This retreat will feature three days of meetings, networking, dinners, winery visits, and just plain fun. Headquarters for the event will be the Inn at Glenora, a 30-room luxury hotel with spectacular views of Seneca Lake, Veraisons restaurant, and Glenora Wine Cellars, one of New York’s leading wineries.

The WineAmerica’s Fall Retreat is attended by the Board of Directors, the State and Regional Associations Advisory Council (SRAAC), and winery and supplier members. All members are invited and encouraged to attend.

This year’s conference will include presentations by top state government officials, New York wine trade association leaders, WineAmerica staff and lobbyists, and members of the SRAAC.

Agenda

• Welcome Dinner at Veraisons Restaurant at the Inn at Glenora
• New York, New York! How the public and private sectors have created success
• Wine Trail Magic: The Seneca Story
• Fox Run Barrel Dinner with Chef Brud Holland (Locavore Legend)
• Visits to Lakewood Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Miles Wine Cellars, Anthony Road Winery, Billsboro Winery, and more.

John Martini, co-owner of Anthony Road Wine Company on Seneca Lake, first coined the phrase “the fabulous Finger Lakes”, but others can’t help using it — because it’s true!

Come see for yourself!

Visit our retreat page to register.

Thank you to our sponsors, the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and Seneca Lake Wine Trail!

Wine is a big deal in Texas, where the American wine industry contributed $13.1 billion to the state economy in 2017, based on a WineAmerica-sponsored economic impact study conducted by John Dunham & Associates. That included 394 wine producers, 4,368 vineyard acres, 104,627 jobs, $4.33 billion in wages, 1.7 million tourist visits, $717 million in tourist expenditures, $1.8 billion in total taxes ($998.4 million federal, and $802.2 million state and local).

Agenda

Our three-day visit blended business and pleasure: official meetings of the WineAmerica Board of Directors and State and Regional Associations Advisory Council; an afternoon of visits to regional wineries; and a fabulous dinner at William Chris Vineyards. Many thanks to William Chris for hosting us, and to Tara Guthrie for her on-site organizational orchestration of our time in Texas.

New Members

Some new faces joined us as well: Scott Osborn of Fox Run Vineyards in New York’s Finger Lakes and Garrett Portia of Carlson Vineyards in Colorado joined the WineAmerica Board of Directors. In the State and Regional Associations Advisory Council (SRAAC), the retiring Debbie Reynolds from Texas transferred the gavel to new Chair Lori Paulsen of Nebraska, with Josh McDonald of Washington State becoming the new Vice Chair. We were also delighted to have in attendance two new SRAAC members: Rex Stults of the Napa Valley Vintners Association, and Lindsay Baerwald of Texas Wine.  

Field Trips

After the business meeting was complete, the WineAmerica group split up and visited ten local Hill Country Wineries.

We would like to thank the following wineries for hosting us: Becker Vineyards, Bending Branch Winery, Bingham Family Vineyards, Calais Winery, Kuhlman Cellars, Lewis Wines, Lost Draw Cellars, Pendernales Cellars, Pontotoc Wiengarten, Southold Farm and Cellar.

Fall is Coming

Our Fall Retreats provide a great opportunity for the WineAmerica Board, staff and lobbyists to really get to know the industry we serve. Every region is different–not to mention every winery–and having the personal experience with the products, people, and passion really makes the region come alive.

Since WineAmerica was last in New York’s Finger Lakes back in 2006, and so much has changed, we think it’s time for another visit from November 11-13.

Headquarters for the event will be the Inn at Glenora, a 30-room luxury hotel with spectacular views of Seneca Lake, Veraisons restaurant, and Glenora Wine Cellars, one of New York’s leading wineries.

Read more about our plans. We hope to see you there!

Registration

Early Bird $250.00 (Early Bird Pricing, $50.00 off for the first 50 registrants!) Register Now.

All WineAmerica meeting attendees will also have full access passes to:

• U.S. Wine & Beverage Conference & Expo (USBevX)
• Winery Association Leadership Conference Sessions (WALC) NOTE: WALC Is specifically for Association Representatives and Staff.
• Workshops and General Sessions
• Trade Show Floor
• Welcome Reception
• Networking Activities

Hotel Information

USBevX has negotiated a special rate of $199.00 with the Wardman Park Marriott, the host property and one of Washington, D.C.’s premier hotels. Limited room block, reserve your room today.

