institute of Wine

Dr. Laura Catena is a fourth-generation Argentine vintner, physician, and writer. Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Catena obtained a B.S. degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Harvard University and a Medical Doctor degree from Stanford. She is currently Managing Director of Bodega Catena Zapata and of her own Luca Winery. For more than 27 years, she was a practicing part-time physician of Emergency Medicine in San Francisco. In addition, she is the founder of the Catena Institute of Wine, which is dedicated to preserving Malbec and elevating Argentine wine since 1995.

Throughout her career, Catena has received numerous distinctions, including the 2022 Woman of the Year Award, presented by The Drinks Business magazine. In March 2023, she was named “Old Vine Hero” by The Old Vine Conference and received the Meininger “Outstanding Achievement Award”. Under her management, Catena Zapata received Argentina’s 2017 “Extraordinary Winery Award” from Robert Parker Wine Advocate and Michelin Guide NY, and the family’s Adrianna Vineyard was awarded twelve 100-point scores from some of the world’s most influential wine critics. On July 12th, 2023, Catena Zapata was voted number one in the world at the World’s Best Vineyards award ceremony for over 125 VIPs held in La Rioja, Spain. In 2025, Dr. Catena led her family winery to be voted #1 Most Admired Wine Brand by Drinks International, and the Catena Institute of Wine was awarded the V d’Or in Sustainability from Vinexposium.

Laura is on the Executive Leadership Board of the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology and WSET Honorary President 2023-2026.
In 2024 Dr. Catena created www.indefenseofwine.com, an online resource for credible, science-based information on health effects of light to moderate alcohol consumption.

Over the last year, Dr. Catena has written extensively and spoken internationally about wine and health, including at the Lifestyle, Diet, Wine Health Symposium in Rome (2025), at ASEV (American Society of Enology and Viticulture), at Wholesalers of America as Keynote speaker, and upcoming at Académie Internationale du Vin among others.

Affiliations

Harvard and Stanford trained biologist and physician
Was a practicing Emergency Physician in California for 27 years
Founder of the Catena Institute of Wine in 1995: publishes regularly in peer reviewed journals about winemaking and viticulture; collaborates with international universities
Managing director of her family winery, Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina, and of her own Luca and Domaine Nico wines
WSET – Wine and Spirits Education Trust – Honorary President – 2023-2026
Created “In Defense of Wine”, an online resource for credible, science-based information on health effects of light to moderate alcohol consumption
Author of three books: Vino Argentino, Gold in the Vineyards (in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Mandarin) and Malbec mon amour (in Spanish, English, Portuguese and French)

Recent Publications

Argentina: A Vine Resource for the Wine World – Decanter (Sep 2024)
What the Headlines Get Wrong About Wine and Health – 750 Daily (Dec 2024)
Voice of the Industry: Laura Catena – Vinexposium (Sep 2025)

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)

Leah Chapin, Founder, Principal Developer and Consultant at Tāst Innovation

Leah Chapin stands at the forefront of product and brand development with over 20 years of experience spanning consumer research, technical R&D, operations, and Lean Six Sigma, showcasing her profound understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of the industry. Her journey has been defined by an inherent curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning, allowing her to navigate the complexities of the industry from every angle. She is deeply passionate about product development, viewing it as both a science and an art. Her guiding philosophy, “be constantly curious and get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” drives her to create product experiences that not only satisfy but also leave lasting memories. As a creative leader in her field, Leah Chapin continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, blending innovation with artistry to craft exceptional experiences.

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

Heather Daenitz is a wine industry photographer and marketing strategist based in Santa Barbara Wine Country. Through her business, Craft & Cluster, she helps small wineries connect with their audiences through honest, behind-the-scenes photography and practical and sustainable marketing strategy. Her work has appeared in Wine Business Monthly, Sunset Magazine, Edible San Luis Obispo, and Decanter.

In 2025, Heather was named Wine Photographer of the Year in the World Food Photography Awards, a career milestone that deepened her commitment to telling real stories from the vineyard and cellar. That same drive fuels her work as the writer and host of The Wine Marketing Field Guide, a Substack newsletter and podcast where she breaks down clear, actionable DTC marketing advice for busy wine professionals.

