2017 Virginia Wine Summit: Full Schedule

Customize your schedule for the 2017 #VAWineSummit by clicking on the radio button next to the session you would like to attend. For more information on the session, hover your mouse over the session’s title.

Red sessions are intended for all Virginia Wine Summit attendees. Make sure to add them to your schedule!

There are three blocks of breakout sessions: Morning, Mid-Morning and Afternoon. Select only one session in each block. Please note that there is a trade track and winery track this year!

10:00am EDT

Philosophy of a Wine List

Limited Capacity filling up

How do you develop a wine list that has both personality and versatility? Hear experts talk about building a great wine list.

Moderators

Crystal Cameron-Schaad

Owner, Crystal Palate

Crystal Cameron-Schaad owns Crystal Palate, a wine education, consulting and multi-media company based in Coastal Virginia. She is a keynote speaker and radio show host of Crystal Palate’s Wine Country. The weekly program airs Saturday mornings on Cville 107.5 and 1260 WCHV in... Read More →

Speakers

Harry Root

Grassroots Wine, Grassroots

Harry Root is co-founder and principal of Grassroots Wine. Operating in Charleston, South Carolina and Birmingham, Alabama, Grassroots Wine represents place-driven winegrowers from every major wine region on the planet. A native of Tampa, Florida, Root received a degree in Natural... Read More →

Clint Sloan

Southeast Sales Manager, Banshee & Valkyrie Selections

Clint Sloan is currently the Southeast Sales Manager for Banshee & Valkyrie Selections and lives in Charleston, South Carolina. Born in New York City and raised in Connecticut Clint decided to head south to attend the College of Charleston in 1996 where he studied computer and political... Read More →

Sebastian Zutant

Sebastian Zutant realized his calling was in the food and beverage industry at an early age. Raised in Rockville, Maryland, in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Zutant dabbled in the restaurant industry, making pizzas and pastas at a neighborhood Italian eatery, before attending the... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Ednam Conference Center

Trade Session

10:00am EDT

Standing Alone: Petit Verdot

Limited Capacity filling up

Throughout the years, Petit Verdot has stretched its legs from a classic blending grape to a distinctive stand-alone wine. Join us for a comparative tasting of Virginia Petit Verdots alongside PVs from other great wine regions to see how this varietal has grown.

Moderators

Jennifer Knowles

Service and Wine Director, Mirabelle DC

Jennifer Knowles studied chemistry at Syracuse University before moving to California and gaining a foothold in the in the retail beverage industry. Knowles was named the New World Rising Star Sommelier by StarChefs for her work at Rubicon in San Francisco before eventually finding... Read More →

Speakers

Andy Chabot

Sommelier and Food & Beverage Director, Blackberry Farm

Andy has always had an interest in how things taste. After working his way through local restaurants, Andy headed straight for the CIA to round out his education in the culinary arts and restaurant management. After a stint at Little Nell, Andy found his true interest in the front... Read More →

Steven Grubbs

Empire State South/Five and Ten/The National

Rachael Lowe

Director of Beverage, Spiaggia

Rachael Lowe Rachael Lowe has crafted wine programs at some of the most distinguished dining establishments throughout the United States. She holds an advanced Sommelier degree from the Court of Master Sommeliers, where she was rewarded the Rudd Scholarship for top scores on the... Read More →

Jordan MacKay

Writer, Writer

Jordan Mackay is a James-Beard-award winning writer on wine, spirits and food. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Decanter, The Art of Eating, Wine and Spirits, Food & Wine, and many other publications. His first book, Passion... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Pavilion III

Trade Session

11:35am EDT

Defining Local on the East Coast

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

50 states now produce wine. Virginia and New York are leading the pack on the East Coast. Taste along with our expert panel and explore how these states are defining local east of the Mississippi.

Moderators

Erin Scala, DWS

Wine Director, Fleurie Restaurant

After working for many years in New York City as a sommelier at several Michelin star restaurants, notably PUBLIC and The Musket Room, Erin returned to her home state of Virginia. She writes a wine blog, produces a weekly wine podcast, and writes about wine for several publica... Read More →

Noah Singerman

Sommelier, Husk

Noah has been working in wine and spirits for over 15 years. Born and raised in Sonoma County, the landscape of the region not only shaped and inspired his early palate, but also instilled a passion for wine that has led him into a career as a Sommelier and Beverage Director.He began... Read More →

Speakers

Robert Newton

Chef & Owner, Black Walnut, Nightingale 9, Wilma Jean and Smith Canteen

Robert Newton is the chef and owner of Black Walnut at the new Hilton Brooklyn. He is also the chef and owner of Nightingale Nine, Wilma Jean and Smith Canteen all located in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Newton and his restaurants have been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, The... Read More →

Lenn Thompson

Founder & Editor, The Cork Report

Lenn Thompson, a proud Pittsburgh, PA native, moved to Long Island more than a 15 years ago and quickly fell in love with the region’s dynamic and emerging wine community. A digital and content marketing, and community management professional by day, he founded NewYorkCorkReport.com... Read More →

Andrew Woolridge

Head Sommelier, DBGB

Raised in Colorado and educated in Texas, Andrew Wooldridge initially studied entrepreneurship and international business before pursuing a culinary education at the Cordon Bleu in Paris. Upon his return to the United States, he began working as a chef at a winery. For a time, Wooldridge... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 11:35am - 12:55pm EDT
Pavilion III

Trade Session

11:35am EDT

Hot Pink! A Discussion on Virginia Rosé

Limited Capacity seats available

Pink is hot this year! Hot Pink! panelists will taste a broad spectrum of Virginia Rosés with a wide variety of characteristics and lead a discussion on Virginia wines making their mark in this category.

