NAPA / SONOMA, CALIFORNIA |January 30, 2023: On Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. PST, the Napa | Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense will host a “Connect Symposium” at St. Helena’s historic Charles Krug Winery with an additional online members-only additional livestream. This dynamic reception of attendees from wineries, vineyards and related industry and regional attendees will be followed by a presentation featuring proprietary consumer research insights and commentary from Wine Market Council (WMC) President, Dale Stratton, about “Understanding the Ever-Evolving Wine Consumer.” Charles Krug Winery is located at 2800 Main Street, St. Helena, CA, 95474.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Discussion topics will be tailored for wine and related industry general managers, senior level leaders and consumer-insight related attendees as they seek to learn the latest insights about current and future wine consumers and how they are evolving.
The proliferation of choice across the Beverage Alcohol category and the changing demographics of the American consumer has created new challenges for the wine industry. Mr. Stratton will share insights into the current wine consumer and how they will evolve in the coming years. The conversation will focus on how the industry can collectively adapt to better communicate with future high-value consumers with added insight to the local luxury wine tiers.
“I’m honored to present to WWS Napa|Sonoma chapter members. Research clearly shows that the demographics of our country are changing, and it’s important for the wine industry to understand and adjust to those changes,” said Mr. Stratton.
Early arrivals will meet at 4:00 p.m. to enjoy mingling and catching up with peers and our speaker while sampling an assortment of WWS members’ wines. At 4:55 p.m., after reconnecting at an hour-long tasting and networking session, Pam Novak, VP of Marketing for Charles Krug, will welcome attendees; Julie Lumgair, winemaker for Art Nouveau Wines and chair of the chapter’s Winemaking and Viticulture Roundtable, will make chapter announcements; and WWS co-founder and Wine Market Council board member Michaela Rodeno will introduce Mr. Stratton at 5:10 p.m. A lively question and answer session will follow the presentation. Members may also send questions about the event or for the speaker in advance by email to Julie.Lumgair[at]gmail[dot]com or online during the livestream.
Ms. Lumgair noted, “there was amazing energy and desire from thousands of leaders in all facets of the wine industry to reconnect in January at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento. Our Unified Symposium Planning Committee was honored to have WMC research to share in key sessions with attending industry leaders. Likewise, this opportunity is a timely and highly focused local opportunity to connect cross-functional experts in our Napa / Sonoma WWS Chapter with additional wine industry professionals and our national membership. We are excited to renew connections in person and continue that essential conversation about research and plans to serve and delight our wine consumers in the future.”
RSVP DETAILS
This event is open in person to active WWS members and non-members that are pre-registered by 5 p.m., February 8, 2023 at this weblink. Attendees are asked to either bring a bottle or two of wine to share or pre-pay online admission. As an additional benefit, WWS active members can also virtually attend by requesting a private Zoom link.
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. Women and men 21 years old or more are welcome to join. Information on the national chapter and 10 regional chapters is at www.womenforwinesense.org.
ABOUT WWS NAPA | SONOMA CHAPTER ROUNDTABLES
The founding chapter’s eight professional roundtables serve to provide a welcoming and confidential environment to meet in 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 C-suite skills, insights and community building as well as ‘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. To join or learn more about the roundtables, please visit www.womenforwinesense.org or contact the chapter’s Roundtables Director, Hillary Silva, hillaryfrasersilva[at] gmail[dot]com.
ABOUT WINE MARKET COUNCIL
The Wine Market Council was established in 1994 as a non-profit (501c6) trade association whose mission is to provide its members with forward-looking market research on the ever-changing U.S. wine consumer’s buying habits, attitudes, and motivations. Members cover a wide range of the industry and affiliates, ranging from growers and wineries through the distribution system to retailers, restaurateurs, and organizations affiliated with winemaking. To learn more about the qualitative and quantitative reports and stay up to date on the newest Wine Market Council research, please visit WineMarketCouncil.com.
ABOUT CHARLES KRUG WINERY
In 1943, Italian immigrants Cesare and Rosa Mondavi purchased the historic Charles Krug property, the oldest winery in the Napa Valley and longest-running tasting room in California. The brand was built on a foundation of family values, hard work and a European winemaking tradition; it remains a family-owned winery today, producing estate-driven, top of the line Napa Valley wines. The winery is under the direction of Peter Mondavi Jr. and his brother, Marc Mondavi, who steward the family business passed to them by their father, legendary Napa Valley wine icon Peter Mondavi Sr. The family is now proudly welcoming members of the fourth generation to the business, and the fifth generation has arrived. The family continues the legacy that started 80 years ago and setting a foundation for generations to come. For additional information, please visit www.charleskrug.com.