Sessions:

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

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

Jess Druey is a trailblazing entrepreneur and the creative force behind Whiny Baby — the Gen Z wine brand redefining how her generation connects with wine. Born in Bakersfield, CA, and grounded in agricultural roots, Jess saw firsthand how food and wine bring people together. At 22, she struggled to pick a bottle for a first date and realized the wine aisle wasn’t built for her generation. By 24, she self-launched Whiny Baby from scratch — using bold packaging, TikTok storytelling, and interactive design to create a completely reimagined wine experience.

Her vision resonated with young consumers, and by 26 she had partnered with the McBride Sisters Wine Company to expand into Target, Total Wine, and BevMo — making Whiny Baby the only Gen Z–founded and owned wine brand in national retail.

Now 28, Jess is recognized by Essence Magazine and DTC Newsletter and winner of Gordon Ramsay and Lisa Vanderpump’s Food Stars. As Founder & Head of Whiny Baby and Emerging Consumer Innovation Consultant with GALLO, Jess is on a mission to welcome the next generation of wine lovers. She blends her agricultural background with innovation in winemaking and packaging trends to ensure wine is both high-quality and high-fun — the ultimate gateway wine for anyone entering the category.

Sessions:

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

Morgan First is an award-winning creative director and entrepreneur known for transforming brands into large-scale cultural experiences.

She is the creator of the Rosé Mansion Wine Sticker Book, a best-selling visual project that translates wine, food, and travel culture into a playful, highly shareable format. She is also the co-founder and creative visionary behind Rosé Mansion, the 32,000-square-foot wine amusement park in Manhattan that sold over 225,000 tickets and became a national media phenomenon, as well as Wine Riot, a traveling wine festival that sold more than 150,000 tickets and helped redefine how Millennials engage with wine.

Morgan was the first person to translate Barbie into live experiences, leading global activations for Mattel including the Malibu Barbie Cafés, the Barbie Dream Suite, and large-scale resort takeovers. She is also the creative director of the James Beard Award nominated book, Rebel School of Wine.

Her work has been featured by The New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, Forbes, and Bloomberg.

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

Gatto Rivera:
Based in Napa, CA, Gatto Rivera is a Branding & Package Design studio for the wine, spirits, and hospitality industries.

Tim Gatto:
Born and raised in Napa, California, Tim’s love for creativity and design drew him to San Francisco’s vibrant art scene. There, the dots connected as he discovered brand development and package design — a perfect blend of his artistic passion and deep appreciation for Napa’s winegrowing heritage.

Experience: B.A. in Communication Design from CSU Chico; Junior Designer at Brand Engine; Senior Designer at Auston Design Group; Senior Designer at CF Napa Brand Design; WSET Level 2

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

Tim Hammerich is a communications consultant and the creator of the Future of Agriculture weekly podcast which has received over 3 million downloads. He is also a speaker and writer about topics related to agricultural innovation, agtech and sustainability. Hammerich is a graduate of the University of California, Davis with a degree in Crop Science and Management. He resides in Eagle, Idaho with his wife Jaime and their three children.

Sessions:

Bart Haycraft, Vice President Central Coast Farming

Bart manages all vineyards, focusing on innovative and sustainable farming practices. He leverages technology and mechanization to maintain quality and adapt to industry changes. He has served on the board of directors for the Vineyard Team- a non-profit dedicated to Sustainable Winegrowing

Bart Haycraft received his bachelor’s degree in plant science from Fresno State.

Sessions:

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

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:

Uncorking Zero Waste: How Wine Industry Leaders Turned Waste Into Revenue

Charlie Hoppes started Fidélitas Wines in 2000, producing ultra-premium red wines from some of Washington’s best vineyards. Current production focuses on wines made from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington. Before launching his own label, he worked for several years at Waterbrook, Three Rivers and as the head red winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Charlie also runs a consulting business called WineBoss, which focusing on crafting wines for clients throughout Washington. He is recognized for his expertise and was named winemaker of the year by Seattle Magazine in 2013. He is a 1988 graduate of UC Davis with an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science & Management with an emphasis in Viticulture and Enology. Prior to UC Davis he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Eastern Washington University in 1980.

