LODI VINEYARD AND WINE ECONOMICS SYMPOSIUM

The economic and financial conference for growers and wineries in Lodi and surrounding regions.

Save the Date – June 27, 2019

Don’t miss the VIP Dinner at Michael David Winery – June 26, 2019

Tickets On Sale – April 9, 2019

Wines and Roses Conference Center

 

For sponsorship information please contact us at info@winebusiness.com

2019 SPONSORS

2018 PROGRAM

LODI VINEYARD AND WINES SYMPOSIUM

Wines and Roses Conference Center – Lodi, California

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Stuart Spencer, executive director, Lodi Winegrape Commission

THE ECONOMIC TRENDS DRIVING CHANGE IN THE LODI AG REGION

Click here for the Economic Trends presentation

Brad Alderson, wine and winery consultant

The third annual Lodi Vineyard and Wine Economics Symposium will open with a presentation of the results of the 2018 Survey of Vineyard Economics Issues and Trends in Lodi and surrounding regions, presented by wine industry veteran and advisor Brad Alderson.

HOW WINES FROM LODI AND SURROUNDING REGIONS THRIVE IN THE BROAD MARKET

Click here for How Wines From Lodi and Surrounding Reigions Thrive presentation

Brian Lechner, Nielsen Research

In the U.S., wine sales continue to grow, but the landscape is increasingly diverse in terms of consumers, segments and performance of wines from various regions. This session will uncover key regional and consumer trends to show what’s winning with consumers so you can keep abreast and stay ahead of the market.

IMPORTANCE OF LODI WINES IN THE RETAIL CHANNEL AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Click here for the Importance of Lodi Wine presentation

Curtis Mann, director of alcohol and beverages, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores

Wine retail visionary Curtis Mann worked in multiple levels of the wine business, learning to understand the consumer before joining Raley’s grocery stores. Mann converted the wine departments of dozens of stores from basic grocery-store aisle experiences to an intimate wine shop feel. Find out what makes a lesser-known region, or rare varietal, attractive to the retailer and wine consumer. For Lodi, the Delta and surrounding regions, there may be interesting opportunities for retail expansion and growth. Under Mann’s direction Raley’s was awarded a coveted Wine Star award for “Retailer of the Year” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

PREMIUMIZATION PROS: TIPS ON BUILDING HIGH-END, LOCAL BRANDS

Stacie Jacob, Solterra Strategies – MODERATOR

Lexi Boeger, Boeger Winery, El Dorado Winery Association

Joan Kautz, global sales and marketing, Kautz Family Vineyards

Morgan Twain-Peterson, MW, owner and winemaker, Bedrock Wine Co.

Sue Tipton , Acquiesce Winery

Lodi, the Delta and the Sierra Foothills have become wine regions on a fast rise. The challenge and opportunity for this trio of related regions is based on past perceptions, as well as increasing possibilities for the future. This discussion will include the tactics that worked to build brands in other rising regions, such as Paso Robles, as well as stories from wineries using locally-grown grapes that have made the leap to the ultra-premium level.

THE BACKBONE OF CALIFORNIA WINE: LODI-DELTA GRAPE AND BULK WINE

07_Click here for the Backbone of California Wine presentaiton

Erica Moyer, Turrentine Brokerage

Marc Cuneo, Turrentine Brokerage

The Lodi-Delta region is referred to as the backbone of “California Appellation Wine.” Turrentine Brokerage will describe how the Lodi-Delta region fits in to the California wine business and describe, in detail, the current grape market compared to other regions within California, while further describing what “it” is that draws buyers to the Lodi-Delta region. “Hot,” and not-so-hot (for now), grape varieties will also be examined. Finally, how does Turrentine Brokerage use the Lodi and Delta brand, and how is the brand for grapes and bulk wine perceived in the market place?

HOW WINE GRAPE GROWERS CAN THRIVE RATHER THAN SIMPLY SURVIVE, THROUGH EFFECTIVE GRAPE MARKETING

Click here for the How Wine Grape Growers Can Thrive presentation

Jeff Bitter, incoming president, Allied Grape Growers

Stephanie Bolton, grower communications and sustainable winegrowing director, Lodi Winegrape Commission

Rodney Schatz, Peltier Winery

Marshall Miller, Thornhill Companies

Tegan Passalacqua, Turley Wine Cellars

How do grape growers not only survive, but thrive? It could be argued that winegrapes from the Lodi region are the highest-quality grapes grown in the entire San Joaquin Valley—but though the quality is high, as evidenced by the North Coast wineries eager for this fruit, the price points for Lodi and surrounding regions fall short of other AVAs throughout the state. As costs associated with farming rise, what can growers do to market their vineyards and position grapes at a higher value, to command a premium price?

2018 SPEAKERS

Brad Alderson

wine and winery consultant

Learn More About Brad

Brad Alderson has spent the last 35 years promoting a vision for wines of style, personality and quality that would stand with great wines of the world, and has been to accomplish this first as the founding winemaker of Robert Mondavi’s Woodbridge Winery and then as a vice president and general manager for Robert Mondavi. After leaving Woodbridge at the end of harvest in 2007 he is now working as an advisor on wines, winemaking and winery operations for wineries both in Lodi and in other wine regions. Alderson also authored the petition for establishing the Lodi appellation, and in 1986, Lodi was recognized as one of the first American Viticultural Areas (AVA) in California.

