LODI VINEYARD AND WINE ECONOMICS SYMPOSIUM

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

VIP Dinner at Michael David Winery – June 26, 2019

Wine and Roses Conference Center – June 27, 2019

 

Sponsorship information: Contact Waunice at worchid@winebusiness.com

SPONSORS

2019 PROGRAM

VIP DINNER at MICHAEL DAVID WINERY

Wednesday June 26th, 2019

6:00pm Reception, Dinner at 7:00pm

Join us at MICHAEL DAVID WINERY to network with VIP attendees, speakers and key members of the Lodi wine industry to kick off the fourth annual Lodi Vineyard and Wine Economics Symposium. An elegant dinner prepared by the Wine & Roses culinary team. Dinner is an additional $150 per person (not included in conference registration).

LODI VINEYARD AND WINES SYMPOSIUM

Wines and Roses Conference Center – Lodi, California

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Eric Jorgensen, president, Wine Business Communications

Stuart Spencer, executive director, Lodi Winegrape Commission

8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ECONOMIC TRENDS DRIVING THE GREATER LODI AG REGION

The Fourth Annual Lodi Vineyard and Wine Economics Symposium will open with results from the 2019 Survey of Vineyard Economics Issues and Trends in Lodi.

Brad Alderson, wine industry veteran and advisor

CLICK HERE to download the presentation (Welcome and Economic Trends)

9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF THE WINE MARKET

Larger wineries come to Lodi for their lower priced wines: How to get unstuck from the under $10 market and how to choose better partners. Total beverage alcohol sales will be reviewed, including imports and exports.

Jon Moramarco, managing partner, bw166 LCC

CLICK HERE to download the presentation

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. THE ART OF NEGOTIATION

What are the stepping stones for growers to increase prices? What are some of the best practices for communicating with buyers and the media? This session’s discussion will seek to answer these questions and present a wide range of other topics and tools to help you become not just a grape grower, but a wine grower.

Randy Caparoso, editor-at-large, The Somm Journal; contributing editor, The Tasting Panel; editor, Lodiwine.com – moderator

Scott Gerien, Esq., partner, Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty

Robb Felder, director, Grower Relations, Trinchero Family Estates

Dr. Jan Krupp, proprietor, Krupp Brothers Winery (formerly owned Stagecoach Vineyards)

Jeff Pisoni, winemaker, Pisoni Vineyards

Ann Kraemer, vineyard manager, Shake Ridge Ranch

CLICK HERE to download the presentation

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. HOW LODI CAN COMPETE IN THE E-COMMERCE MARKET

How do you create an online experience that’s on-brand and tells your story, while focusing on e-commerce sales and nurturing your wine club? Editor Andrew Adams will dive into DTC insights, overall market statistics, and some of the new tools Wines Vines Analytics has built—all help winery owners make informed decisions. Geni Whitehouse will discuss the biggest technology challenges in automation and how to choose the right software for your business, while Meg Barkley from Clif Family Winery will tell her story of building a brand, generating a buzz and how to get people through the door.

Andrew Adams, editor, Wines Vines Analytics – moderator

Geni Whitehouse CPA, Brotemarkle Davis & Co, Lecturer, Wine Business at Sonoma State, WISE Academy Instructor

Meg Barkley, director, Experience and Partnerships, Clif Family Winery

Aubrey Terrazas, co-founder, OMvino

CLICK HERE to download the presentation

1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. THE MEDIA VIEW ON LODI WINES’ STATURE IN THE MARKETPLACE

Key influencers in traditional media and social media put Lodi wines in perspective. How does Lodi fit into the world of modern wine reviews and wine culture? What are media, trade and consumer attitudes toward Lodi as a region? Jim Gordon, contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast and editor at large for Wine Business Monthly, will share a Baby Boomer’s view of Lodi based on his recent reporting for print and digital publications and blind tastings of more than 750 Lodi wines. Jennifer Estevez, Advanced Sommelier, CMS and founder of OMvino, will speak for Millennials from the viewpoint of a sommelier, social media and marketing professional with both on-premise and off-premise sales experience.

Jim Gordon, editor-at-large, Wine Business Monthly

Jennifer Estevez, advanced sommelier, CMS, VennClub.com; founder, OMvino

CLICK HERE to download the presentation

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. COST CONTAINMENT, LABOR AND MECHANIZATION: HOW TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS PROFITABLE

There are a number of measures you can take to keep your vineyard and/or winery on track as a business. This session will look at strategies, tools and other options to consider when planning for the future of your business. Panelists will also debate whether premiumization is a strategy, and which companies can use it to reach new heights.