Sessions:

2026 State of Marketing: Bridging the Gap to Consumers

Kachet Jackson Bell is the founder and principal of KJB Collective, a marketing and influencer consultancy specializing in wine, food, hospitality and tourism. She is also the creator of The Kachet Life, a lifestyle and wine platform she has built for over a decade, inspiring women to elevate their everyday moments through approachable content on wine, travel, hosting and real-life storytelling.

With more than 15 years of experience in marketing and advertising, Kachet has supported brands and destinations such as Visit Dallas, Visit South Padre Island, Gallo and Brown Napa Valley. A recognized personal branding and storytelling expert, her proprietary Story Influence Method helps brands and creators align their narratives to deliver emotionally resonant, high-impact campaigns.

Kachet is WSET Level 2 Certified in Wines, holds a BS in Public Relations and a Dean’s Award from San Jose State University, and hosts The Kachet Podcast, where she shares candid conversations and perspective on life, entrepreneurship, identity and growth.

Kachet lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, toddler son and their Boston Terrier.

Sessions:

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

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

To be announced.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

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:

Dr. Michael Kleeman is a recognized air pollution expert with extensive experience making measurements and creating models to better understand pollution sources. Dr. Kleeman has pioneered measurement methods for ultrafine particles prevalent in wildfire smoke and developed source tagging techniques for these particles in the atmosphere. He has also pioneered the development of source apportionment techniques for primary and secondary particulate matter within regional chemical transport models. Using these methods, Dr. Kleeman has conducted extensive studies on the impacts of air pollution in California and across the United States from sources ranging from motor vehicles to wildfires.

Sessions:

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

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

With a bachelor’s degree in food science from Rutgers University and 15+ years of experience in Flavors Application, I specialize in developing and refining flavors for a broad range of products. Over the course of the years, I have built expertise in bridging the gap between creativity and technical skills, focusing especially on dairy and alcoholic beverage applications. I am particularly passionate about the cross-section of cuisine and creativity through unusual ingredients.

After participating in a two-year Emerging Leader Program and mentoring colleagues, I now lead the Applications Group at Robertet Flavors. As my career evolves, I continue to put great emphasis on collaboration. In my current role, I oversee and collaborate with a talented team that delivers innovative flavor solutions tailored to customer needs based on category and consumer trends. Throughout, I also had the opportunity of working in close collaboration with clients and facilitating fast-track sessions designed to speed up innovation while maintaining high standards for product development.

Outside of work, one of the great joys of my life is that I have recently become a parent to a baby girl. The experience has brought a renewed sense of inspiration and balance to both my personal and professional life.

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)

Kyle LaRue, Director of Zero Waste & Compliance

Kyle joined CCNB’s Recycling Program as an Assistant Supervisor in 2016 and quickly gained a vast amount of experience in youth development, conflict resolution, compliance management, and the complex and ever-evolving recycling industry. After his tenures as the Assistant Supervisor, Supervisor, Lead Supervisor, and Recycling Program Coordinator, and Zero Waste Program Manager before being promoted to Director of Zero Waste and Compliance in 2022. Currently in his role as Director, Kyle works to develop and support community partnerships between local organizations/municipalities and the Zero Waste Program and ensures CCNB as a whole maintains safety and program compliance with various agencies and funders. Kyle is a member of both the Marin and Sonoma Zero Waste Local Task Forces.

Sessions:

Uncorking Zero Waste: How Wine Industry Leaders Turned Waste Into Revenue

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

Kara Maraden is the Senior Director of Viticulture at Foley Family Farms where she drives all viticultural operations for 4200 acres of winegrapes in California and Oregon.

