2023 Symposium Schedule

Bob Coleman

Treasury Wine Estates, California

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.

Roger Boulton

University of California, Davis

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.

Federico Casassa

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Federico Casassa, Ph.D. Full Professor – Enology & Sensory Analysis

The focus of Federico’s research lies in the broad areas of grape and wine chemistry and biochemistry and their sensory implications, with especial emphasis on applied research. He has been involved in research projects focused on the impact of irrigation techniques, especially Regulated Deficit Irrigation. He is also interested in the chemical and sensory aspects arising from intrinsic variations of berry size in red wine cultivars, and their impact during winemaking. Past and ongoing research projects include studies on the extraction of phenolics of sensory relevance during the course of different maceration techniques in red wines (cold soak, extended maceration, saignée, cofermentation, stem and whole cluster additions), coupled with other regulating factors (grape maturity and composition, ethanol content, SO2 dosis), hyperoxidation during white winemaking, oxidation reduction potential, acid chemistry and biochemistry in wine, and their sensory impact as evaluated by formal sensory evaluation techniques. Most recent work involves aspect related to the chemical and sensory basis of wine balance. Federico also teaches introductory and advanced classes on wine sensory analysis.

Meghan Phillips

Meghan Phillips is the Founder and CEO of Honey, a women-led creative studio in Sacramento specializing in design and marketing for food, beverage, and agriculture. Founded in 2008, Honey pioneers a distinctive approach to brand strategy by bringing marketing and design under one undivided roof. With over 20 years of experience in the wine industry, Meghan grew up as a grocer’s daughter in Sonoma, California and studied wine marketing, sparking her passion for authentic storytelling in agriculture. Honey’s work spans California wine brands from family wineries to established producers, focusing on connecting consumers to the agricultural innovation and family legacies behind each label. Named to the Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2017, Meghan is a sought-after speaker on agriculture and food marketing, having presented at SXSW in 2022. She serves on economic development boards and is a passionate advocate for food transparency and innovation at the intersection of agriculture and technology. Also, as Co-Founder of Food Frontier with Chef Brad Cecchi, Meghan works to connect California’s agrifood ecosystem with global innovation networks.

Alex Cabrera

Results Partners LLC, Oregon

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.

Larry Bettiga

University of California Cooperative Extension, Monterey County

Larry Bettiga has served as a Viticulture Farm Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) for 41 years, primarily based in Monterey County.

In this role, he has conducted applied research and extension education programs that have benefited grape growers across Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. His work has focused on cultural practices, rootstock and clonal selection, canopy management and integrated pest management—all aimed at enhancing vine health and fruit quality. Before his appointment in Monterey, Bettiga spent six years conducting viticulture and pest management research in California’s Southern San Joaquin Valley, working with table, raisin and winegrape vineyards at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center and Tulare County UC Cooperative Extension.

Tyler Klick

Redwood Empire Vineyard Management, California

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.

Dale Stratton

Azur Associates, California

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.

Laura Catena

Catena Institute of Wine, California

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)

Charlie Hoppes

Fidélitas Wines, Washington

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.

Kristina Shideler

Stonestreet Winery, California

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.

Julie Lumgair

Art Nouveau Wines, California

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

Tyler Balliet

Rebel School of Wine & Rosé Mansion, New York

Tyler Balliet is a bestselling author and entrepreneur who has been reshaping the wine industry since 2006. Her debut book, Rebel School of Wine, was nominated for a James Beard Book Award in 2025. Tyler founded Rosé Mansion and Wine Riot, two wildly successful wine experience companies that drew over 500,000 guests and helped change the way Millennials and Gen Z experience wine.

She has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, and LA Times, and regularly appears on television including CNN, ABC News, and Good Morning America. A former Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 and Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 honoree, Tyler continues to push the boundaries of wine culture, blending design, storytelling, and history to make wine more accessible, inclusive, and fun, for everyone. Tyler lives in New York City.

Mike Veseth

The Wine Economist, Washington

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.

Jeff Bitter

Allied Grape Growers, California

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.

