September 14, 2026 (Sacramento, CA) — As the wine industry navigates changing consumer demand, shifting global markets and continued economic pressures, Mike Veseth will take the stage as keynote speaker at the 2027 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, offering his full outlook after years of shaping the conversation as moderator of the popular State of the Industry general session.
eseth, an economist and author, will present on Jan. 26, Unified’s opening day, offering a wide-angle look at the economic forces reshaping the global wine trade and what they signal for the years ahead.
Drawing on decades of tracking wine markets across major producing and consuming countries, Veseth will connect global trends to practical, on-the-ground implications for winegrape growers, wineries and other industry businesses. The stand-alone keynote presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A, giving attendees an opportunity to dig deeper into the issues shaping the industry’s future.
“Mike has helped Unified audiences make sense of this industry for many years, but this allows us to hear from him in a different way,” said Natalie Collins, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers and member of the Unified Symposium LLC Managing Committee. “He has a unique ability to connect what’s happening around the world to what it means for the people growing grapes, making wine and running businesses here at home.”
Veseth has become a familiar presence at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium through his role moderating the State of the Industry general session. As editor of The Wine Economist, he follows wine markets and industry trends around the world, bringing an economist’s perspective to the business, culture and changing dynamics of wine.
A professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound, Veseth has written more than a dozen books, including “Wine Wars,” “Around the World in Eighty Wines” and “Wine Wars II: The Global Battle for the Soul of Wine.” He is a frequent speaker at wine industry conferences in the United States and internationally.
“The global wine industry is going through an important period of change, and many of the forces affecting wine today extend well beyond any single region or market. I’m looking forward to exploring the bigger picture with the Unified audience, considering what the trends may be telling us and discussing what they could mean for the industry in the years ahead,” Veseth said.
The Keynote Speaker Luncheon will take place on Tuesday, January 26, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Seats are limited and require separate registration. Attendees are encouraged to register early.
The 2027 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium will be held January 26–28 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento. The trade show will be open January 27–28.
Registration and Housing will open on Tuesday, October 20 at 9 a.m. PDT. For more information, visit unifiedsymposium.org.
About Unified Wine & Grape Symposium
Held each January, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium helps industry professionals from the United States and around the world start the year informed and prepared. From bringing together the industry’s broadest range of products and services to providing educational sessions under one roof, the Unified Symposium provides the insights, solutions and connections needed to navigate challenges, identify opportunities and make informed business decisions for the year ahead. Built by the industry, for the industry, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium has been hosted by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) for more than 30 years. For more information, visit unifiedsymposium.org.