Craig Ledbetter, partner, Vino Farms – moderator

Rodney Schatz, owner, Peltier Winery

Jeremy Murdock, staff research associate – cost studies, UC Agricultural Issues Center

Justin Leigon, viticulturist, Pina Vineyard Management

CLICK HERE to download the presentation

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. WINE RECEPTION

ADVISORY BOARD

Brad Alderson

wine and winery consultant

Learn More About Brad

BBrad 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. He accomplished 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

Craig Ledbetter graduated from California State University, Fresno; with a BS in Agriculture Economics. He is the part of the third generation that has recently joined Vino Farms, Inc., and the fourth generation in California farming. While in college Craig gained experience in the agriculture industry working for Campbell’s soup during tomato season in 1998. He also spent over two years with Wells Fargo Bank in Fresno. After Craig’s graduation from CSU, Fresno, he went to work as a recruiter for Management Recruiter’s International (MRI) in Fresno. After his brief stint with MRI, Craig was hired by Yosemite Technologies in Fresno. While with Yosemite Technologies he polished his sales skills and became the leading sales rep in the company for thirteen consecutive months.

Craig joined Vino Farms, Inc May 1st, 2006 as Vice President of Sales. While he manages the day-to-day operations of the family’s 4500 acres of vineyards in Lodi and handles grape sales there, he’s also involved in converting the company’s entire fleet of vineyard tractors to biodiesel fuel. And he just completed a solar energy project that now generates 30 kilowatts. Plus he’s heading up a 22-acre restoration project in the Mokelumne River watershed that’s expected to take three years. Craig has been heavily involved in Lodi Rules, the third party certification process for Sustainable vineyards, developed by the Lodi Winegrape Commission. Add to that his involvement in all the company’s decision making as part of the family’s management team. In Craig’s time with Vino Farms, Inc he has become involved with many organizations at the local, state and national levels. The Lodi Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Agribusiness Committee Chair, Alternate Commissioner on the Lodi Winegrape Commission Board, the California Association of Winegrape Growers, (CAWG) Wine Grapegrowers of America (WGA) and is a Director on the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, this is only a sampling of his involvement. When Craig is not busy with work and outside organizations, he enjoys spending time with his wife of three years, Suzanne Ledbetter, friends and family in Lodi.

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.

SPEAKERS

Andrew Adams

editor, Wines Vines Analytics

Learn More About Andrew

Andrew Adams is currently the editor of the Wine Analytics Report and was a writer and editor at Wines & Vines magazine from 2011 to 2018. Adams grew up in the city of Sonoma and graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism. As a reporter and editor for daily newspapers in Oregon and California for nearly a decade, Adams won awards for investigative and business reporting. In 2009, Adams left the newspaper industry for a harvest internship at Starmont winery in Napa. That internship led to a full time position in the cellar and laboratory where Adams worked for three harvests before joining the staff at Wines & Vines.

Brad Alderson

wine industry veteran and advisor

Learn More About Brad

Brads winemaking career started at A. Perelli-Minetti and Sons/California Wine Association immediately in 1972. In 1975 moved to the Lodi, California area as winemaker for Montcalm/Felice Winery (this winery would later be renamed the Woodbridge Winery). In 1978 Robert Mondavi took control of the facility and he was retained as the founding winemaker. Woodbridge produced a bit over 70,000 cases in that starting year then grew over the next 26 years to annual production of over twelve million cases. Woodbridge was unique in that it predominately crushed, made, aged and bottled all wines on site. Woodbridge was innovative in pioneering the use of direct to press white grape processing, the large scale use of bladder presses, extensive barrel aging programs, processing and aging of individual vineyard lots and working with its growers to enhance the quality of Lodi wines and grapes. Starting as founding winemaker his responsibilities evolved to General Manager and Vice President of Woodbridge. Wrote and submitted the Lodi appellation which was approved in 1986. Left Woodbridge at the end of the harvest in 2007 and now work as an independent advisor on wines, winemaking and winery operations for wineries both in Lodi as well as other wine regions.

Meg Barkley

director, Experience and Partnerships, Clif Family Winery

Learn More About Meg

Born on the Bayou, Meg hails from Louisiana the land of Southern Hospitality.