Danny Brager

Azur Associates, California

Danny Brager has a wealth of experience in the U.S. Beverage Alcohol industry, analyzing trends over many years. In his current consulting role, Danny provides data-driven analysis 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 partners with 3 Tier Beverages – a company that facilitates the provision of data (NIQ scan data, SipSource data, consumer data, and more) and 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.

Prior to that, Danny headed Nielsen’s (now known as NIQ) 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.

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.

Steve Fredricks

Turrentine Brokerage, California

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.

Erica Walter

Email Mavens, Washington

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.

Daniel Sumner

University of California, Davis

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.

Steven Kukesh

Delicato Family Wines, California

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.

Leah Chapin

Tāst Innovation, Oregon

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.

Marty Spate

Riboli Family Wines, California

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.

Rob Warren

Oliver Winery, Indiana

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.

Megan Hernandez

North Bay Zero Waste Collective/ Bayard Fox Selections LLC., California

As co-chair of the North Bay Zero Waste Collective, Megan Hernandez is passionate about promoting community-oriented recycling initiatives. Her work focuses on landfill diversion and helping businesses in the wine industry adopt more environmentally and financially sustainable practices.

By day, she brings this same eco-conscious mindset to her role with Bayard Fox Selections, specializing in French oak barrels and organic yeast products. With over 20 years in the industry, she is dedicated to helping winemakers craft exceptional wines while making sustainability a core part of the process.

Juliana Colangelo

Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York

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.

Mark Krstic

The Australian Wine Research Institute

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.

Allison Jordan

Allison serves as Vice President, Environmental Affairs for Wine Institute, an advocacy group of more than 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, promotion and enjoyment of wine. She joined Wine Institute in 2003, shortly after the publication of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, and helped create the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, a nonprofit organization established by the Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to promote sustainability from grapes to glass.

Allison has served as Executive Director of the Alliance since 2007, leading the organization’s education, certification and communications programs. She holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at University of California Berkeley, a B.A. in Psychology from Allegheny College, and a WSET Level 2 certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. After earning a Certificate in Wine Business Management from Sonoma State University, she now teaches a sustainability course for the school’s Global Executive Wine MBA program. In addition, Allison is a board member for the National Grape Research Alliance, a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier San Francisco Bay Area chapter, and an alumna of the German Marshall Fund’s Marshall Memorial Fellowship.

John Heckman

Dr. John Heckman is a sustainability expert with more than 25 years of experience in balancing business priorities with societal concerns such as climate change. Dr. Heckman has supported the Wine Industry in several capacities, including supporting the development of the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program as well as the California Wine Carbon Footprint. He is currently working with CSWA and members of the industry to develop a Climate Smart Toolkit as part of a CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant.

Nick Filice

Nick Filice
Grape Supply Manager
Silver Oak, Twomey and Timeless Napa Valley

For nearly 17 years, Nick Filice has helped the family of Silver Oak achieve the highest quality of fruit for its wines. The graduate from Chico State received his B.S. in Agricultural Sciences before managing grower relations for Justin Winery in Paso Robles.

When not on the road between vineyards, the San Rafael native enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Steve McIntyre

In 1982 Steve McIntyre received his master’s degree in enology from California State University, Fresno. In 1982 he and his wife Kimberly moved to Carmel Valley, California to develop Galante Vineyards and Winery. In late 1983 Steve took a position with Smith & Hook Winery in Soledad, Calif. as an Assistant Winemaker, later returning to his agrarian roots to become viticulturist in 1985.

In 1992 Steve and Kimberly founded Monterey Pacific, Inc., a viticulture management and development company, which rapidly grew from 432 acres to become the third largest vineyard management company in the U.S. at over 20,000 acres.

In 2002, along with partners Mike Filice and Eric Laumann, Steve cofounded the Monterey Wine Company in King City, California. This12,000-ton state of the art custom wine processing facility developed a reputation for first class customer service and technological prowess. Among its many notable accomplishments, MWC was the first commercial winery in the US to introduce Flash Détente to the wine industry.

