For one week each January, Sacramento becomes the focal point of the wine and grape world as the 2012 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium opens at the Sacramento Convention Center for a three-day run Jan. 24–26, 2012.
The event is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and is expected to draw 12,000 wine and grape industry professionals from around the world.
“There is no other wine and grape industry event throughout North America that concurrently offers an exposition and business information of such magnitude in one place like the Unified Symposium does,” says Lyndie Boulton, executive director for American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV), which is a co-organizer along with the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).
“In the 18th year of the Unified Symposium, we have attendees from virtually every wine-producing region of the world learning, sharing knowledge, and networking at this industry leading event,” says John Aguirre, president of CAWG.
Each day opens with a general session where attendees hear about some of the most important issues facing the industry. The general sessions are:
- Tuesday – Quality Grapes and Wine in a Challenging Climate, a discussion of growing quality wine grapes under changing climate conditions
- Wednesday – State of the Industry, where a panel of industry experts discuss numbers, trends, and what’s going on in the wine and grape industry
- Thursday – Creating a Successful Branding Tool Box—Brands That Sell, with experts exploring what vineyard and winery owners need to know and understand to successfully develop and market their brand
As in past years, each day there are smaller breakout sessions in the afternoon, organized into four different categories, in addition to the general sessions.
On Wednesday and Thursday the event hosts an industry trade show with nearly 650 vendors from around the world displaying their products and services.
Jointly organized by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium represents the collective experience, knowledge, and background of the entire industry. For additional information and complete program listing with speakers and topics, visit the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium’s website at www.unifiedsymposium.org.