Jeff Bitter

Allied Grape Growers

Learn More About Jeff

Jeff Bitter is a lifelong resident of California, being born into and raised on a family vineyard operation in Madera County. Bitter serves as the vice president of operations for Allied Grape Growers (AGG) and has been with AGG since 1997. His daily duties at AGG include contract negotiation and review, administrative and operations management and grape/wine market information research and presentation. In addition to his employment at AGG, Bitter is a fourth-generation grape grower on land he and his wife own and operate in Madera County. Bitter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from California State University, Fresno and a master’s degree in business administration from the Craig School of Business at Fresno State.

Stephanie Bolton

Lodi Winegrape Commission

Learn More About Stephanie

Dr. Stephanie Bolton leads grower research, education and communications at the Lodi Winegrape Commission, along with the LODI RULES Sustainable Winegrowing Program.  In her position at the Commission, Bolton provides targeted and daily support to Lodi winegrape growers in the areas of advanced grower education and outreach, marketing and promotions of the region’s diverse winegrapes, and viticultural research and sustainability programming, including Lodi’s world-renowned LODI RULES sustainable winegrowing certification program. Bolton’s role is key in facilitating effective communications for progressive grape growing among the 750 farmers in the community.

Marc Cuneo

Turrentine Brokerage

Learn More About Marc

Marc Cuneo joined Turrentine Brokerage as a Bulk wine Broker in 2010, bringing industry experience ranging from grower relations to wine marketing. Cuneo entered the wine business as a sales representative for Southern Wines and Spirits in San Francisco after receiving a Business Administration degree at the University of the Pacific. He then moved on to work at his family’s winery, Sebastiani Vineyards. During his decade at Sebastiani Vineyards, he began as a cellar worker and steadily advanced within the company, serving as the vice president of grower relations and as a member of the executive team. Cuneo has also received his executive MBA from Sonoma State University.

Stacie Jacob

Solterra Strategies

Learn More About Stacie

Stacie Jacob, chief strategist, Solterra Strategies lives for “aha” moments—the milestones that prove unwavering tenacity and hard work can lead to tangible success. A believer in honesty, creativity and building strong relationships, Jacob combines real-world knowledge, resolute leadership and execution needed to transform client dreams into concrete success stories. From her early days growing up in a small, Nebraska farming community to her celebrated work elevating Paso Robles’ and Washington state’s world class wine industries, Jacob works with clients representing a unique sense of place: food, wine, agriculture and tourism to promote their bounty and brilliance. 

Joan Kautz

Kautz Family Vineyards

Learn More About Joan

Joan Kautz, the youngest of John and Gail Kautz’s four children handles the global sales and marketing for her family’s wine portfolio. This has included creating new brand strategy for the products through to the packaging, distribution and sales. Prior this, she was vice president of international operations opening new distribution around the world. During her tenure, she has positioned the family’s wine brands into the global marketplace and has successfully grown the brands. That growth has enabled her to launch several other labels that have been created solely and specifically for many markets around the world and in the United States. Kautz Family brands are sold in about 50 countries worldwide including Asia, North America, South America, Caribbean and Europe.

Brian Lechner

Nielsen

Learn More About Brian

Brian Lechner is the vice president, group client director for Nielsen’s West Premier/Beverage Alcohol team. Lechner has nearly 20 years of progressive experience in analytics, custom research and beverage alcohol marketing. He has managed research teams at Central Garden & Pet and Clorox, served numerous and varied clients during his Nielsen tenure and was previously in brand marketing, trade marketing and sales for Beringer Wine Estates (now Treasury Wine Estates). Lechner has an MBA from the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine, and a BA from Arizona State University.

Curtis Mann

Raley’s Family of Fine Stores

Learn More About Curtis

Coming soon!

Erica Moyer

Turrentine Brokerage

Learn More About Erica

Erica Moyer has successfully expanded Turrentine’s impact in the Central Valley in regions such as the Northern Interior, Lodi/Delta and the greater San Joaquin Valley, in addition to the northern region of the Central Coast. Since joining Turrentine in 2003, she has successfully facilitated thousands of winegrape contracts with a comprehensive group of grape growers and wineries throughout California. Most of her career was in production agriculture as a technical sales representative and as a crop manager for a large farming operation. Prior to joining Turrentine, Moyer was the executive director of the Lodi District Grape Growers Association representing over 600 growers. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in crop science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and is a licensed Pest Control Adviser.

Morgan Twain-Peterson, MW

Bedrock Wine Co.