Steve and Kim founded McIntyre Vineyards on 1998 to produce small lot, handmade wines from their Estate Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. They have a Tasting Studio in The Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel and Carmel Valley Village and are developing a Hospitality Center at their Estate Vineyard on River Road near Gonzales.

Steve received the Wine Grape Grower of the Year from the California Association of Wine Grape Growers in 2013.

In 2022 Steve and Mayo Ryan established the Sitos Group to produce Biochar from various waste streams using a continuous, slow pyrolysis reactor at ReGen Monterey, the County solid waste facility. This is the first facility in the US to manufacture and sequester Biochar in permanent crops using a patented sequestration process. The certified process produces a high value carbon credit while providing agronomic and atmospheric carbon removal benefits.

Steve is an appointed member and past chairman of the CDFA Pierces Disease Board, Chairman of the Research Screening Committee; a member of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers, a graduate of Class 21 of the California Ag Leadership Program, previously a board member of the Big Sur Land Trust and currently serving as a board member of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Steve and Kim have 3 children and reside in Salinas, California.

Anne Sery

Anne was born and raised in Reunion Island, a tropical French island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. When she was 14, her parents purchased a vineyard in Côte de Nuits. As a teenager, she spent her summer in Burgundy at the family vineyard, and it was there where her affinity for wine first blossomed.

Anne left Reunion after high school to attend college in Dijon where she received her degree in Biology, Physics, and Mathematics. She then completed the master’s program of Viticulture and Oenology of the ENITA of Bordeaux and received her National Diploma of Enology from the University of Bordeaux. During her years in school, Anne would return to Burgundy for internships with well esteemed Pinot Noir producers; Domaine jean-Francois Coche-Dury, Domaine Hubert Lignier, Maison Bouchard Pere & Fils.

After graduating she traveled to the United States to perfect her English and experience another Pinot Noir region of the world. While interning at Beaux Freres, she fell in love with the Willamette Valley and decided that she wanted to stay to start her career. Anne landed the job of assistant winemaker for Soléna Estate, after meeting Owner and Proprietor, Laurent Montalieu. After 2 years at Soléna, Anne joined the team at NW Wine Company as winemaker. She has been there for 13 years.

Stephen Rannekleiv

Stephen Rannekleiv is the Beverage Sector Strategist in the Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group. Mr. Rannekleiv joined Rabobank in 2006 and now leads the global beverage research team.

As Sector Strategist, Stephen and the global team of beverage analysts research emerging trends and opportunities with the goal of providing actionable ideas to our clients. Recent research themes that the team have tackled include: opportunities in e-commerce, shifting distribution models for alcoholic beverages in Western Europe, blurring of category lines, investment opportunities in out-of-home coffee, innovation in brand-building strategies and more. Stephen is also the host of Liquid Assets, Rabobank’s podcast that shares insights and views on the global beverage industry.

Prior to taking the role of Beverages Sector Strategist, he was a senior beverages analyst at Rabobank for ten years, primarily covering developments in the wine and spirits industry.

Mike Veseth

The Wine Economist, Washington

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.

Jacylyn Stokes

Jacylyn Stokes is a fourth-generation grape grower and the co-owner of Stokes Vineyards. Passionate about the wine industry, she serves as the Vice-Chair of the Lodi Winegrape Commission and owns her own rosé wine brand while collaborating on various innovative wine projects. Jacylyn actively engages with the agricultural community alongside her father, balancing this with her full-time role as a sales manager for a local winery in Lodi. She earned her MBA in Wine and Spirits Business Management from the Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, France, in 2019 and is a proud graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, Class 52. In her spare time, Jacylyn enjoys being an amateur tarot reader and astrologist!

Bill Stokes

Bill Stokes is a third-generation grape grower and farmer, proudly co-owning Stokes Brother Farms and Stokes Vineyards. He serves as the President of both the Woodbridge Irrigation Board and Reclamation District 34. With extensive experience in farming over 4,000 acres of wine grapes, almonds, walnuts, and cherries, Bill has made significant contributions to the industry as a past President of the Lodi District Grape Growers Association (LDGGA) and was a founder of a local agricultural community business bank in Lodi. He operates the family farming business alongside his brother at Stokes Farms. Above all, Bill cherishes his role as a part-time farmer and part-time grandfather to his granddaughter, Gigi, and grandson, Will, sharing the joys of agriculture with the next generation.

