Show Offers Fireside Chat with California Ag Secretary, State of the Industry, Breakfast with Trailblazers, Sideways Author, Spanish Workshop, Largest Trade Show Ever
SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 17, 2024… Next week, the wine and grape industry will converge in Sacramento for the industry’s premiere event, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, featuring three days of sessions on marketing, business, winegrape growing and winemaking, as well as the largest wine and grape trade show in the Americas.
Hosted by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), the annual event will be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center from January 23-25, 2024, in downtown Sacramento.
Now in its 30th year, the Unified Symposium will showcase a who’s who of expert presenters offering their knowledge and expertise to address current issues and provide strategies to propel the industry forward. Tackling some of the most pressing issues and opportunities shaping the industry, more than 95 speakers will address topics such as the impact of new regulations on wine bottle recycling, wine and health, artificial intelligence, regenerative agriculture, and growing in extreme weather.
Some of the key highlights of the event include:
- Tuesday’s keynote luncheon features a fireside chat with California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, moderated by Wine Business Monthly Editor Cyril Penn.
- Wednesday morning opens with Unified’s signature State of the Industry session featuring speakers Jeff Bitter of Allied Grape Growers, Danny Brager of Brager Beverage Alcohol Consulting, Steve Fredricks of Turrentine Brokerage, Susana García Dolla of Interprofessional Wine Organization of Spain and moderator Mike Veseth of The Wine Economist.
- Thursday’s morning general session will include a light continental breakfast and the opportunity to meet and talk with industry pioneers ahead of the session “Wine Industry Game Changers: A Deep Dive Conversation on the Future of Wine and How We Got Here.”
A special Workshop in Spanish is also being offered on Thursday and will explore how artificial intelligence can support growers and wineries and address strategies for adapting to the changing climate and consumption trends. The workshop, presented in Spanish, also features a Q&A with the speakers, breakfast, and a guided wine tasting. Unified will also dip its toe into the world of Hollywood, with a special panel and tasting, Merlot’s Re-emergence: Celebrating Two Decades Beyond Sideways, featuring the author of the novel upon which the Oscar-winning film of the same title is based, Rex Pickett.
For a comprehensive list and breakdown of all sessions, visit the 2024 Symposium Schedule page.
This year will also showcase 900 exhibit booths with the latest in vineyard and winery technology, equipment and services during the Unified’s massive two-day trade show on Wednesday and Thursday. With over 11,000 guests shopping, networking and catching up with colleagues, the trade show is a buzz of activity and will also host a reception featuring wines from around the nation on Wednesday and a hosted buffet luncheon on Thursday.
Free parking and shuttle service is offered for attendees at Cal Expo Parking Lot A on Wednesday, January 24, and Thursday, January 25. For additional information, a list of nearby parking garages and directions, visit the Unified website’s parking and transportation page.
Built with the collective input of growers, vintners and allied industry members, the Unified Symposium has served as a clearinghouse of information important to wine and grape industry professionals for 30 years. The Unified Symposium hosts the industry’s largest trade show in America. For more information and to register, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.