Learn More About Morgan

Morgan Twain-Peterson bypassed a traditional viticulture and enology degree and instead attended Vassar College, followed by Columbia University with an eye towards a master’s degree in American Studies. After two years in graduate school Twain-Peterson decided to come back to California and worked harvest at Ravenswood Winery. He spent the 2006 vintage in the cellars of Chateau Lynch Bages. After returning home in the winter of 2006, Morgan set his eyes on starting his own project. Bedrock Wine Co. was started in 2007 out of a friend’s tiny winery on the outskirts of the town of Sonoma. The first fruit came mainly from his family’s Bedrock Vineyard, but small amounts of old vines from Teldeschi Ranch and several Syrah sites were made as well. In 2017, Morgan passed the Master of Wine examination, becoming one of just 45 MWs residing in the United States and one of two California winemakers with the qualification.

Stuart Spencer

Lodi Winegrape Commission

Learn More About Stuart

Stuart Spencer was appointed executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission in April 2018. Spencer had previously served as the program manager for the Lodi Winegrape Commission since 1999, working to raise the awareness of the Lodi wines and grapes. In that role, Spencer has been responsible for guiding many of Commission’s successful efforts including the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, Wine & Chocolate Weekend, ZinFest, the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing and many other endeavors. Spencer has extensive knowledge on the history of wine and grape growing Lodi, and is the Commission’s principal spokesperson.

Sue Tipton

Acquiesce Winery

Learn More About Sue

Susan Tipton is the owner and winemaker of Acquiesce Winery in Acampo, California. Acquiesce is Lodi’s only all white wine winery featuring estate grown Rhône varietals. Tipton’s life changed when she tried her first white Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine. Tipton began planting grapes from Tablas Creek cuttings in 2008, to create a Lodi version of this wonderful wine. Tipton serves on the Lodi Winegrape Commission’s Winery Marketing Committee and the California Wine Education Foundation. She has previously held the position of treasurer of the Rhône Rangers, board member of Artisan Masters and founding member of both the Lodi Association of Wineries and Slow Food Lodi.

ADVISORY BOARD

Brad Alderson

wine and winery consultant

Learn More About Brad

Brad Alderson has spent the last 35 years promoting a vision for wines of style, personality and quality that would stand with great wines of the world, and has been to accomplish this first as the founding winemaker of Robert Mondavi’s Woodbridge Winery and then as a vice president and general manager for Robert Mondavi. After leaving Woodbridge at the end of harvest in 2007 he is now working as an advisor on wines, winemaking and winery operations for wineries both in Lodi and in other wine regions. Alderson also authored the petition for establishing the Lodi appellation, and in 1986, Lodi was recognized as one of the first American Viticultural Areas (AVA) in California.

Amy Blagg

Lodi Grape Growers

Learn More About Amy

Coming soon!

Stephanie Bolton

Lodi Winegrape Commission

Learn More About Stephanie

Dr. Stephanie Bolton leads grower research, education and communications at the Lodi Winegrape Commission, along with the LODI RULES Sustainable Winegrowing Program.  In her position at the Commission, Bolton provides targeted and daily support to Lodi winegrape growers in the areas of advanced grower education and outreach, marketing and promotions of the region’s diverse winegrapes, and viticultural research and sustainability programming, including Lodi’s world-renowned LODI RULES sustainable winegrowing certification program. Bolton’s role is key in facilitating effective communications for progressive grape growing among the 750 farmers in the community.

Bruce Fry

Mohr-Fry Ranches

Learn More About Bruce

Coming soon!

Craig Ledbetter

Vino Farms, LLC

Learn More About Craig

Coming soon!

Clifford Ohmart

SureHarvest

Learn More About Clifford

Dr. Cliff Ohmart is a recently retired senior scientist with SureHarvest, a food and agriculture sustainability information and technology company. Ohmart worked with clients to design, develop and implement sustainability programs for many cropping systems including winegrapes, cherries, cut flowers and almonds. He was principle research scientist for CSIRO Division of Forest Research in Australia for 13 years, an IPM consultant for 7 years in orchard crops, and sustainable winegrowing director at Lodi Winegrape Commission for 14 years developing a world renowned sustainable winegrowing program. Dr. Ohmart received a B.Sc. degree in forest biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Galen Schmiedt

Wilbur-Ellis

Learn More About Galen

Coming soon!

Stuart Spencer

Lodi Winegrape Commission

Learn More About Stuart

Stuart Spencer was appointed executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission in April 2018. Spencer had previously served as the program manager for the Lodi Winegrape Commission since 1999, working to raise the awareness of the Lodi wines and grapes. In that role, Spencer has been responsible for guiding many of Commission’s successful efforts including the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, Wine & Chocolate Weekend, ZinFest, the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing and many other endeavors. Spencer has extensive knowledge on the history of wine and grape growing Lodi, and is the Commission’s principal spokesperson.

Ken Wilson

Wilson Farms

Learn More About Ken

As a third-generation farmer, Ken Wilson grew up in Clarksburg and attended local schools there. He started growing grapes in 1972 at Wilson Farms while attending a one-year Viticulture 101 course as an extension student at UC Davis. Wilson started with 60 acres and now farms more than 1,000 acres. While he saw many changes over the decades, Wilson’s vineyards have always been trellised for machine harvesting from the beginning. He started with Zinfandel and Barbera and now grows 12 different varieties today.