Preview Of 2014 Unified Wine And Grape Symposium
December 30, 2013 The largest wine and grape conference in the nation, presented jointly by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), will be held Jan. 28-30 at the Sacramento Convention Center. As one of the industry’s premier gatherings, the Unified Symposium presents a vital platform to focus on the issues shaping today, while interfacing the topics and trends shaping the future of grapegrowing and winemaking.
Besides an array of seminars, the trade show, held this year on Jan. 29-30, is home to more than 650 suppliers to the wine and grape industry. With more than 13,400 industry professionals attending and 730 booths, the Symposium is the largest wine and grape industry conference and trade show of its kind in North America.
One of the highlights is the annual “State of the Industry,” which provides a comprehensive look at every aspect of the wine industry, from what’s being planted to what’s selling. This session features highly regarded speakers and delivers incredible value for attendees who need to understand the market dynamics of the past year and are seeking insight into the market trends that will define the year ahead. As always, speakers include Nat DiBuduo of Allied Grape Growers, an American/Western Fruit Grower Editorial Advisory Board member, and Jon Fredrikson of Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates. A new speaker this year is Mike Veseth of The Wine Economist Blog and The University of Puget Sound, WA.
Just Grapes
Grapegrowing sessions include:
• The Proprietary Wine: Rethinking the Constructs of Blended Wine (includes tasting) — More and more, the wine shouldering its way onto the retail shelf and into the consumer’s glass is missing a varietal label — and all the baggage that comes with it. This interactive session of wine tasting and presentations from leading winemakers and vineyard managers helps you learn about this growing category of wines.
• How to Achieve a 30-Year Vineyard and the Financial Rewards of Longevity — Longevity within a vineyard can be very difficult but also very rewarding. In this session, growers can hear firsthand how preplanting decisions, soil treatments, varietal selections, and early vineyard life farming practices can impact a vineyard’s durability and predestine a vineyard for a long life. Are the financial rewards worth it? This question will be answered by comparing the financial return on a 20- vs. 30-year vineyard for both coastal and interior regions.
• Beyond Brix: How to Attain Quality — As our knowledge of grape maturity grows and as new technology allows us to measure new components of quality, so too must the way we define ripeness. Consider new techniques of measuring maturity, how they can help improve wine quality, and demonstrate practical application of these processes. Insight will be gained on the important decision of when to harvest.
• Pest and Disease Management — Whether you are searching to lower costs or reduce environmental risks, you can use integrated pest management (IPM) and a wide array of biological, cultural, and chemical tools to build effective and sustainable pest management programs for the vineyard. This walking tour of the exhibits will feature a variety of exhibitors offering a broad palette of tools and services to effectively and sustainably manage vineyard pests.
For more information on this year’s event, go to www.unifiedsymposium.org.
Starbucks Co-Founder To Speak
The former owner of Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks co-founder, Jerry Baldwin, will present the keynote luncheon address on Tuesday, Jan. 28, the first day of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.
Baldwin learned the coffee trade from Alfred Peet, whose store, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, was the inspiration for Starbucks in 1971. In 1984 Peet’s was put up for sale, and Baldwin led the group who purchased the company. In 1987 he sold Starbucks and turned his full attention to Peet’s. Baldwin was chairman of Peet’s until 2001 when Peet’s became a publicly traded company, though he has continued as a member of the board of directors. Baldwin also owns and operates a vineyard and award-winning J. Baldwin Wines in the Sonoma Valley of California.
The Tuesday luncheon, priced separately, is a new feature and part of a revised meeting format for 2014. Also new for 2014 on the same day is a welcome reception in the late afternoon and is included as an added benefit with general registration.
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