Solution-Based Conference Addresses AI, Distribution Disruption, Wine Club Retention, and the Future of Hospitality
March 11, 2026 – Healdsburg, CA – Wine Industry Network has opened registration for the 2026 Wine Sales Symposium, taking place Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country. As the wine industry faces significant industry transformation, shifting consumer behavior, and evolving distribution dynamics, this year’s program has been reimagined to address where the market is today—and where it’s headed tomorrow.
The symposium delivers actionable, solution-based strategies across the most critical challenges facing wineries: artificial intelligence’s influence on brand discovery and sales, wholesale distribution transformation, wine club retention in a saturated market, and creating hospitality experiences that resonate with younger consumers.
“Every conversation I’m having with winery owners circles back to the same pressures: AI reshaping how consumers discover brands, distributors consolidating fast, club retention getting harder, and a new generation rewriting the rules of engagement” says George Christie, President of Wine Industry Network. “But the producers who are thriving aren’t waiting for things to stabilize — they’re building new playbooks in real time. The Wine Sales Symposium exists to put those playbooks in the room and make sure every winery leaves with a roadmap, not just inspiration.”
The 2026 program features sessions covering:
- AI and Digital Transformation: How artificial intelligence is reshaping wine marketing, customer engagement, and brand visibility; with sessions on AI-powered marketing, customer journey optimization, and practical implementation strategies
- Wine Club and Customer Retention: Data-driven approaches to reducing churn, building membership value, and creating loyalty programs that work in today’s subscription-saturated market
- Distribution and Wholesale Strategy: Navigating consolidation, portfolio rationalization, and the new realities of wholesale partnerships in a rapidly changing distribution landscape
- Hospitality Innovation: Reimagining tasting room experiences to attract Millennials and Gen Z through values-driven programming, experiential design, and strategic partnerships
- State of the Industry: Expert analysis on wine sales trends, market opportunities, and winning strategies for producers in a contracting market
Sessions will be led by industry experts, successful winery operators, distribution leaders, and technology innovators who are actively implementing these strategies today.
For winery owners, sales leaders, marketing executives, and decision-makers focused on driving revenue, the Wine Sales Symposium offers the practical insights and strategic frameworks needed to navigate an increasingly complex marketplace. This is not a conference about inspiration—it’s about implementation.
Registration is now open, and early-bird pricing is available for a limited time. For more details and to secure a spot, visit winesalessymposium.com.
About Wine Industry Network (WIN):
Wine Industry Network is THE business resource for the North American Wine Industry sharing news and information, supplying products and service resources, and providing education & industry networking opportunities.