Tuesday, 2/20/2018

• WineAmerica Spring 2018 National Wine Policy Conference

9:00am – 10:30pm – WineAmerica Board Meeting

10:30am – 12pm – State and Regional Association Advisory Council (SRAAC) Meeting

1:00pm – 5:00pm – Scheduled Hill Visits

5:30 – WineAmerica Reception and Dinner

Wednesday, 2/21/2018 

• U.S. Wine & Beverage Conference
• Winery Association Leadership Conference Sessions (WALC)

9:00am – 10:00am General Session #1 – In Pursuit of Excellence: Trade & Media Weigh In

10:15am – 11:00am

• Canned Wines: Crushing the Stigma by Raising the Quality
• Exploring Vineyard Management Decisions Impact on Wine Quality
• Staff Training: Your Best Investment

  

• (WALC) – Operations & Finance: Building a Strong Board & State Funding for Your Initiatives

11:15am – 12:00pm

• Beyond Facebook: The Next Social Frontier
• Trends in Eastern Winemaking: Appassimento-Style
• (WALC) – Communications: Building an Organization, and a Brand, in the 21st Century

1:15pm – 2:15pm

• Financing the Pursuit of Excellence
• Breakthrough Technology in Yeast Nutrition: The Quality Impact
• Offering More: Adding Spirits, Cider or Beer to the Lineup
• (WALC) – Promotion: Creating Programs that Work

2:30pm – 3:30pm

• Designing for Excellence; Striking the Balance between Form & Function

  

• The Evolution and Quality Impact of Flash Détente for Eastern Winemakers
• Wine Writers, What Are They Looking For?
• (WALC) – Public Policy: Setting and Achieving Legislative Priorities

4:00pm – 5:00pm General Session #2 – Washington, D.C.: Politics, Policy, and Your Bottom Line

5:30 – 7:30pm – Welcome Reception

Includes a special selection of Wine carefully paired with a variety of hors d’oeuvres prepared by the Marriott Wardman Park Chef.

Thursday, 2/22/2018

• U.S. Wine & Beverage Conference
• Winery Association Leadership Conference Sessions (WALC)
• USBevX Trade Show

8:45am – 10:00am – General Session #3 – The Eastern Wine Industry’s Pursuit of Excellence: Winning Against All Odds

11:00am – 12:00pm

• New Options for Distribution: Control Your Own Destiny
• Red Wine Production Trials: Results on Wine Chemistry and Quality
• Case Study: How 6 brands target 6 different wine consumers
• (WALC) – Community Relations: Winning in the Backyard

1:15pm – 2:15pm

• Wine & Weed: Tales from the West
• Exploring Production Styles of Rosé in the Eastern Wine Industry
• Wine Club Excellence; Boost Wine Club Sales, Retention & Loyalty
• (WALC) – Pressing Topics for Wine Industry Associations – Open Forum

2:30pm – 3:30pm

• (WALC) – Hot Topics: Wine, Weed, and Music Licensing (WineAmerica Members and Associations Only)

WineAmerica and Winegrape Growers of America are reuniting for the 2017 the National Grape & Wine Policy Conference, April 25 – 27.

The conference features learning, advocacy, and networking. Taking place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, minutes away from Capitol Hill, this meeting is the industry’s opportunity to make its voice heard.

The conference will feature speakers and presentations on the politics and policies affecting our industry. It includes meetings of the WineAmerica Board of Directors and the State and Regional Association Advisory Council and a “Wines of America” reception on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and their staff. The tasting features wines from over 20 states, demonstrating the importance of the American wine industry. The 2016 Grape & Wine Policy Conference is your opportunity to make a difference regarding the laws that affect you.

All WineAmerica members are encouraged to attend.

Register Today!

Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
United States
202-637-4708

HOTEL ROOM RESERVATIONS: WGA and WineAmerica have negotiated a room rate of $309 (single/double occupancy) at the Grand Hyatt. The deadline to book at room at this discounted room rate is Friday, March 31. Reservations requested after the cut-off date will be based on availability at the hotel’s prevailing rates. To reserve a room at this discounted room rate, please contact the Grand Hyatt directly 202-582-1234. Please identify the group 2017 National Grape and Wine Policy Conference/Winegrape Growers of America. To reserve a room online, please click here to visit the online reservation page.

Agenda*

Tuesday, April 25

10:00 am – 12:00 pm: WGA Board of Directors Meeting Banneker

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm: WineAmerica Board Meeting & State and Regional Associations Advisory Council Meeting

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Wines of America Congressional Reception: Longworth House Office Building Food Court

Wednesday, April 26

8:00 am – 10:30 am: Breakfast, Registration & Morning Speaker

8:00 am – 8:30 am: Breakfast & Registration

8:30 am – 9:45 am: Congressional Overview Speakers: Cornerstone Government Affairs and Meyers & Associates

9:45 am – 10:30 am: Tax Reform Discussion Speaker: Tracy Henke, Legislative Director, Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO)

10:45 am – 11:45 am:  Trade – NAFTA and Future of Trade Liberalization

11:45 am – 1:15 am: Immigration & Other Issues

1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Immigration Panel

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm: Employment Immigration Enforcement Issues

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm: Immigration Legislation Issues

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm: John Manfreda, Administrator, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm: Music Licensing Update

Thursday, April 27

8:00 am – 9:30 am Breakfast & Session

10:00 am – 6:00 pm Hill Visits

*subject to change

WineAmerica and Winegrape Growers of America are reuniting for the 2017 the National Grape & Wine Policy Conference, April 25 – 27.

The conference features learning, advocacy and networking. Taking place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, minutes away from Capitol Hill, this meeting is the industry’s opportunity to make its voice heard.