Kara, a native of Pennsylvania, earned her BS in Horticulture and Master of Agriculture in Plant Pathology from Penn State University. She moved to California in 2010 to pursue a career in wine and viticulture. After a season of vineyard scouting in Sonoma County, CA, she earned her PCA license and went on to work as a viticulturist for several premium winegrowing operations including Clos du Val and Regusci Vineyard Management in Napa Valley.

She joined the Foley Family companies in 2016 as the Director of Viticulture where she brought regional operations together and worked to bring 100% of Foley’s planted acres into sustainability programs. Kara joined FFF’s executive leadership team in 2023 where she drives strategic planning and long-term sustainability initiatives, identifies and implements operational efficiencies, and ensures quality farming at an enterprise scale.

Kara is driven by her commitment to sustainability and passion for agriculture. In her free time, she can be found helping her partner Mike with their small wine label, spending time with their two rescue dogs, and enjoying good food, and fine wine.

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)

Amy Navor, MBA
Executive Director, Finger Lakes Wine Alliance

Amy Navor is the Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance and an award-winning senior marketing strategist with 15+ years of experience in global wine and spirits brand leadership. She has led high-impact, omni-channel marketing initiatives for both established and emerging brands, driving growth, building brand equity, and strengthening trade and media relationships across domestic and international markets.

Amy’s career spans hands-on work with producers around the world, from European vineyards to agave-growing regions in Mexico, giving her a deep, practical understanding of production, storytelling, and market positioning. She is also a wine and spirits co-founder, bringing a founder’s perspective to strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and long-term brand building.

In her role at the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, Amy focuses on elevating the region’s cool-climate wine story, expanding market visibility, fostering collaboration across producers, and creating programs that support wineries at every stage, from legacy estates to next-generation innovators. Known for her strategic clarity, collaborative leadership style, and deep respect for regional identity, Amy is committed to strengthening the Finger Lakes’ position as a world-class wine region.

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:

Lilia Ortiz Zavala is an Assistant Winemaker at Trinchero Family Estates, where she brings together her passion for wine and her strong background in science. She earned her degree in Chemistry from Sonoma State University and began her career in the wine industry in the laboratory, developing a deep understanding of analytical testing and quality control. Her experience ranges from coordinating events at wine festivals to hands-on lab work giving her a well-rounded perspective on both the cultural and technical sides of the industry.

Raised in Napa Valley, Lilia grew up surrounded by vineyards, harvest seasons, and a deep-rooted culture of winemaking that shaped her appreciation for the craft from an early age.

Outside of the winery, Lilia finds grounding and inspiration in time spent with her family, especially around shared meals that celebrate culture, connection, and tradition. Her favorite wine is Cabernet Sauvignon, and she is inspired to create wines that bring people together and tell a story in every glass.

Sessions:

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

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

Miguel Pedroza is associate professor of enology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2023) where he teaches winemaking, fermentation, and general education courses related with wine and viticulture. He is interested in how wine aromas are developed in grapes, transformed by winemaking techniques, and evoke emotions in consumers. Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Miguel holds a doctoral and master’s degree in enology from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain (2012) and a food engineering degree from Tec de Monterrey (ITESM, 2006). Prior to Cal Poly, Miguel was assistant professor of enology at Fresno State (2017). He conducted postdoctoral research work in neuroimaging at the CNRS, France and has done research and professional internships in Piacenza (Italy), Jura and Bordeaux (France). Wine judge at national international wine competitions since 2014, Miguel is passionate about tasting, learning, teaching, and traveling for wine.

Sessions:

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

Norm Peters
Director of Vineyard Operations
Silver Oak

Norm Peters is Director of Vineyard Operations at Silver Oak Wine Cellars, where he oversees estate farming for the portfolio—Silver Oak, Twomey, OVID Napa Valley, and Timeless Napa Valley in California, plus Prince Hill Vineyards in Oregon. Never far from a pair of dusty boots, Norm’s experience spans 24 harvests, and he’s devoted to the art and science of growing exceptional wine grapes.

