NAPA, CALIFORNIA | August 11, 2020: The Napa | Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense’s (WWS) Winemakers’ & Viticultural Roundtable presents “Uniquely 2020 Harvest Plans Town Hall” on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. The event is being hosted live via zoom with interactive forum following the opening presentations.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
The WWS July Roundtable with Australian winemakers sharing harvest 2020 lessons during covid-19 and bushfires plus many additional industry guidelines and seminars have helped the Northern Hemisphere get ready for a challenging 2020 harvest. Now, as tons are starting to roll in, it is time to do our best work in a new environment.
The goal in this non-recorded members’ town hall is to provide a final opportunity for leading area viticulturists and winemakers to share their best thinking on unique 2020 harvest plans in the vineyard and winery using a confidential, supportive conversation among highly experienced peers.
The session will open with two moderators jump starting the conversations with a winemaking and viticulture review of their plans followed by a moderated town hall style forum for all attendees.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
The moderators are thought leaders representing Sonoma, Napa and numerous other key AVA’s in California. Jennifer Higgins, winemaker at Lambert Bridge, and Lise Asimont, co-founder and viticulturist, Lise Asimont Winegrowingand Dot Wine.
Ms. Higgins immersed herself in winemaking while working with the legendary Zelma Long of Simi Winery. After earning a degree from UC Davis in Biochemistry, she worked in Italy for two years before returning home to take a tasting room job as she studied for her medical school entrance exam. Before long, she abandoned her aspirations for medicine and dove into the cellar, learning the artistic complexities of the winemaking process from Zelma Long and her team. She then moved up in production working with William Hill Winery prior to her eleven-year tenure at Lancaster Estate where she collaborated often with winemaking consultant David Ramey. In 2010 she joined Lambert Bridge and has defined their signature wine style for a decade.
Ms. Asimont earned a masters in Environmental Horticulture with a specialization in viticulture from the University of California at Davis. Before founding her new ventures, she held key positions as Director of Vineyard Operations at Cakebread Cellars , Director of Grower Relations at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Geyser Peak Winery, and served as CEO of VinSense, a software company that helps vineyards improve quality, sustainability and efficiency. In addition, she has served in many industry leadership boards including past president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and past chair and ongoing member of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Planning Committee.
RSVP DETAILS:
The free roundtable is open exclusively to WWS Winemaking and Viticulture Roundtable active members. Qualified winemakers and viticulturists wishing to join the group to participate are also welcome and will be given log in credentials after they have emailed and received RSVP confirmations through the WWS Roundtable Chair. To RSVP and receive August 12 live zoom log in credentials, or for any questions on this event or future WWS Winemaking Roundtable events, please contact the Chair, Julie Lumgair (Julie@Lumgair.com).
Attendees are requested to log in 5 to 10 minutes early to allow for a prompt 4:00 pm discussion. Due to the proprietary candid discussion, this zoom session will not be recorded.
ABOUT THE WINEMAKING & VITICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE:
This WWS Roundtable meets approximately six times a year, taking a harvest break.
Roundtable Chair, Julie Lumgair, noted “Our past meeting topics have focused upon the C-suite professional skills and insights women winemakers and viticultural professionals need but aren’t always easy to get in their daily work environment.”
She further explained that, “Held at some of Napa and Sonoma’s finest host wineries and now temporarily online during covid-19, these programs have been a fantastic opportunity for over 100 member women winemakers and viticulturists to connect directly, in a friendly professional forum, with experts that they otherwise wouldn’t get to meet for personal advice and questions. Some of our recent speakers have included top wine publication critics and senior editors, iconic winemakers, leading academics, global sensory consultants, sommeliers, media trainers, CFO’s and GM’s in panel discussions and key recruiters.”
Professionally qualified winemaker and viticulture guests may attend up to two Roundtables before deciding to join. It is a great way to expand skills while reconnecting and meeting new industry professionals.
ABOUT ADDITIONAL WWS ROUNDTABLES:
WWS’ eight current professional roundtables serve to provide a welcoming and confidential environment to meet in small peer groups on a bi-monthly or quarterly basis. Members network, provide advice and support for one another, as well as foster educational occasions by inviting guest speakers in their fields and discussing ‘hot issues’ facing members in their day-to-day work. Multiple Roundtables have developed for WWS industry members in finance, accounting, human resources, winemaking/viticulture and marketing/direct-to-consumer fields.
The Napa/Sonoma Chapter currently has more than 400 members of which 80% are wine industry professionals. To join or learn more about WWS’ roundtables, please visit www.womenforwinesense.org. For inquiries about other WWS roundtables besides winemaking and viticulture, contact Napa| Sonoma Chapter’s Roundtables Director, Hillary Silva (hillaryfrasersilva@gmail.com).
ABOUT WOMEN FOR WINESENSE:
WWS is a national not-for-profit organization 501(c)6. The Napa| Sonoma Chapter founded in 1990 is the founding chapter of this national organization which provides outstanding educational and networking opportunities to both wine industry professionals and wine enthusiasts by presenting educational, insightful and stimulating events in a welcoming, fun environment. Both men and women of legal drinking age are welcome to join. There is an exciting line-up of virtual events planned for 2020 and early 2021.
