| Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | |
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| 12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Registration Check-in |
| 1:30 p.m. - 1:35 p.m. | Welcome Address - Erin Kirschenmann, Managing Editor, WineBusiness |
| 1:35 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Sales and Supply in Focus: Key Data and Insights for Year-End Strategy |
| As we approach the end of 2025, November is the perfect time to take stock of how the wine industry is really performing. Harvest will be complete, early holiday sales are underway, and businesses are reviewing the wins and challenges of the year. This session will break down the latest data across the bulk wine and grape markets, distribution and depletions, and retail sales—highlighting what’s moving, what’s slowing, and where new opportunities may lie. With changing consumer habits, price sensitivity, and continued shifts in the supply chain, this kickoff will provide a reality check that grounds the rest of the conference in today’s market—and sets the tone for strategic discussions ahead. Speakers: Audra Cooper, Partner, Director of Grape Brokerage, Turrentine Brokerage Kaleigh Theriault, Beverage Alcohol Thought Leader, Nielsen IQ |
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| 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Networking Break |
| 3:15 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. | Reviving DTC Growth: Solutions for a Pressured Market |
| With consumer behavior shifting and DTC performance softening, wineries can no longer rely on the same growth playbook. This session explores how to reassess the wine club model, recalibrate tasting room strategies, and measure the results. As customer acquisition costs rise and engagement fragments, we’ll also discuss how to evaluate, and pivot to, alternative channels when DTC no longer delivers. Learn how leading wineries are making decisive moves to protect profitability and brand strength as DTC channels evolve. Moderator: Andrea Smalling, Vice President Marketing, Bogle Family Wine Collection Speakers: Christina Rivera-Glen, Vice President, Direct Channels & Portfolio, O'Neill Vintners & Distillers Pheobe Ullberg, Director of Marketing, Domaine Carneros |
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| 4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Resilient by Design, Part 1: Smart Financial Tactics |
| In a year of tightening margins and softer sales, today’s business leaders face a critical moment: how to preserve stability, protect cash flow, and position for long-term success—without sacrificing people, performance, or growth potential. In this session designed for CFOs and CEOs, we’ll delve into practical approaches to navigating ongoing financial pressures. Topics will include managing liquidity and working capital, restructuring debt, staying compliant with bank covenants, and building strong relationships with lenders. We’ll also look at how companies are making tough calls to retain key employees, streamline operations, and build resiliency for what may be an extended period of market contraction. This is a candid, solution-oriented conversation about leading with clarity and confidence when the numbers are moving in the wrong direction. Moderator: Michelle Muth, Principal, Baker Tilly Speakers: Trycel Alvarez-Pihl, Vice President of Finance, John Anthony Wine & Spirits Scott Stone, CFO, Brown Estate |
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| 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Networking Wine Reception |
| 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Wine Industry Leadership Dinner |
| The Wine Industry Leadership Dinner is Invitation Only, as seating is limited. If you are interested in being added to a waitlist to attend the dinner, or have any questions, please email WBM@executivevents.com. |
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| Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | |
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| 7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. | Registration Check-in & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. | Welcome Address - Erin Kirschenmann, Managing Editor, WineBusiness |
| 8:40 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | From Vineyard to Valuation: Positioning Your Winery for Acquisition |
| The current wine M&A landscape is marked by a scarcity of buyers and a surplus of sellers. Large winery players are pursuing fewer acquisitions, focusing only on strategic purchases that fill very specific gaps in their portfolios or involve exceptionally successful brands they can’t ignore. Meanwhile, tighter financing conditions make it harder for wineries to secure capital to stay afloat, increasing the number of sellers competing for a limited pool of buyers. This session will provide an in-depth look at how these dynamics impact valuations, succession planning, and deal structuring. Attendees will gain insights on navigating the current environment, preparing their businesses for sale, understanding buyer motivations, and crafting post-M&A strategies that protect value amid industry consolidation and heightened competition. Speakers: Adam Beak, Managing Director, Vertical Head Wine and Beverage Group Carol Collison, Partner, Global Wine Partners Tony Correia, Owner, The Correia Company |
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| 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. | Keynote Session: “You’re Not in the Wine Industry” – A Wake-Up Call for What’s Next |
| The greatest threat to the wine industry today? Believing that being in the wine business is enough. We’re operating in a time of generational change, rising neo-temperance, relentless regulation, and shifting consumer priorities; yet the industry continues to cling to outdated models and legacy mindsets. This keynote takes a clear-eyed look at why wine has lost ground: we lack a unified message, we’re slow to adapt, too many wineries are launching without focus or market fit, and the competitive landscape is more crowded than ever. But there is a path forward—one that requires agility, ruthless focus, and a willingness to rethink everything. With insights from a brand that continues to invest, has recently dealt with generational change and continues to buck DTC trends, this session will explore how to lead with market relevance, commit to taking market share, and rebuild demand in a time when every brand is fighting to stay visible. You’ll walk away with both a strategic framework and real examples of what adaptation looks like in action. This isn’t just about responding to change. It’s about owning the next chapter. Speaker: Gary Mortensen, President, Stoller Wine Group |
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| 10:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | Networking Break |
| 10:50 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. | Resilient by Design, Part 2: Choosing Smart Strategies for Long-Term Success |
| With ongoing challenges—from tariffs and rising costs to slowing sales and shifting consumer attitudes—making confident long-term decisions can feel daunting. How do you build a strategy that ensures future success amid short-term uncertainty? This session offers leaders practical frameworks to balance agility with strategic focus. Learn how to prioritize key risks and opportunities, adapt decision-making processes, and keep your winery resilient and positioned for sustainable growth in a constantly changing market. Speaker: Carol Reber, CEO, Far Niente Wine Estates |
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| 11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | The Economic Reality Behind Wine’s Slowdown—and What’s Next |
| After years of volatility, from pandemic disruptions to supply chain strain, the wine industry now faces a different kind of challenge: a slower, more uncertain recovery. High interest rates, shifting generational preferences, and evolving lifestyle habits have reshaped how consumers approach alcohol—and wine is not default choice. Tasting room traffic remains uneven, traditional marketing tactics are losing effectiveness, and the rise of alternative beverages has fragmented the market. How did we get here—and what can it tell us about what’s coming next? Dr. Christopher Thornberg will explore the economic and cultural forces that led to the current slowdown in wine consumerism and what they signal for 2026 and 2027. He'll deliver a clear-eyed look at inflation, consumer sentiment, spending patterns, and competitive trends, along with actionable strategies to help your business adapt, differentiate, and build resilience in an increasingly complex landscape. Speaker: Dr. Christopher Thornberg, Beacon Economics |
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| 12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | Networking Luncheon & Wine Bar |