He entered the wine industry on an unconventional path, leaving a career as a vice principal and educator on assignment to run a former boss’s 100-acre vineyard and winery. He went on to serve as Winemaker and then Director of Winemaking at California Cellars. At The Wine Group, he worked as a Grower Representative, purchasing fruit and managing vineyard quality across Lodi, Clarksburg, Sonoma, and Livermore while collaborating with more than 60 growers. Drawn back to the pressures and rewards of full-time farming, he became Director of Central Valley Vineyard Operations at Trinchero Family Estates (Sutter Home) for four harvests before finding his home at Silver Oak.

Norm holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

Brad Petersen brings four generations of Sonoma County farming expertise and passion to his role as vineyard manager for Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars. As vineyard manager, he manages 240 acres of premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the Alexander Valley. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of producing winegrapes that contribute to Silver Oak’s world class Alexander Valley Cabernet. As a native of Sonoma County, Petersen spent his youth running around Silver Oak vineyards then managed by his father, Dane Petersen. These early days in the vineyard solidified Brad’s connection to farming and his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps. He began working for Silver Oak in 1999 taking care of the irrigation and equipment in the vineyards working his way up to vineyard manager in 2006.

In addition to managing vineyards, Brad is an active contributor in his community having served on the Geyserville Volunteer Fire Department, Geyserville Kiwanis Club, coaching Little League Baseball and as an executive board member of the Sonoma County Winegrowers and Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair. He is currently the president of the Russian River Property Owners Association.

Sessions:

Pause or Proceed – Evaluating the Future of Your Vineyard

Zach Poelma currently serves as the Senior Vice President, Commercial Intelligence and Strategy, a newly created role he was promoted into in August of 2025. Prior to this, he was the SVP Supplier Strategy and Insights Center of Excellence, a role he held since helping to lead the design of the new SGWS Supplier Development and Marketing (SDM) Organization in January 2021. In his current role Zach reports directly into SGWS President Commercial Sales, Mark Chaplin and manages a team of 120+ resources focused on working directly with Suppliers, Customers and Internal teams on Insights, Strategy, Collaboration projects, Commercial Operations and Consumer initiatives including Multicultural opportunities. Zach has served in multiple strategy and analytics roles of increasing responsibility since joining Southern Glazer’s in 2011.

Prior to his current role, he held the role of Senior Vice President, Supplier Strategy & Business Development, where he oversaw the Supplier Insights and Strategy teams, while also leading supplier expansion initiatives and collaborating with regional and state teams. In addition to his time at Southern Glazer’s, Zach has also worked in corporate and financial roles for Procter & Gamble, Dannon, and UBS.

He earned a Bachelor of Science from The United States Naval Academy where he also was a Division 1 baseball pitcher and received an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He’s a graduate of Southern Glazer’s Preeminent Leadership Program, in partnership with the Harvard Business School of Executive Education. Outside of work, Zach and his wife Melanie have 3 kids Landon, Adysen and Logan and enjoy keeping busy with sports and travel.

Sessions:

The Path Forward: A Conversation with Chuck Wagner and Industry Leaders Across the Value Chain on Rebuilding Demand and Rethinking Wine’s Future

To be announced.

Sessions:

Uncorking Zero Waste: How Wine Industry Leaders Turned Waste Into Revenue

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

It didn’t take long for Kristina Shideler to discover the allure of wine and the integral role it plays in cultures around the world. After traveling throughout Western Europe, she developed a love of wine, particularly for Barolo and Bordeaux blends.

Born in San Diego and raised in Missouri, travel has always fueled Kristina’s passion for wine. While growing up, during the summers her mother would lead groups of college students on study-abroad trips throughout Europe and would bring Kristina and her sister along. One common thread throughout each unique experience that stayed with her was the mealtime ritual–with wine and food always being such a fascinating reflection of both the people and the land. Kristina attended the University of Missouri, where she double majored in Biochemistry and Agricultural Economics.

In 2007, she interned with a Missouri winemaker, working her way from the vineyards and bottling line to the cellar. Kristina remembers the invaluable wisdom she received, “Taste everything you can get your hands on. Never stop learning and never get bored.” Kristina’s passion for wine and travel continued to blossom, which soon took her to harvests across the globe.