The conference will feature speakers and presentations on the politics and policies affecting our industry. It includes meetings of the WineAmerica Board of Directors and the State and Regional Association Advisory Council and a “Wines of America” reception on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and their staff. The tasting features wines from over 20 states, demonstrating the importance of the American wine industry. The 2016 Grape & Wine Policy Conference is your opportunity to make a difference regarding the laws that affect you.

Speakers and agenda to be announced.

All WineAmerica members are encouraged to attend.

Register Today!

Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
United States
202-637-4708

Contact:  Michael Kaiser

Director of Public Affairs

202-223-5172

mkaiser@nullwineamerica.org

May 26, 2015

Washington, DC – WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries, took part in the annual National Wine and Grape Policy Conference this week in Washington, DC.  Held in conjunction with Winegrape Growers of America, the three-day conference attracts wine industry leaders from across the country to meet and weigh in on the most pressing public policy issues affecting growers and wineries.

This year, industry leaders from all over the United States were in attendance, representing wineries, growers and state associations.  Subjects covered included federal excise tax reform, music licensing guidelines and the overall political climate in Washington, DC.  The event culminated with the Wines of America Congressional reception held in the Rayburn Gold Room, where members of Congress, their staff and selected guests sampled wines from 27 states.

New Leadership

Concurrently, the WineAmerica Board of Directors meeting was also held, where the board thanked Caroline Shaw, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Jackson Family Wines, for her two years of service as Chair of the organization.

The new WineAmerica Chairman of the Board is Trent Preszler, CEO of Bedell Cellars on the North Fork of Long Island. Trent has served on the board of WineAmerica since 2008 and the board of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation since 2004, where he is also Chairman. Trent earned an MS in Agricultural Economics and a PhD in Viticulture & Enology, both from Cornell University. He also worked in The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Clinton Administration.

“I am thrilled to take the reins of WineAmerica and continue the robust growth and success we experienced under the leadership of my predecessor, Caroline Shaw,” said Preszler. “The future of WineAmerica is bright, and there are more compelling reasons than ever for American wineries to join our grassroots public policy mission.”

Assuming the position of Vice Chair of the Board is Martin Clubb of L’Ecole No. 41 in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington. Marty is a long time WineAmerica Board member and is currently the President of the Washington Wine Institute. Marty is the Managing Winemaker and co-owner of L’Ecole No. 41 with his wife Megan. Marty was also instrumental in the founding of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and served as its president for six years. Marty worked with other industry pioneers in the development of the Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture. He earned a chemical engineering degree from Texas A&M University.

New Members

The WineAmerica Board also appointed Dana Huber from Huber Winery in Starlight, Indiana to the open seat from the Great Lakes region. Dana and her husband Ted run Huber Winery and Starlight Distillery. Founded in 1978, Huber Winery is a pioneer in the Indiana wine industry, and they have since expanded into a diverse farm that grows many fruits and vegetables. In 2000 the Hubers founded Starlight Distillery, the first licensed distillery to open in Indiana. Ms. Huber joins another recently appointed Board member, Janie Brooks Heuck of Brooks Winery in Oregon.

WineAmerica would also like to highlight some of our latest members who have joined from our recent membership drive. St. James Winery, a key leader in the Missouri and Midwest wine industry has rejoined the organization, and will be a key member for us in that region. Other leading wineries to join WineaAmerica this spring are Leelanau Cellars in Michigan, Three Brothers Winery and Estate in New York and Dutton-Goldfied Winery in Sonoma County, California.

The next WineAmerica Board of Directors meeting will at the Allison Hotel and Resort in Dundee, Oregon from November 2-3, 2016.

***

WineAmerica is the national voice the American wine industry. Based in Washington, D.C., WineAmerica represents wineries in 43 states and leads a coalition of state and regional wine and grape associations. As an industry leader, WineAmerica encourages the dynamic growth and development of American wineries and winegrowing through the advancement and advocacy of sound public policy.

For more information, visit www.wineamerica.org.

The event will be held at the Hilton Lexington/Downtown in Lexington, Kentucky on Monday, October 26th. Attendees will be limited to participants of WineAmerica’s Fall Membership Conference. See registration options below.

The Regional Wine Tasting will feature the following wineries:

Come to Lexington to meet with wine industry leaders from across the country. Be apart of important regional and federal policy discussions, help shape  the future of WineAmerica, and enjoy the local flavors of the Bluegrass State!

Non-member wineries are invited to select sessions. Attend the Government Affairs Update, Recruitment discussion with local wineries, and the Wine of Kentucky Reception free of charge. Email Tara Good at tgood@nullwineamerica.org to register as a non-member. Include name, title, and name of winery or vineyard. We look forward to seeing you!

View Full Agenda and Register Here

WineAmerica is the national voice the American wine industry. Based in Washington, D.C., WineAmerica represents wineries in 43 states and leads a coalition of state and regional wine and grape associations.  As an industry leader, WineAmerica encourages the dynamic growth and development of American wineries and winegrowing through the advancement and advocacy of sound public policy.