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2nd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit | April 19-21, 2021

We were grateful to be joined by a community of nearly 500 participants from across the U.S. and 19 countries during the three-day, 2nd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit.

It is inspiring to see so many interested and dedicated to a sustainable wine industry. A sincere thanks to all of our speakers for sharing their stories and expertise, our partners for helping to organize the summit, and to our sponsors for their generous support.

Summit recordings, a Q&A document containing replies to unanswered questions sent via "chat", and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) resources are offered below.

SUMMIT AGENDA:

Day 1: Explore U.S. Sustainable Wine Tasting and Seminar - Virtual Event
11:30 am - 1:00 pm PT / 2:30 pm - 4 pm ET

This event was a unique opportunity to taste sustainably grown and produced wines from California, Oregon, New York and Washington and to learn how these producers are employing sustainable practices across the U.S. This lively discussion was moderated by Evan Goldstein MS of Master the World.

View Wine Tasting Notes

Welcome & Introductions: Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
Moderator: Evan Goldstein, MS, President & Chief Wine Officer, Master the World

Panelists and Wines:

California:

Peter Work, Winemaker/Proprietor, Ampelos Cellars | Ampelos, 2016 Sta. Rita Hills Syrah/Grenache Blend Syrache
Jackson Family Wines, 2018 Hartford Russian River Valley Zinfandel
Wente Vineyards, 2019 Riva Ranch Chardonnay

New York:

Rich Olsen-Harbich, Winemaker, Bedell Cellars | Bedell Cellars, 2019 Albariño

Oregon:

Melissa Burr, Vice President of Winemaking, Stoller Family Estate | Stoller Family Estates, 2017 Stoller Reserve Pinot Noir

Washington: Holly Wells, Enologist, Chateau Ste. Michelle | Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2017 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

View Recording:

Day 2: Welcome and Keynote Address
10 am – 12 pm PT / 1 pm – 3 pm ET

10:00 am - 10:15 am Summit Welcome: Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

10:15 am - 10:45 am Keynote Address: Trends and Observations on Sustainable Winegrowing – Ray Isle, Executive Wine

Editor of Food & Wine and the Wine & Spirits Editor of Travel + Leisure

View Recording:

Day 2: How to Message Sustainability; Workshopping “Sustainability” as a Challenger Brand

10:45 am – 10:50 am Panel Introduction: Katlyn Straub, Special Projects Manager, Washington Winegrowers

10:50 am – 12:00 pm How to Message Sustainability to Consumers and Trade: Workshopping “Sustainability” as a Challenger Brand

A challenger brand sets itself apart with a mission-driven mindset. Sustainability can be viewed in the same light, with bold ambitions to do something meaningful in addition to growing and making wine. This panel of savvy industry leaders engaged in discussion on how sustainability can embrace the challenger brand mindset to create messaging that resonates with consumers and trade and adds value to your brand – whether a vineyard, winery, association or sustainability program.

Moderator:

Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing, Wine Institute

Panelists:

Mark Barden, Partner, Eat Big Fish

Deb Hatcher, Founder, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, A to Z Wineworks

Linzi Gay, General Manager, Clif Family Winery

View Recording:

View Full Day 2 Session: Keynote Address and "How to Message Sustainability" sessions.

Day 2: Summit Sustainable Vineyard & Winery Tour - Virtual Event

1 pm - 2 pm PT/ 4 pm - 5 pm ET

This virtual tour included four sustainable vineyards and wineries in California, Oregon, New York and Washington. Viticulturists from each region revealed both the similarities and unique aspects of sustainable winegrowing in each region. No sunscreen or hat needed.

Moderator:

Cliff Ohmart, Board President, Protected Harvest

Panelists:

Eric Anderson, RGNY Wine (New York)

Dick Boushey, Owner and Viticulturalist, Boushey Vineyards (Washington)

Kelli Gregory, Vineyard Manager, Adelsheim Vineyard (Oregon)

Niki Wente, Viticulture Manager, Wente Vineyards (California)

View Recording:

Day 3: Summit Welcome & Grower Perspectives on Climate Change Resiliency
10 am – 12 pm PT / 1 pm – 3 pm ET

10:00 – 10:05 Summit Day 3 Welcome: Sam Filler, Executive Director, New York Wine and Grape Foundation

10:05 – 10:55 Grower Perspectives on Climate Change Resiliency

Many U.S. winegrape growers and wineries have started to take bold steps to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Winegrowers that are leading the charge in climate change resiliency share what they are doing in response to the climate crisis.

Moderator:

Esther Mobley, Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle

Panelists:

Julien Gervreau, V.P. of Sustainability, Jackson Family Wines (California)

Suzanne Hunt, Co-Owner and Director of Sustainability, Hunt Country Vineyards (New York)

Nadine Lew Basile, Ranch Manager, Soter Vineyards (Oregon)

View Recording:

Day 3: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Social Pillars of Sustainability

10:55 am – 11:00 am Panel Introduction: Bill Sweat, Founder, Winderlea Vineyard & Winery

11:00 am – 11:55 am Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Social Pillars of Sustainability

New initiatives are taking hold in the wine industry. This session began with an introduction by Bill Sweat and was followed by remarks by Elaine Chukan Brown in collaboration with Julia Coney.

Panelists:

Julia Coney, Wine Journalist and Founder of Black Wine Professionals

Elaine Chukan Brown, American Specialist for JancisRobinson.com, co-founder Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum

11:55 am - 12:00 pm Summit Closing: Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

View Recording:

View Full Day 3 Session: Grower Perspectives on Climate Change Resiliency and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Resources:

For leaders in the wine industry wanting to be advocates for diversity: Do the Work Workshop Series.
Diversity Training for Companies, Executives, and Individuals: Change Cadet, Dr Akilah Cadet.
How to Intervene in Situations of Harassment or Prejudice: Active Bystander Training & Resources.
In Depth DEI Training & Trainer Certification: eCornell Diversity & Inclusion Online Certificate.
Book on Allyship, and Restorative Justice:
- What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition, by Emma Dabiri (forthcoming June 2021)
  This is a very accessible book that helps us better understand community building, and appropriate responses to difficult situations regardless of our background or experience.
Anti-Racism Resources from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Additional Resources:

For more information contact info@sustainablewinegrowing.org.

For highlights from the 1st U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit held in 2019 read Summit West Highlights.

Hosted by:

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute, LIVE, Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing, Oregon Wine, New York Wines, Washington State Wine and Washington Winegrowers

2021 Summit and Tasting Sponsors:

2021 Summit Sponsorship Logos no header.