• January 30 2026
• Category: Press Releases

SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 30, 2026 — The 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium concluded Thursday, January 29th with signs of a broader shift in the American wine and grape industry, as conversations moved from acknowledging market disruption to planning for stabilization and future opportunity.

“This year’s symposium reflected a grounded and forward-looking mindset,” said Natalie Collins, president of California Association of Winegrape Growers and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “There was a clear willingness to confront difficult realities, but also a shared focus on problem-solving, collaboration and positioning the industry for what comes next.”

In addition to the lineup of seminars and panel discussions hosted in Sacramento, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium dedicates over 200,000 square feet at the convention center to supplier exhibits.  Featuring products ranging from corks, barrels, and vines to mammoth grape harvesters and everything in between, the trade show offers industry members a one-stop opportunity to explore new technology, services, and solutions, all under one roof. “We had strong, high-quality traffic and meaningful conversations,” said Dan Howard, executive director of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “Exhibitors were meeting the right people – the buyers, owners, and operational leaders who are making decisions. That is exactly what the trade show is designed to deliver.”

The conversation will continue next year at the 2027 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, held January 26-28 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California.

Put on by the industry, for the industry, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium serves as a clearinghouse of information for wine and grape industry professionals for more than 30 years. As the largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the show combines seminars and panel discussions with a massive trade show featuring more than 650 exhibitors and 800+ booths. For more information, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.