Following time in New Zealand, Kristina enrolled at the University of California Davis Viticulture and Enology Master of Science program in 2009, specializing in viticulture coursework. Kristina’s next adventure took her to the steep vineyards of Neipoort Vinhos in Portugal’s Douro Valley. She became fascinated by the unique complexities of mountain vineyards and studied how the dramatic interplay between climate and elevation as well as varying soil types are critical to making high-quality wine. As Kristina made her way around the world, she spent time in South America working at Bodega Caelum in Mendoza before returning to North America, landing in California at Sonoma County’s renowned Vérité Estate. It was here that cemented her desire to produce artisan wines reflecting the terroir of remarkable, high-elevation vineyard sites. In 2012, Kristina started at Stonestreet Winery as Viticulturist and later became Assistant Winemaker. She was then appointed Winemaker of Arrowood Winery in 2015, before returning to Stonestreet in August of 2022 as Winemaker.

When she is not out in the vineyards or in the cellar, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family and three small children. You can also find her running, gardening, or hosting food and wine pairing dinners.

Sessions:

Hillary Sjolund started her career in wine at UC Davis in 1998, where she fell in love with the culture of wine. She began an internship at Pine Ridge Winery in Napa, CA in the fall of 2000, completing three vintages with the winery as a lab technician. After graduation, Hillary worked a harvest abroad in Chile, before returning to Pine Ridge for three more vintages as Assistant Winemaker.

In 2006, Hillary relocated to Washington to take the position of head winemaker of DiStefano Winery in Woodinville, WA. Under her winemaking leadership, Wine Spectator awarded multiple 90+ scores to the winery in addition to being named Wine Press Northwest’s ‘Winery of the Year’ in 2008. Soon after, Hillary became Associate Winemaker under the wing of Washington icon Charlie Hoppes at his Wine Boss custom crush facility in Richland, WA. This move allowed her to open her own commercial wine laboratory Enomama and launch her own label Sonoris Wines. In 2015, Vicard Generation 7 tapped Hillary as a technical consultant, where she worked with winemakers to craft wines from British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. She also spent five years as an educator, teaching online wine chemistry and intermediate winemaking courses across the country, and currently serves as an instructor for the UC Davis online wine certificate program.

Hillary joined Aperture Cellars in 2019 as Associate Winemaker, the same year the estate’s state-of-the-art winery opened for its inaugural vintage. In early 2024, Hillary was appointed Director of Winemaking, overseeing all production for both Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards. Under her leadership, Aperture and Devil Proof wines have continued to earn international acclaim, including multiple 100-point ratings from top critics including Wine Enthusiast, Jeb Dunnuck, and The Wine Advocate, establishing the estate among the most highly regarded producers in Sonoma County.

Sessions:

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

Marty Spate, Head Winemaker for Riboli Family Estates, grew up in a farming community in Fresno County, where his early connection to agriculture led him to pursue Wine Production at California State University, Fresno. His hands-on training at the campus winery laid the groundwork for a winemaking career that now spans more than 25 years. Marty has crafted wines across Italy, Spain, Australia, California’s Central Valley, and Central Coast, shaping a well-rounded perspective on both Old World and New World styles. Known for his leadership, mentorship, and passion for Consumer wine education, he brings a collaborative and quality-driven approach to every project.

Sessions:

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

Matt Stornetta was raised in Sonoma Valley, where early exposure to farming and the wine business shaped his appreciation for the balance between land, environment, and craftsmanship. After earning his degree from Cal Poly, he expanded his experience working at a winery in Casablanca, Chile, before returning to California to work in vineyard management across Sonoma and Napa counties.

Matt later moved to Napa to continue building his experience in vineyard operations and development. With time, he began leasing vineyards and offering management services, eventually founding Stornetta Made Farming. What started with a single lease has grown steadily into a dedicated team providing viticulture solutions, labor contracting, and custom mechanization services, with a focus on practical decision-making and long-term stewardship.

