June 18, 2024 – The Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium (DTCWS), presented by and as a fundraiser for Free the Grapes!, is celebrating its 18th year as the nation’s premier industry conference dedicated to winery direct-to-consumer sales and marketing. To mark the occasion, DTCWS is thrilled to announce that the location of the conference will be moving to Monterey, CA. The agenda will also see an expanded education program and the addition of a new opening night reception, put on in concert with See Monterey.
Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium will be held January 21-23, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, CA and content will include keynote speeches from industry leaders, practical workshop sessions, town hall-type discussions, as well as a trade show featuring the industry’s top suppliers.
“We’re thrilled to announce the relocation of the Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium to Monterey, a premier wine destination in California. This is an exciting new chapter for the conference and promises an elevated experience for all,” says Brian Baker, DTCWS Event Chair and Founder of Cultivar Marketing. “As the conference continues to expand, this move allows us to accommodate our loyal attendees while welcoming new participants to join our vibrant community.”
The DTCWS is the primary fundraiser for Free the Grapes!, the national grassroots coalition of wine lovers and wineries seeking to ensure consumer choice by removing DTC shipping bans and streamlining onerous restrictions that prevent consumers from purchasing wines directly from wineries. Past symposia have attracted 400- 500 attendees, sponsors, and speakers for a two-day conference. In addition, over 92% of conference survey respondents routinely say they would recommend DTCWS to their colleagues. In particular, they praise the knowledgeable, well-rehearsed speakers and sessions that offer expert insights and actionable solutions to the challenges in the direct-to-consumer sales and marketing space. Thea Schlendorf, Executive Director of Free the Grapes!, notes that “with each passing year, DTCWS has flourished beyond our expectations. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey of growth and innovation, setting the stage for an even more dynamic symposium.”
Information on sponsorship opportunities will be available on the DTCWS website beginning this summer, and session topics and speakers will be finalized in the fall. For updates, please visit https://dtcwinesymposium.com/.
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About the Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium & Free the Grapes!
The Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium is presented by, and as a fundraiser for, Free the Grapes! The annual DTCWS is celebrating its 18th year as the nation’s premier industry conference dedicated to winery DTC sales and marketing. DTCWS funds the Free the Grapes! (FTG) campaign which seeks to expand consumer choice in wine with legal, regulated DTC shipments. FTG works closely with industry lobbyists and regional associations to streamline onerous shipping regulations and to increase the number of legal states, which has grown from 17 to 47 and represents 98% of the US population. Free the Grapes! executes state-specific advocacy campaigns encouraging consumers to write to their legislators and works with media and advocacy groups to keep the issue alive in support of favorable legislation.