Molly Bossardt

Molly Bossardt is the founder of Bread & Butter Digital Marketing, a boutique agency dedicated to helping wineries navigate the unique landscape of DTC marketing. With a background in direct-to-consumer marketing roles in New York City and a Master’s in luxury markets from Sotheby’s, Molly has honed her expertise in crafting compelling brand narratives. She believes that marketing is more than a tool—it’s a vital lifeline that can redefine a winery’s presence and attract new customers, even in challenging times.

At Bread & Butter, Molly’s approach goes beyond managing ads. She focuses on uncovering the unique essence of each winery and crafting stories that resonate, ensuring brands stand out in a competitive market. Molly to explore how a well-executed strategy can not only meet the moment but rise above it. Connect with Molly to explore how thoughtful marketing strategies can elevate your winery’s presence and drive growth.

Cathy Huyghe

Cathy Huyghe is an entrepreneur, writer and mindfulness proponent. She is the co-founder of Enolytics, a technology-centric disruptor and provider of business analytics solutions for the wine industry. She writes about the business and politics of the wine industry for Forbes, and she also co-creates the content for A Balanced Glass, a community dedicated to wellness in the wine and spirits world. All three of those ventures have been recognized for their innovative contributions. She also founded the Harvard Alumni in Wine and Food (HAWF) Shared Interest Group, and in 2021 Huyghe was named one of the industry’s Most Inspiring People by the Wine Industry Network. In 2022 she was nominated as Innovator of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine, and in 2023 she joined the advisory board for the Harvard Data Science Review. Huyghe’s most recent work involves thought leadership speaking engagements around the world, particularly on the subject of innovation and AI for the wine industry.

Erica Walter

Email Mavens, Washington

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.

Sebastian Donoso

Sebastian Donoso was born in Chile and came to the U.S. at age 14. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology with a chemistry minor at California State University, Fresno. He later earned a certificate in Biodynamic Agriculture from Biodynamic Agricultural College in the U.K.

Sebastian joined Bonterra Organic Estates in 2017 from Campovida, a family-owned winery in Hopland, California, where he established an acclaimed winemaking program based on small-lot, vineyard-designated wines from select Mendocino County vineyards, many farmed organically or biodynamically. Prior to Campovida, Sebastian was Enologist and Assistant Winemaker at Saracina, a Hopland winery owned by John Fetzer with 250 acres of organically farmed vines.

As Senior Winemaker, Sebastian leads his colleagues in a never-ending quest for improvement that has already elevated quality to new heights. He oversees production of Bonterra Organic Estates’ namesake portfolio, which includes the Bonterra Estate Collection and the critically acclaimed Bonterra Single Vineyard Collection: The Roost Chardonnay, The McNab Cabernet Sauvignon, and The Butler Red Blend. All of these wines are made from grapes grown on the company’s Regenerative Organic Certified® estate vineyards in Mendocino County. In addition, he manages winemaking for the 1000 Stories brand, a leader in the booming spirits barrel-aged wine category.

Sebastian served for several years as a member and officer of the board of directors for Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc. (MWI), working to promote the grapes and wines of Mendocino County. Today, he leads his internal team with the goal of inspiring the world, telling the story of Bonterra Organic Estates through world-class winemaking, and unwavering dedication to sustainability in all its forms.

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Sebastián Donoso nació en Santiago, Chile y emigró a los Estados Unidos a los 14 años. Completó un bachillerato de ciencias en Enología y minor en química de la Universidad Estatal de California, Fresno. Luego, obtubo un certificado en agricultura Biodinámica de Biodynamic Agricultural College en el Reino Unido.

Sebastián comenzó a e Bonterra Organic Estates en el año 2017 después de haber estado a cargo por cinco años de Campovida, una bodega familiar ubicada en Hopland, California, estableciendo vinos de ultra-premium de lotes limitados a base de uvas orgánicas y Biodinámicas. Antes de unirse a Campovida, Sebastián trabajó por cuatro años como Enólogo Asistente de Saracina, una bodega de John Fetzer ubicada también en Hopland, California.