After graduating from Louisiana State University. Meg began her career in the restaurant and hotel industry working various positions in sales and management in Nantucket, Hyde Park, Dallas, Tucson and Mountain View before finally settling in Napa Valley. Joining the wine industry in 1998, Meg oversaw Retail and DTC operations at Robert Sinskey Vineyards, where for 16 years her official title was Sales and Motivational Goddess. In the fall of 2013, Meg joined Clif Family Winery as Director of Experience and Partnerships, a role that brings together the Napa community through food, wine and adventure. Outside of work, Meg’s usually cooking, traveling, and exploring for her next favorite meal. Follow Meg @napafoodie

Randy Caparoso

editor-at-large, The Somm Journal; contributing editor, The Tasting
Panel; editor, Lodiwine.com – moderator

Learn More About Randy

Randy Caparoso is a multi-award winning wine journalist who lives in Lodi, California. He is Editor-at-Large and the Bottom Line columnist for The SOMM Journal, and currently blogs and does social media work for Lodi Winegrape Commission’s lodiwine.com. He also pens wine columns and contributes editorial to The Tasting Panel magazine; and in the past, he has bylined a biweekly wine column for his hometown newspaper (The Honolulu Advertiser, from 1981 to 2002). In a prior incarnation (1988 to 2001), he was a founding partner of the Roy’s family of restaurants, where he was VP/Corporate Wine Director, opening 28 restaurants from Hawai`i to New York. As a restaurateur, he was named Santé’s first Wine & Spirits Professional of the Year (1988) and Restaurant Wine’s Wine Marketer of the Year (1992 and 1998).

Jennifer Estevez

advanced sommelier, CMS, VennClub.com; founder, OMvino

Learn More About Jennifer

Jennifer Estevez is a CMS advanced Sommelier studying for her Master Sommelier Diploma. At OMvino, Jennifer spearheads PR, client acquisition, business development, brand engagement, and consulting for food, beverage and lifestyle clients. Jennifer relocated to San Francisco 9 years ago after working for Ritz Carlton in AZ. Jennifer worked her way through top Bay Area restaurants and wine bars such as Press Club, RN74, Epic Steak, Michael Mina, Keiko a Nob Hill, and Hashiri before starting her own company PR, social media, events, and marketing firm; OMvino. She is also a certified yoga instructor, blackbelt in Tae Kwon do, and aspiring philanthropist.

Robb Felder

director, Grower Relations, Trinchero Family Estates

Learn More About Robb

Robb Felder has worked for Trinchero Family Estates for over 20 years and is currently the Director of Grower Relations. This role includes overseeing the analysis of grape and wine requirements for nearly 40 wine brands, and the sourcing of the grapes to fulfill these requirements. Contract negotiations, vineyard assessments and viticulture recommendations are also key aspects of his position. Before coming to Trinchero Family Estates, Robb worked in winemaking at Cakebread Cellars. Robb is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Soil Science.

Scott Gerien, Esq.

partner, Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty

Learn More About Scott

Scott heads DP&F’s Intellectual Property Department. He has been practicing in the areas of trademark, copyright and unfair competition law since his first case in 1996. His experience covers all aspects of these areas of law, including practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), counseling on protection, licensing and acquisition of intellectual property, and enforcement and litigation in state and federal court. He has represented clients in over 500 administrative proceedings in the USPTO and has filed and prosecuted in excess of 3,300 trademark applications. Scott manages both the domestic and international trademark portfolios of several high profile companies, and also acts as the U.S. trademark counsel for numerous foreign entities. For the seventh year in a row World Trademark Review has recognized Scott as one of the world’s leading trademark professionals for trademark prosecution and strategy. The 2019 edition of the WTR 1000, notes that Scott “has a stellar reputation in the alcohol industry. He is meticulous in his filings and works around the clock to protect his patrons’ core trademark assets.” Scott was also identified as one of the top fifty trademark filers in the United States for several years by Trademark Insider. Wine Industry Business Journal also named him one of the top wine lawyers in Northern California and described him as “one of the most knowledgeable wine trademark-protection attorneys in the nation and the world.” Scott is very active with the International Trademark Association (INTA) and currently serves as an editor for the INTA publication Geographical Indications, Certification Marks, and Collective Marks: An International Guide and has previously served as Chairman of the Geographical Indications Committee. Scott graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1990 with a degree in Political Science. After college, Scott worked in advertising as an account executive before attending Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Remedies, a member of the Moot Court Board, and a member of the Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law.