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: A Conversation with Chuck Wagner and Industry Leaders Across the Value Chain on 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

Rebecca Toy is a freelance writer covering engaging and layered stories in wine and spirits, travel, culture, and history. She frequently contributes to Wine Enthusiast, National Geographic, Fodor’s Travel, The Toronto Star, Wanderlust, and other publications. She loves sharing the stories behind the wine: the people, the places, and any quirky history that makes a reader stop and raise an eyebrow.

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

Born and raised in Mendoza, Argentina, Carolina grew up immersed in vineyards and winemaking as part of a third-generation winemaking family. Her passion for wine led her to combine hands-on experience with formal training, shaping a strong foundation in both tradition and technique.

Carolina has worked in diverse wine regions including Mendoza, Napa Valley, Maine, and Greece, broadening her perspective and refining her craft. She has a particular focus on organic wine production and regenerative agriculture, supported by her specialization in Holistic Management.

In 2022, Carolina moved to the U.S. and joined Shannon Family of Wine in Lake County, where she continues to make expressive, high-quality wines while honoring the land. Outside of winemaking, she enjoys time with family and friends, great wine, and outdoor adventures.

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:

The Path Forward: A Conversation with Chuck Wagner and Industry Leaders Across the Value Chain on Rebuilding Demand and Rethinking Wine’s Future

Chuck Wagner was born into a family of farmers and winemakers with deep roots in Napa Valley. He was 19 when he joined his parents to start Caymus Vineyards. Charlie, Lorna and Chuck were a mom, pop and son team that stayed in place for 30 years until his parents’ passing. After more than 50 vintages, Chuck maintains key involvement in the production of several offerings of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.

Always the farmer, over the years Chuck has commercially grown wine grapes, table grapes, lemons and tomatoes.

Chuck has also led an exciting new chapter in the family’s history, exploring and putting down roots in nearby Suisun Valley, a wine region with unique pastoral beauty and ideal growing conditions that is protected by an agricultural preserve. The Wagner family opened Caymus-Suisun Winery in 2022 and are thrilled to invite people to experience the amazing Suisun Valley for themselves.

Chuck’s children Charlie and Jenny have become significant contributors to running all operations.

Steering the family’s business from the very beginning to the present day, Chuck has worked to adapt to an ever-changing and challenging landscape. He has been recognized for his winemaking and industry leadership – all the while, he has maintained deep humility, along with an appreciation for family, great wine and the connections between the two.

Sessions:

I’m Erica Walter, and email marketing is more than my bread and butter… it is my jam.

I’m deeply passionate about empowering small businesses with tools, resources, and training to send marketing emails that convert. I have over 16 years of experience in winery email marketing; I spent over a decade as the VP of a wine marketing agency before starting my own business, Email Mavens. My favorite thing to do in my role is create and execute compelling email marketing strategies that drive engagement and sales.

My second favorite thing to do is teach YOU to do it yourself.

I’m the creator of PRESS SEND: Email Marketing Mastery for Wineries, a digital course that gives wineries everything they need to do and know to make email marketing a profitable revenue channel, without tech headaches, overwhelm or a degree in graphic design or UX. I’m also the host of the Email Mavens YouTube Channel, the place for winery owners and marketing pros who want to sell more wine online by sending better marketing emails.

Having worked with just about every tech stack, I understand the pros and cons (and can uncover the hacks) inherent in winery systems. Helping demystify and exploit the tech component is critical to creating truly action-inspiring email strategies, driving delight and engagement with customers, and generating consistent profit to the bottom line.

I’m thrilled to share what I’ve learned with attendees at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.

Sessions:

2026 State of Marketing: Bridging the Gap to Consumers

Rob Warren, Vice President of Winemaking, Oliver Winery, Bloomington, Indiana

“Winemaking is the perfect mix of science and art—creative, mathematical, deliberate.”

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Rob Warren discovered his passion for wine while studying geology at Brock University. That curiosity led him to pursue a postgraduate degree in Enology and Viticulture and launch a 25-year career that’s taken him from boutique wineries in Canada and Virginia to large-scale operations producing more than a million cases a year.