Moderators

Dave McIntyre

Wine Columnist, The Washington Post

Dave McIntyre has been The Washington Post’s wine columnist since October 2008. His writings have appeared in several other publications, including Wine Enthusiast magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as his award-winning blog, Dave McIntyre’s WineLine, created in... Read More →

Speakers

Carrie Dykes

Tasting Coordinator, Wine Enthusiast

Carrie joined Wine Enthusiast in 2015 after years in multiple areas of the wine industry. She immediately realized her path as a reviewer and worked passionately to achieve that goal. Having finished her Advanced Level WSET in January, she plans to begin the WSET Diploma program this... Read More →

Max Kuller

Beverage Director & Partner, Doi Moi, Estadio, and Proof

Max Kuller’s eclectic, eccentric journey through life has led to his current place on the wine side of the restaurant world. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Maryland, from early on Kuller had his palette spoiled by his mom’s great cooking and dad’s uber-wine and restaurant... Read More →

Winn Roberton

Head Sommelier, Bourbon Steak

As a child in suburban Washington, DC, Winn Roberton's dining out experience was limited to family birthday celebrations, but the 'magic' of restaurant operations that entranced him then has had a fast hold ever since. These days, as a member of the wine team overseeing the capital... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 11:35am - 12:55pm EDT
Pavilion I

Trade Session

2:30pm EDT

A New Look at Viognier

Limited Capacity filling up

For years, Viognier has been a prominent white varietal in Virginia. In this panel, Virginia winemakers explore how they're experimenting with Viognier blends and bringing a fresh perspective to this classic grape.

Moderators

Frank Morgan

Author, DrinkWhatYouLike.com

A Virginia native, Frank Morgan works in the Legal and Data Privacy group of a global aerospace company by day. He is the author of the DrinkWhatYouLike wine blog, started six years ago to chronicle his wine experiences from the perspective of an avid wine consumer and to share stories... Read More →

Speakers

Matthieu Finot

Winemaker, King Family Vineyards

Matthieu was born in Crozes Hermitage in the Rhone Valley of France. Coming from a family of viticulturists and wine lovers, Matthieu was predisposed to continue his family's pursuit of making and enjoying wine. He first studied viticulture and oenology at Beaune, in the heart of... Read More →

Michael Heny

Winemaker, Horton Vineyards

Michael Heny studied Mechanical Engineering and Comparative Literature at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1990. He soon began making wine in Virginia, experiencing firsthand the dynamic growth of an industry celebrated for distinct wines from unique grapes. He joined the... Read More →

Sébastien Marquet

Owner & Winemaker, Burgundy Style

Loudoun winemaker Sebastien Marquet, studied winemaking in his native Burgundy where he attended and graduated from the Lycée Viticole et d’Oenologie de Beaune. Through the 90s, Marquet produced wines in prestigious villages in Burgundy as well as in Languedoc-Roussillon in Southern... Read More →

Michael Shaps

Winemaker, Michael Shaps Wineworks

Michael has been making wine in central Virginia since 1995. He previously worked with two highly regarded central Virginia wineries – Jefferson Vineyards, and King Family Vineyards. He currently works as a consultant to wineries in several states and has been involved in the... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 2:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Pavilion III

Trade Session

2:30pm EDT

Shake It Up: Mixology with Virginia Wines

Limited Capacity seats available

Wine doesn't always have to come straight from the bottle! Enjoy a mixed wine concoction while Derek Brown and other expert mixologists discuss exciting new cocktail recipes integrating Virginia wines.

Moderators

Derek Brown

Founder, Positive Damage

Derek Brown is an author, NASM-certified wellness coach, and founder of Positive Damage, Inc. Previously, Brown owned Spirited Awards 2017 “Best American Cocktail Bar” Columbia Room in Washington, D.C., and was one of the nation’s top bartenders.Brown published his first book... Read More →

Speakers

Shannon Hood

Bar Manager, Brenner Pass

Shannon Hood has been working in the restaurant industry since 2005. Born and raised in Upstate New York, she moved to Richmond, VA in 2011. Over the last decade, her work history has ranged from craft beer bars to nightclubs. About three years ago, a passion for carefully crafted... Read More →

Mattias Hägglund

Bartender, Shagbark

Mattias Hägglund is a bartender in Richmond, VA. He began tending bar while studying history at Virginia Commonwealth University. His interest in history instructs his cocktails, with a mind toward classic styles that he carries forward to the contemporary bar. He believes in quality... Read More →

Thomas "T" Leggett

The Roosevelt, Bar Manager

Originally from Danville, Virginia, Thomas Leggett moved to Richmond in 2002 after graduating from college and immediately fell in love with the food and beverage scene. Leggett found his voice as a bartender at Six Burner in Richmond, and has established The Roosevelt as having the... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 2:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Pavilion I

Trade Session