En su rol de Sr. Winemaker, Sebastián lidera la producción de los vinos a base de uvas propias y certificadas regenerativas. Al mismo tiempo, está a cargo de la marca 1000 Stories, pionera en lo que respecta a vinos añejados en barricas de bourbon.

Por varios años, Sebastián fue parte del directorio de Mendocino Winegrowers, Inc. (MWI), trabajando para promover las uvas y vinos del Condado de Mendocino.

Lulu Martinez Ojeda

Lulu is a proud Ensenada native. She grew up as most of the Ensenadenses, surrounded by wines and food. She went to France more than 20 years ago, where she studied viticulture and oenology in Bordeaux.

“I never thought of going anywhere else in France to study wine. I saw Bordeaux as the world’s wine capital, so I didn’t want to be anywhere else”
After working in Chateau Smith Haut Laffite, in Pessac Leognan, she graduated and started working at Chateau Brane-Cantenac, second Grand Cru Classe, a winery owned by Henri Lurton one of the oldest and most lauded houses in Bordeaux.

In 2014, Lurton decided to invest outside of Bordeaux in Martinez’ hometown of Ensenada and the surrounding Valle de Guadalupe. She decided to head back home,
Her family was one of the 13 founding families of Ensenada and as a woman winemaker coming back to her country – where patriarchy is very much alive – she is proud to call herself a feminist.

She is now head winemaker and Wine director of Bruma and is one of the most prominent consultant winemakers in Mexico.

Martinez is a forward thinker, and she loves creating complex wines, with varietal typicity, natural freshness, aromatic finesse and balance.

Cristina Lazcano

Dr. Cristina Lazcano is a soil ecologist and associate professor at the department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis. Her international career has taken her from Spain, where she completed her PhD, to the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Calgary (Canada) and UC Davis. Before joining the faculty of UC Davis in 2019, Dr. Lazcano was an assistant professor of soil ecology at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Dr. Lazcano currently leads a team of 20 researchers at different career stages and from different backgrounds, focused on understanding the links between soil biodiversity, agroecosystem functioning and human health.

Her work identifies the soil ecological interactions responsible for C sequestration, nutrient availability and retention in agroecosystems and how they can be managed to increase soil health and sustainability of agricultural production. Through on farm collaborative research, Dr. Lazcano hopes to help winegrape producers understand how to improve soil health, environmental quality and agroecosystem resilience while producing high quality grapes. Her recent work on no-till vineyards was awarded with the 2023 Viticulture Paper of the Year Award from the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology.

Stephan Sommer

University of Missouri, Assistant Extension Professor and State Extension Specialist for Enology
PhD Microbiology and Wine Science, Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
Engineering Diploma in Beverage Technology, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Germany

Dr. Sommer joined the Grape and Wine Institute at the University of Missouri in August 2022. He is the enology program leader and provides extension support for all wineries in the State of Missouri. Prior to moving to Missouri, he was the Director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at California State University Fresno. As Director of VERC, he provided research and administrative leadership by planning, promoting, and administering all viticulture and enology research programs. Prior to that, Dr. Sommer was the academic program director and an Assistant Professor of Fermentation Sciences at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He also brings more than eight years of industry experience in various fields of beverage production including wineries, sparkling wine companies, breweries, table water production, and related fields including industrial flavor production.

Julie Urban

Dr. Julie Urban is a Research Associate Professor in the Entomology Department at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the University at Albany. She studies planthopper evolution and their co-evolution with multiple bacterial and fungal symbionts. Her recent work involves aspects of basic and applied research on the invasive planthopper, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). She has been a member of USDA’s Technical Working Group of scientists, advising management and research on the Spotted Lanternfly, since it was first detected in the US in September 2014. Dr. Urban has been leading a regional USDA NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative grant studying the biology, management, reducing the impact of Spotted Lanternfly in specialty crops in the eastern USA.