Jim Gordon

editor-at-large, Wine Business Monthly

Learn More About Jim

JIM GORDON, editor at large for Wine Business Monthly, writes on grape growing, wine making and the wine business. He has been covering the wine industry for more than 35 years, notably as the editor of Wines & Vines from 2006 through 2018. An additional role as contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine began in 2014, in which he reviews California wines and reports on various California wine regions. He was executive director of the annual Symposium for Professional Wine Writers from 2008-2015. Dorling Kindersley (DK Books) of London published his first book as editor in chief, Opus Vino, in 2010, which was chosen a finalist in the James Beard Awards. In 2002 he was co-creator and managing editor of the long-running Wine Country Living TV series for NBC station KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco. He lives in Napa, California.

Eric Jorgensen

president, Wine Business Mothly

Learn More About Eric

Coming soon!

Ann Kraemer

vineyard manager, Shake Ridge Ranch

Learn More About Ann

After earning a BS in Plant Science Pomology, Ann spent four years in research and international development, as well as working in family orange business in Southern California. In 1982, transitioned to winegrapes by interning at Sterling Vineyards, and then a two year at Walsh Vineyards Management Company in Napa and Sonoma.

After fifteen seasons as a California viticulturist, including managing Swanson Vineyards in Oakville and Domaine Chandon’s vineyards in Carneros, Ann started a consulting business in 1997. Working mainly with California and Chilean clients, her focus was enhancing winegrape quality along with mentoring new vineyard managers in the complexities of grapegrowing. Clients include: Ancien, Archery Summit, Cain, Calera, Equilibrio, Kingston Vineyards, Ladera, Odfjell, Stagecoach.

In 2003 planted her family’s Shake Ridge Vineyards in Amador County, growing Sierra Foothill grapes for the family wine Yorba, as well as selling fruit to 30 other winemakers from throughout California. Customers include Favia, Keplinger, Turley, Bedrock, Jolie Ladie, Tribute to Grace, Edmunds St. John, Buccella, Dirty & Rowdy, and many others.

Dr. Jan Krupp

proprietor, Krupp Brothers Winery (formerly owned Stagecoach Vineyards)

Learn More About Jan

An oenophile with a green thumb, Jan was a hobby winemaker and suburban farmer in the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. Though a full-time doctor, in his spare time, he grew everything from green beans to gooseberries and produced beautiful wines, using his driveway and basement as a makeshift winery. While still a full-time doctor Jan moved to Napa in 1991, to start growing things on a larger scale – beginning with a 41-acre vineyard around his new home. With his brother Bart, he would develop two more vineyards, including the iconic Stagecoach Vineyard. In 1998, he sold his medical practice and the following year, Bart and Jan founded what would become Krupp Brothers Winery. In 2017, the brothers sold Stagecoach and purchased a winery and vineyard in the Silverado Bench where they continue to create world-class wines.

Craig Ledbetter

partner, Vino Farms – moderator

Learn More About Craig

Craig Ledbetter graduated from California State University, Fresno; with a BS in Agriculture Economics. He is the part of the third generation that has recently joined Vino Farms, Inc., and the fourth generation in California farming. While in college Craig gained experience in the agriculture industry working for Campbell’s soup during tomato season in 1998. He also spent over two years with Wells Fargo Bank in Fresno. After Craig’s graduation from CSU, Fresno, he went to work as a recruiter for Management Recruiter’s International (MRI) in Fresno. After his brief stint with MRI, Craig was hired by Yosemite Technologies in Fresno. While with Yosemite Technologies he polished his sales skills and became the leading sales rep in the company for thirteen consecutive months.

Craig joined Vino Farms, Inc May 1st, 2006 as Vice President of Sales. While he manages the day-to-day operations of the family’s 4500 acres of vineyards in Lodi and handles grape sales there, he’s also involved in converting the company’s entire fleet of vineyard tractors to biodiesel fuel. And he just completed a solar energy project that now generates 30 kilowatts. Plus he’s heading up a 22-acre restoration project in the Mokelumne River watershed that’s expected to take three years. Craig has been heavily involved in Lodi Rules, the third party certification process for Sustainable vineyards, developed by the Lodi Winegrape Commission. Add to that his involvement in all the company’s decision making as part of the family’s management team. In Craig’s time with Vino Farms, Inc he has become involved with many organizations at the local, state and national levels. The Lodi Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Agribusiness Committee Chair, Alternate Commissioner on the Lodi Winegrape Commission Board, the California Association of Winegrape Growers, (CAWG) Wine Grapegrowers of America (WGA) and is a Director on the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, this is only a sampling of his involvement. When Craig is not busy with work and outside organizations, he enjoys spending time with his wife of three years, Suzanne Ledbetter, friends and family in Lodi.

