Central Coast Wine & Weed Symposium

Wine Industry Network (WIN) hosted nearly 500 people at the first Wine & Weed Symposium on August 3, 2017 in Santa Rosa, CA. The primary focus of this one-day business conference was to help the wine industry better understand the cannabis industry and to examine what impact the legalization of recreational cannabis use in California might have on the wine industry. The goal was to identify opportunities, as well as threats, along with establishing a dialogue between the two industries.

Despite the legalization at the state level, regional rules vary, so in 2018 we are adding a second conference. Wine & Weed Central Coast will focus on the impact legalization will have in Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties while Wine & Weed North Coast will build on the inaugural event and concentrate on Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties.

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND – CENTRAL COAST

The Cannabis and Wine Industries have more in common than what one might see at first glance. Both industries are based in rural areas with a major emphasis on agriculture and quality. Place of origin / AVA is an important differentiator for both categories.

To a significant degree, they share a common consumer and will be overseen by the same government agency. Like the wine industry, the cannabis industry will also be heavily regulated and because of that, will experience tremendous overlap with regard to legal, financial, compliance and distribution regulations.

Additionally, the Cannabis Industry is looking to model the wine industry in areas such as destination marketing, hospitality and direct to consumer programs and experiential marketing.

As a result, both will compete for visitor attention and dollars in California’s most notable wine regions like Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Lodi Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties as well as the Sierra Foothills and more.

Everyone in the wine industry, whether an owner, winemaker, salesperson, hospitality manager, grower, admin, should attend this conference – regardless of whether or not you have specific plans to work in or with the Cannabis Industry. This is an opportunity to learn from experts the cost of entry and what you can and can not to do. It’s also a chance for wine professionals to better understand the inevitable competition for consumer attention, human resources and potentially, real estate. Wine & Weed will help make sure you understand the evolving business landscape and how best to prepare.