Annual Export Conference Brings Trade Policy Experts, Market Insights and Global Strategy Under One Roof—Open to All California Wineries
July 9, 2026 (Napa, CA) — Resilience has always been part of California wine’s story, and this year is no exception: recent shifts in key export markets have laid bare the risks of relying too heavily on any single market. Now, the industry is treating that disruption as a catalyst rather than a setback. On Tuesday, July 21, California Wines staff, winery leaders, seasoned export professionals, and trade partners will convene at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia in Napa for the Annual Export Conference and Member Meeting, hosted by the Wine Institute’s California Wine Export Program.
- WHAT: 2026 California Wines Export Conference & Member Meeting
- WHEN: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., followed by a networking reception
- WHERE: The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia, 500 First Street, Napa, CA
The daylong event gathers Wine Institute’s full bench of international expertise in one place, from Washington, D.C. policy officials to regional trade directors covering every major global market, giving wineries direct access to the guidance and data they need to build a more resilient path forward. At a moment when the California wine sector needs shared strategies, the conference is open to Export Program members and non-member California wineries alike, a deliberate choice to bring every winery, regardless of size or export experience, into the room for a shared conversation.
“Change can feel disorienting, but it’s also clarifying,” said Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing at Wine Institute. “The data is showing us where the opportunities lie. We just have to be willing to look. That’s what this conference is about: putting our best thinking, our best information and our best people in one room, for every California winery, so we can move forward with intention and direction. “
Program highlights include:
- “Setting the Stage: The Data Behind Global Opportunity,” outlining data-driven opportunities in diversifying sales channels and targeting emerging markets
- A trade policy insights and Q&A with Charles Jefferson and Jamie Ferman, Wine Institute’s Washington, D.C. policy team
- Regional breakout sessions led by Wine Institute’s international Trade Directors covering Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Greater China, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the UK
- “Looking Ahead: Five-Year Strategic Plan,” California Wine’s long-term strategy for global growth
- Opening remarks on the state of the industry from Wine Institute President & CEO Steve Gross and Honore Comfort, VP of International Marketing
Full agenda & registration: calwinexport.com/export-conference-2026.
About Wine Institute’s California Wine Export Program
The program, a public-private partnership supported by winery contributions and the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP), features California as an environmental leader with distinctive wine regions, an ideal climate for growing world-class wines, an iconic lifestyle and a culinary tradition rooted in locally grown products. In addition to marketing and promoting California wine overseas, Wine Institute conducts a comprehensive international public policy program focused on regulatory cooperation, removing trade barriers and growing California wine exports. For more information go to calwineexport.com or DiscoverCaliforniaWines.com.
About Wine Institute
Wine Institute is the public policy voice of California wine. Founded in 1934 and representing nearly 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses, the organization advocates at the state, federal and international levels for policies that support the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. Its California Wine Export Program extends that mission globally, driving international market development on behalf of participating members.
