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

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

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 →

Emily Hodson

Winemaker, Virginia Wine Research Exchange

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

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 →

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

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

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

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 →

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 →

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 →

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