Justin Leigon

viticulturist, Pina Vineyard Management

Learn More About Justin

Justin Leigon’s professional career in the wine industry began in 2004 with wine production, then moving on to earn his BS in viticulture and enology from UC Davis. Prior to joining Piña Vineyard Management in his current role as viticulturist, Leigon gained experience through working harvests at ultra-premium wineries such as Colgin Cellars and Caldwell Winery. In 2006, he went abroad to Australia to expand his knowledge of wine styles from around the globe.

Jon Moramarco

managing partner, bw166 LCC

Learn More About Jon

During his career, Jon Moramarco has held the role of CEO at various companies for over 20 years with net sales spanning from $50 million to over $1 billion. His CEO tenure enjoyed a broad focus, from super premium to luxury products to portfolios across many price points and categories, working with wineries and wine companies around the world. Today he is managing partner of BW 166 LLC.

Jon has a degree from UC Davis with a mixed major in Enology, Viticulture and Agricultural Business. In his early career he gained experience in production, finance, administration, marketing and sales.

Jeremy Murdock

staff research associate, Cost Studies, University of California Davis, Agricultural Issues Center

Learn More About Jeremy

Jeremy received a B.A. from Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota in physical geography and plant biology. He has worked on various organic farm operations in Minnesota, Arizona and California. He has particular interest and expertise in crop and livestock farm production systems and organic crop and livestock farm audits and certification standards.

Jeff Pisoni

winemaker, Pisoni Vineyards

Learn More About Jeff

Pisoni Vineyards was founded in 1982 out of the vision and passion of Gary Pisoni. With a love of wine and a background in farming vegetables, Gary developed his family’s mountain property in the hills above the Salinas Valley. Initially, Gary made introductions by sending samples of his homemade wine to noted Pinot Noir winemakers throughout the state. This brought interest and eventually a small group of high-end wineries sourcing fruit from Pisoni Vineyards, now recognized as one of the famous Pinot Noir vineyards in California.

With sons Mark (vineyard manager) and Jeff (winemaker) the Pisoni Family continues to evolve. Other vineyards were developed in the area and the family has established their own winery and wine brands. The focus is always on long-term quality—farming, wine and family.

Rodney Schatz

owner, Peltier Winery

Learn More About Rodney

Rodney Schatz and his family of third-generation growers run Peltier Winery & Vineyards, an innovative winery and custom crush facility in Lodi, California. Schatz is working toward total mechanization within the vineyard—a “no touch” vineyard.

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.

Aubrey Terrazas

co-founder, OMvino

Learn More About Aubrey

Aubrey Terrazas is a 15-year hospitality veteran, Master Sommelier candidate, and co-founder of the wine media & marketing company, OMvino. She and her team use digital marketing, public relations, and events to grow brands in a tech-savvy market. As Creative Director and Wine Buyer for the wine club app Palate Club, Aubrey worked with data scientists to develop the proprietary algorithm that uses consumer’s ratings to match wines to their palate. In addition to supporting brand growth for dozens of brands, the company acts as a digital concierge, promoting wine tourism with Venn Club. Aubrey is an established educator, having led numerous seminars and trainings on topics ranging from wine basics to Bordeaux. Aubrey graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a BA in French before moving to her current home in San Francisco.

Geni Whitehouse

CPA, Brotemarkle Davis & Co, Lecturer, Wine Business at Sonoma State, WISE Academy Instructor

Learn More About Geni

Geni divides her time between working as a winery consultant at Brotemarkle, Davis & Co in the Napa Valley and writing, speaking, and tweeting about what some might consider nerdy subjects. She is a co-founder of Solve Services, which provides remote bookkeeping services to companies in the wine industry. As a former partner in a CPA firm, two-time software company executive, and recent CMO of a tech startup, she has a passion for applying technology to solving business problems. She has been named a Top 100 Influencer by Accounting Today, one of 25 Thought Leaders in Accounting, and one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor. She is a member of the TEDxNapaValley organizing committee and was the first speaker at their first TEDx event in 2011.

Geni is the author of “How to Make a Boring Subject Interesting: 52 ways even a nerd can be heard” which is available on Amazon.com.