Today, as Vice President of Winemaking at Oliver Winery, Rob blends deep technical expertise with an artist’s intuition. He’s known for crafting wines that celebrate real fruit and authentic flavor—approachable, expressive, and never over-worked. With a philosophy of minimal intervention and maximum flavor, Rob continues to redefine what modern, fruit-forward winemaking can be.

Sessions:

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

Scott Williams, Chief Sales Officer – Coastal Vineyard Care Associates:

Scott Williams is a respected vineyard manager, viticulturist, and leader within Coastal Vineyard Care Associates, where he serves as the CSO. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Botany–Biology from California State University, Fresno, and a master’s degree in plant protection from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His academic foundation, combined with his extensive field experience, makes him a highly valued member of the Coastal Vineyard Care team.

Scott’s deep roots in viticulture and winegrowing have shaped his thoughtful, creative approach to vineyard management. Influenced by his father, Dr. Larry Williams, a distinguished Professor of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, and his brother, Mark Williams, a winemaker in Napa Valley, Scott brings a unique blend of scientific insight and practical winemaking perspective to his work.

Since joining Coastal Vineyard Care in 2019, Scott has focused on building collaborative partnerships with winemakers to help realize their stylistic and production goals. He is committed to tailoring farming practices to meet each client’s vision, serving as a strategic liaison between vineyard owners and winemakers to balance economic performance with premium quality objectives.

Scott’s career spans key leadership roles, including Director of Winegrowing and Brand Ambassador at Niven Family Wine Estates, Vineyard Manager with the Pacific Vineyard team under George Donati, and Viticulturist for J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles. Across these roles, he has earned a reputation for technical expertise, thoughtful communication, and a relationship-forward approach to vineyard stewardship.

Scott’s dedication to long-term client partnerships and his extensive network within the industry continue to support the growth, innovation, and elevated reputation of the Santa Barbara County wine region.

Sessions:

New Benchmarking for Vineyard Budget Success: Insights and Practical Applications

Douglas Wood is a GIS Database Administrator at Trinchero Family Estates, where he brings more than two decades of geospatial experience to vineyard and agricultural operations. A Sonoma Valley native, Douglas discovered his passion for land, maps, and culture early, later earning a B.A. in Anthropology from Grinnell College and an M.S. in Geography from Oregon State University.

At Trinchero, he leads the administration of the ArcGIS Online platform for a 60+ member multidisciplinary team, builds mobile and web applications for vineyard data collection, and oversees critical functions including pest & disease scouting, yield projections, harvest reporting, vineyard appraisal, and weather-station management. Widely recognized for advancing data-driven decision-making in viticulture, Douglas focuses on practical, intuitive solutions that bridge field teams, technology, and leadership.

Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and coaching soccer, and serves on the boards of Sonoma Valley United Soccer and Sonoma Valley’s Field of Dreams.

Sessions:

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

MaryAnn Worobiec is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in political science and sociology. Worobiec worked for the Ohio House of Representatives before falling in love with wine. In 1996, she moved to Northern California to pursue her interest in wine and work alongside people passionate about what they do. She joined Wine Spectator in 1997 and was promoted to senior editor in 2013. She is now the Napa Bureau Chief and lead taster for the wines of Australia and New Zealand, as well as California Chardonnay and other white wines.

Sessions:

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

Katie Zelman is a recognized leader at the critical intersection of wine business strategy, technology, and operational profitability, boasting two decades of experience driving growth and efficiency in the wine industry.

Currently serving as the Senior Business Intelligence and Pricing Manager for Hess Persson Estates, she is an expert in transforming raw market data into decisive competitive action. Her work focuses on leveraging quantitative metrics to optimize volume and value growth across wholesale, export, and DTC channels, directly driving significant increases in blended profit margins.

Ms. Zelman’s hybrid background includes serving as a Business Intelligence Product Manager at VIP and earning her Certified Product Manager (CPM) designation. This provides the unique ability to bridge the gap between marketing, sales, finance, and modern technological efficiency, utilizing a disciplined, data-first approach. She joins the panel to share insights on how wineries-regardless of size- can apply repeatable business intelligence processes to harness data and drive growth.

Sessions: