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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!

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Winery Session [clear filter]
Tuesday, May 16
 

10:00am EDT

The Competitive Advantage of Virginia Wines
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
A frank discussion about where Virginia wines can fit into the global marketplace. These experts blind taste Virginia wines and deliberate which styles can make their mark on already crowded shelves.
Moderators
avatar for Neal Wavra

Neal Wavra

FABLE Hospitality and Field & Main Restaurant, Founder & Sommelier
Neal Wavra presents and writes about wine and food.  He is recognized as one of the leading experts on the burgeoning Virginia wine industry. Wavra also is the host and sommelier at The Riverstead, a twelve seat restaurant located in Chilhowie, Virginia run by renowned chefs John... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Julie Dalton

Julie Dalton

Lead Sommelier, Wit & Wisdom Tavern
Julie Dalton discovered her passion for wine while waiting tables during her undergrad days at Texas A&M University.  Although her education is in the life sciences, wine was something that grabbed hold and would not let go.  She studied wine on her own for twelve years while holding... Read More →
avatar for Dave McIntyre

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 →
avatar for Jay Youmans, MW

Jay Youmans, MW

Master of Wine, Certified Wine Educator, The Capital Wine School
Jay Youmans – Master of WineJay Youmans has been tasting wine professionally for nearly three decades. He is owner of Rock Creek Wine Merchants; a marketing consultancy; and the owner and Educational Director for The Capital Wine School in Washington, DC, www.capitalwineschool.com... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Pavilion I
  Winery Session

11:35am EDT

Winemakers Research Exchange Tasting
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The future of progress and growth in the Virginia wine industry is through winery driven research. This session will allow you to taste the projects that wineries are working on and will highlight experimentation that is being conducted throughout Virginia.

Moderators
avatar for Michael Attanasi

Michael Attanasi

Research Coordinator, Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange
Michael began his winemaking career working as a Winemaking Intern for the 2012 harvest at Knob Hall Winery in Maryland. This experience exposed him to the potential of the East Coast as a winemaking region. After this, he worked as an Assistant Brewer for Three Stars Brewing Company... Read More →
avatar for Emily Pelton

Emily Pelton

Winemaker, Veritas Vineyards & Winery
Emily Pelton graduated from Emory University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and a focus in Infectious Diseases. She happily moved to Virginia from Atlanta in 1999 to take a year off, and work alongside her parents in the development of Veritas Vineyard and Winery... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Stephen Barnard

Stephen Barnard

Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, Keswick Vineyards
Stephen started working in the wine industry at Groot Constantia Winery, the oldest winery in South Africa, as a pourer and tour guide. Through various courses of events he managed to find a position in the cellar as a cellar worker and then eventually became the assistant winemaker... Read More →
avatar for Corry Craighill

Corry Craighill

Winemaker, Sunset Hills Vineyard & 50 West Vineyard
Corry Craighill has worked at wineries and vineyards in Oregon, New Zealand, France, South Africa, and Central Virginia. She now resides in Loudoun County as the winemaker for Sunset Hills and 50 West Vineyards
avatar for Kirsty Harmon

Kirsty Harmon

Winemaker, Blenheim Vineyards
Born in the Netherlands, Kirsty has spent a majority of her life in Charlottesville. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1998 with a degree in biology, Kirsty developed an appreciation for wine through a job that allowed her to apprentice with famed Virginia winemaker... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 11:35am - 12:55pm EDT
Ednam Conference Center
  Winery Session

2:30pm EDT

Selling Virginia Wines in the Three-Tier System
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
Want tips on how to find and work with a distributor? How do you develop a channel marketing plan? Listen to this panel of experts who can help guide you to selling your wines in the three-tier system.
Moderators
avatar for Jason Tesauro

Jason Tesauro

Barboursville Vineyards, Chief Sommelier
Jason Tesauro is a devotee to chilled pink and spilt ink. Chief Sommelier for Barboursville Vineyards since 2002, he's also co-author of The MODERN GENTLEMAN and a two-time national award–winning booze/food/culture journalist for The New York Times, Travel+Leisure, Details, Decanter... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Adam Caperton

Adam Caperton

Brand Manager, The Winebow Group
Adam is a Brand Manager for The Winebow Group in the Mid-Atlantic region representing a cadre of international suppliers, importers and wineries. He also manages the growing Virginia winery portfolio for Winebow / The Country Vintner in the region. As a former chef with stints at... Read More →
avatar for Diane Flynt

Diane Flynt

Founder, Foggy Ridge Cider
Diane Flynt founded Foggy Ridge Cider in1997by planting a cider apple orchard in the Virginia Mountains. The first cidery in the south, Foggy Ridge Cider has garnered national attention including a 2015 James Beard nomination for Outstanding Beverage Professional.Foggy Ridge Cider’s... Read More →
avatar for Pamela Margaux

Pamela Margaux

Owner, Margaux & Company
Pamela Margaux, a native of Silver Springs MD, moved to Los Angeles in 1982.  Thru her experience as a waitress, bartender, and eventually restaurant manager, she developed a successful career in restaurant-ownership. Her love affair with wine began in the late 80s, when she was... Read More →
avatar for Lucinda Smith

Lucinda Smith

Owner, Blue Ridge Libations
Lucinda Smith currently holds the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) titles from the Society of Wine Educators. She is a certificate holder from the Sommelier Society of Washington, DC, and has served as a judge in prestigious wine competitions... Read More →

Tuesday May 16, 2017 2:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
Ednam Conference Center
  Winery Session