Sue and I are looking forward to the 2017 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, which is set for January 24-27, 2017 in Sacramento, California. The Unified Symposium is the largest wine industry gathering in North America, drawing as many as 14,000 people for the sessions, trade show, and gatherings.
This year’s conference features a number of interesting sessions, some of which are presented in both English and Spanish. I will paste the program below for your inspection. Three sessions particularly caught my eye this year.
And Now For Something Completely Different
Eric Asimov, the New York Times‘ wine critic, will give the luncheon address on Tuesday January 24. I am thinking that Asimov’s talk will be a bit different from the 2016 lunch speaker — Fred Franzia!
Fred didn’t pull many punches in challenging his audience and gave us a lot to think about. I expect Asimov’s take to be completely different, but equally challenging.
Stephen Rannekleiv of Rabobank and Damien Wilson of Sonoma State University will present an analysis of “The Global Market for Wine” on Wednesday afternoon and I will certainly be in the audience. What a big topic! I’m looking forward to seeing what particular trends they pick out and how they see the wine economy developing given all the economic and political changes going on.
State of the Industry
The “State of the Industry” session will go live at 8:30 on Wednesday morning and I will be back as both moderator and speaker. The program is always interesting and draws a huge standing-room-only crowd as the photo above shows.
Joining me this year are three terrific speakers: Nat DiBuduo of Allied Grape Growers,
Danny Brager from The Nielsen Company and Glenn Proctor of Ciatti Company. I’ll be interested to hear what Nat, Danny and Glenn have to say about the wine industry in 2016 and what’s ahead for 2017 and beyond. They really know their stuff — should be a terrific session. Hope to see you at the Unified. Cheers!
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Program
Tuesday January 24
7:30 am – 6:30 pm Registration
11:30 am – 1:30 pm Keynote Speaker Luncheon
Eric Asimov, New York Times, New York
Separate Registration Fee Required
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sauvignon blanc: Vine to Bottle (includes tasting)
Joint Grapegrowing & Winemaking Breakout Session
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Focus, Focus, Focus: Listen to Learn
Marketing/Public Relations Breakout Session
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Finding Value in Sustainability
Business/Operations Breakout Session
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Welcome Reception
Wednesday January 25
7:30 am – 5:30 pm Registration
8:30 am – 11:00 am State of the Industry
General Session
9:00 am – 6:00 pm Exhibits Open
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm Not Your Ordinary Yeast: Using Innovated Strains and Fermentation Techniques to Increase Wine Quality and Drive Wine Styles
Winemaking Breakout Session
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Looking Forward: How Grapevine Clean Plant Strategies Can be Improved
Grapegrowing Breakout Session
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm The Global Market for Wine
Business & Operations Breakout Session
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Making the Most of Your Message: Building a Bridge Between Winegrowing, Marketing & PR to Effectively Reach Today’s Consumer
Marketing/Public Relations Breakout Session
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm Eggs, Uprights, Puncheons and More: Making Your Best Wine in Unusual Containers
Winemaking Breakout Session
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Regional Wine Tasting
6:15 pm – 8:00 pm UC Davis Viticulture & Enology Alumni, Students, Faculty and Friends Reception
Thursday January 26
8:00 am – 4:00 pm Registration
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Exhibits Open
9:00 am – 11:30 am Adapt or Go Extinct: Removing Barriers to Our Industry’s Success
General Session
9:00 am – 10:30 am Presentada en español (Presented in Spanish)
Tecnologías de vanguardia para la producción de uva y elaboración de vino
Sesión General en español
Leading-edge Technology in Grapegrowing and Winemaking
Spanish General Session
10:45 am – Noon Presentada en español (Presented in Spanish)
La decisión inteligente de utilizar material de propagación limpio
Sesión en Español de Viticultura
The Smart Decision of Using Clean Plant Material
Spanish Grapegrowing Breakout Session
10:45 am – Noon Presentada en español (Presented in Spanish)
El Arte de Encontrar el Balance Ideal de un Vino
Sesión en Español de Enología
The Art of Finding a Wine’s Ideal Balance (Sweet Spot)
Spanish Winemaking Breakout Session
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Hosted Buffet Luncheon
1:15 pm – 3:15 pm Cooperage Alternatives
Winemaking English Tour
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Presentada en español (Presented in Spanish)
Alternativas de Tonelería
Tour en Español de Enología
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm FSMA – Food Safety Modernization Act
Winemaking Breakout Session
1:15 pm – 3:15 pm Beyond the Tasting Room: Marketing Your Wines Today
Marketing/Public Relations Breakout Session
1:15 pm – 3:15 pm Vineyard Mechanization: Moving to the “No Touch Vineyard?“
Grapegrowing Breakout Session
1:15 pm – 3:15 pm To Grow or Not to Grow: While the Common Wisdom Is That Growth is Good, is it Really? And if it is Good for You, How to do It?
Business & Operations Breakout Session
1:15 pm – 3:15 pm Mechanization
Grapegrowing English Tour
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Presentada en español (Presented in Spanish)
Mecanización
Tour en Español de Viticultura
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Beyond the Bottle: Packaging Innovations for Winemakers
Winemaking Breakout Session