NAPA, CALIFORNIA – August 11, 2021 – The Napa | Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense’s (WWS) Winemakers’ & Viticulture Roundtable presents “2021 Harvest Plans: Protocols to Minimize Smoke Impact – Insights and Conversations” on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. The event is being hosted live via zoom with interactive forum following the opening presentations.
The goal in this non-recorded members’ town hall is to provide a final opportunity for leading viticulturists and winemakers to share their best thinking on vineyard and winery protocols and plans to minimize smoke impact using a confidential, supportive informal conversation among highly experienced peers.
The session will open with eight panelists jump starting the conversation with their experiences covering a mix of reds and whites including Bordeaux varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and more from multiple key regions and AVAs. Each will share a brief 5 to 7 minute overview of their 2021 plans driven by insights about their past smoke impact protocols, sharing what worked and more importantly, what didn’t. The panel will be followed by a moderated town hall style forum for all attendees.
WWS Winemaking and Viticulture Roundtable chair, Julie Lumgair, noted, “We had fantastic pre-harvest peer conversations to help prepare for 2020 as we faced dual pandemic and fire season pressures. In 2021, we’re expanding on that informal private forum to help our members examine their own 2021 plans, plus reconnect with peers as we prepare to make it all work in another high risk harvest. Special thanks to our eight amazing panelists for sharing their insights and inspiring a very timely and candid group conversation!”
The panel is a mix of thought leading winemakers and viticulture professionals with years of experience in Napa, Sonoma, the greater North Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Washington and other key AVAs. Each has a proven track record of crafting success in numerous vintages and constantly experimenting to evolve quality in the field and cellar.
- Kristin Belair, Winemaker, Honig Vineyard & Winery
- Marla Carroll, Winemaker, Antica Napa Valley – Antinori Family Wine Estate
- Ana Diogo-Draper, Director of Winemaking, Artesa Winery
- Prudy Foxx, Managing Partner and Viticulturist, Foxx Viticulture
- Katie Nydell, Assistant Winemaker, Lambert Bridge Winery
- Megan Schofield – Director of Winemaking, Constellation Brands
- Brooke Shenk, Winemaker, St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery
- Heidi von der Mehden, Winemaker, Merry Edwards Winery and Vineyards
The free roundtable is open exclusively to WWS Winemaking and Viticulture Roundtable active members. Qualified winemakers and viticulturists wishing to join the group to participate are also welcome and will be given log in credentials after they have emailed and received RSVP confirmations through the WWS Roundtable Chair. To RSVP and receive August 11 live zoom log in credentials, or for any questions on this event or future WWS Winemaking Roundtable events, please contact the Chair, Julie Lumgair (Julie[at]Lumgair.com).
Attendees are requested to log in 5 minutes early to allow for a prompt 3:30 pm kick off. Due to the proprietary candid discussion, this zoom session will not be recorded.
ABOUT THE WINEMAKING & VITICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE
This WWS Roundtable meets approximately six to seven times a year, taking a harvest break.
Roundtable Program Committee member, Alicia Sylvester, noted “Our past meeting topics have focused upon the C-suite professional skills and insights women winemakers and viticulture professionals need but aren’t always easy to get in their daily work environment.”
She further explained that, “Held at some of Napa and Sonoma’s finest host wineries and now temporarily online during covid-19, these programs have been a fantastic opportunity for over 100 member women winemakers and viticulturists to connect directly, in a friendly professional forum, with experts that they otherwise wouldn’t get to meet for personal advice and questions. Some of our recent speakers have included top wine publication critics and senior editors, iconic winemakers, leading academics, global sensory consultants, sommeliers, media trainers, CFO’s and GM’s in panel discussions and key recruiters.”
Professionally qualified winemaker and viticulture guests may attend up to two Roundtables before deciding to join. It is a great way to expand skills while reconnecting and meeting new industry professionals.
ABOUT ADDITIONAL WWS ROUNDTABLES
WWS’ eight current professional roundtables serve to provide a welcoming and confidential environment to meet in small 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 ‘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.
The Napa/Sonoma Chapter currently has more than 400 members of which 80% are wine industry professionals. To join or learn more about WWS’ roundtables, please visit www.womenforwinesense.org. For inquiries about other WWS roundtables besides winemaking and viticulture, contact Napa| Sonoma Chapter’s Roundtables Director, Hillary Silva (hillaryfrasersilva@gmail.com).
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. Both men and women of legal drinking age are welcome to join. There is an exciting line-up of events planned for 2021 and 2022 with a mix of virtual and in person events as evolving pandemic conditions safely allow.
