For the fourth consecutive year, four seasoned wine industry thought leaders return to examine the critical challenges and opportunities defining the wine landscape in 2026. Each panelist will share their most important predictions and trends that wineries need to understand to thrive in the year ahead.

For the fourth consecutive year, four seasoned wine industry thought leaders return to examine the critical challenges and opportunities defining the wine landscape in 2026. Each panelist will share their most important predictions and trends that wineries need to understand to thrive in the year ahead. This engaging panel discussion offers multiple perspectives on the forces shaping our industry, equipping you with practical insights to make informed decisions and capitalize on emerging opportunities throughout 2026. Session Panel: Chris Bitter, Senior Wine & Grape Analyst / Terrain Philana Bouvier, President / Demeine Estates Bourcard Nesin, Industry Analyst / Rabobank Dale Stratton, Managing Director / Azur Associates Moderator: Damien Wilson, Faculty Director and Hamel Family Faculty Chair of Wine Business / Sonoma State University

For many working in the wine industry, the day-to-day demands of running the business leave little time for big-picture planning. But without a clear framework for setting and tracking goals, it’s easy to stay busy without making real progress toward long-term growth and value. Join Heather Schmidt, Growth Consultant and Certified Exit Planning Advisor at Crews & co., and M+A Advisor at Exit Equity, for a practical session on Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), a proven goal-setting framework for driving alignment, accountability, and performance. In this session, you’ll learn how to: Turn your vision into clear, actionable goals Get your team aligned and executing with focus Build consistent profitability and predictability Strengthen the long-term value of your business Whether you’re growing, scaling, or preparing for an eventual exit, this session will help you lead with clarity and build a business that’s worth more and runs better. Speaker:

Have questions about your next career move? You're not alone. Whether you're wondering how to transfer your skills to a new role, explore a leadership path beyond production, or take the leap into entrepreneurship, this session is designed for you. The next installment of our Bold Predictions: Winery Leadership virtual conference, sponsored by Moss Adams and Baker Tilly, tackles the real questions wine professionals are asking: Is it too late to pivot to something new? How do I grow beyond my current role or department? What does leadership look like outside of the cellar, vineyard, or tasting room? How do I build confidence, find mentorship, and take the first step? Our panelists have asked those same questions and found bold answers. Join us as they share their paths through uncertainty, reinvention, and growth. Whether you're early in your journey or a seasoned professional rethinking what’s next, this session offers honest insights, practical strategies, and the

Career transitions can be both intimidating and transformative. This session is designed to empower individuals across all roles and career stages to embrace professional change as an opportunity for reinvention and growth. Hear from industry leaders who have navigated impactful shifts in their careers, such as transitioning from family-run wineries to mergers and acquisitions, launching entrepreneurial ventures, and evolving from hands-on winemaking roles to strategic positions supporting the industry from a financial perspective. Panelists will share how they identified and applied transferable skills, leaned on mentorship and community support, and built the confidence to pursue new paths. The session will also address common challenges that accompany career changes—such as overcoming self-doubt and balancing personal and professional demands—while offering tangible strategies and insights that anyone in the wine industry can apply. This discussion is meant to engage an

Join four wine industry thought leaders as they once again explore the defining challenges and opportunities shaping the wine industry in 2025. Each panelist will present key predictions or trends they believe will be essential for wineries to be aware of to enjoy a successful year ahead. This dynamic conversation will offer insights from diverse perspectives, helping wineries better navigate the evolving industry landscape and seize emerging opportunities. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and position your winery for success in 2025. Register Now

2024 Series Presenting Sponsor: Recent consumer research demonstrates dramatic shifts in Gen Z and young Millennials’ attitudes about wine consumption while at the same time, anti-alcohol lobbyists are fanning the Neo-Prohibitionist flames. The good news is that wine companies and advocates are fighting back with campaigns that focus on the positive attributes of wine. In this session, Gino Colangelo will present the findings of a consumer research study conducted by Wine Opinions and Colangelo & Partners, that illustrates the challenges for attracting new wine drinkers. In addition, this session will also include: Dave Parker, President of Benchmark Wine Group, will talk about the misinformation propagated by anti-alcohol lobbyists. Karen MacNeil, Author of The Wine Bible and Editor of the Digital Newsletter WineSpeed, will present ‘Come Over October,’ a consumer campaign developed by a new mission-driven company ‘COME TOGETHER – A Communit

BOLD PREDICTIONS: The Wine Advocates Pushing Back on Anti-Alcohol Movement Registration is open for the third session in our 2024 Bold Predictions series, presented by Heffernan Insurance Brokers. It focuses on one of the most pressing topics within the wine industry today: The Anti-Alcohol Movement. Recent consumer research reveals significant changes in Gen Z and Millennials' attitudes toward wine consumption while anti-alcohol lobbyists continue to fuel Neo-Prohibitionist sentiments. In this session, Gino Colangelo will present the findings of a consumer research study conducted that illustrates the challenges for attracting new wine drinkers. Dave Parker, of Benchmark Wine Group, will talk about the misinformation propagated by anti-alcohol lobbyists. Karen MacNeil, Author & Editor, will present a consumer campaign ‘COME TOGETHER – A Community for Wine. And Shilah Salmon, with Jackson Family Wines, will present campaigns and sponsorship initiating to engage yo

Session 3: Wine Advocates Push Back on Anti-Alcohol Movement Registration is open for the third session in our 2024 Bold Predictions series, presented by Heffernan Insurance Brokers. It focuses on one of the most pressing topics within the wine industry today: The Anti-Alcohol Movement. Recent consumer research reveals significant changes in Gen Z and Millennials' attitudes toward wine consumption while anti-alcohol lobbyists continue to fuel Neo-Prohibitionist sentiments. This session will take a look at the findings of a recent consumer research study that illustrates the challenges of attracting new wine drinkers. This broadcast will also include details on the misinformation propagated by anti-alcohol lobbyists and the consumer campaigns designed to focus on the positive attributes of wine. Join us on Wednesday, August 7th **Register for this FREE Online Session Today**

Session 2: New Regulations Impacting the Wine Industry Date & Time: Wednesday, April 10th – 10:00 AM (PT)  Seemingly, each year brings new laws and regulations that impact the wine industry and present a maze of compliance issues. This session will feature four experts addressing four areas where new regulations impact vineyards and wineries. FTC Enforcement and Trade Practice Compliance: As part of the current administration’s initiative to increase competition and assist small and medium-sized businesses in the alcohol beverage market, there’s been a renewed focus on federal trade practices that govern how industry members interact. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission has launched an antitrust investigation focused on one of the nation’s largest alcohol beverage distributors. Given these developments, industry members should brush up on the world of trade practice restrictions in order to avoid any potential pitfalls.  Bottle Bill: