Wednesday, March 12, 2025
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Location: Mission Square
Bottle Bash Central Coast
Join WineBusiness Monthly for the Central Coast edition of Bottle Bash—a night of networking, collaboration and celebration. WineBusiness Monthly is bringing Bottle Bash, the party that kicks off each year’s Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, to Paso Robles as part of the Central Coast Insights and WiVi Central Coast events. Hundreds of local winemakers, growers, speakers and sponsors will gather following the Central Coast Insights conference.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
8:30 am - 10:00 am
Location: Ponderosa
General Session: Generations on Tap: Understanding Wine Buying from Boomers to Gen Z
Wine buying habits and viewpoints vary greatly from Boomers to Gen Z. With younger consumers gravitating towards alternative beverages, the moderation trend and preference for lower alcohol offerings, it is imperative that wine marketers and producers understand the changing buying preferences of today’s wine consumers and maximize growth opportunities.
Speakers:
Jon Berg, VP of Thought Leadership, NIQ Beverage Alcohol Vertical
Karen Daenen, Director of Research & Consumer Insights, Jackson Family Wines
Erica Duecy, Founder and Podcast Host, Drinks Business
Kaleigh Theriault, Director of Thought Leadership, NIQ Beverage Alcohol Vertical
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Location: Ponderosa
Wine and Viticulture Session: 2024 Harvest Review of Viticulture and Enology
How do today’s winemaking leaders cope with the twists and turns delivered by mother nature? Let’s recap the 2024 vintage from viticulture to enology with a panel of industry experts who will lead a lively discussion about best practices in the vineyard and the cellar to maximize wine quality.
Moderator:
Fintan du Fresne, Founder & CEO, WineMerch
Speakers:
Eric Hervé, PhD, R&D Scientist, ETS Labs
Anthony Bozzano, Principal & Sales Director, Bozzano & Co.
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location: Frontier
Tips to Maximize Profitability in Your Wine Club and DTC Channels
What strategies are wineries utilizing to maximize profitability via direct-to-consumer sales channels? Hear success stories from producers who have reduced shipping costs, utilized innovative subscription models to appeal to a new set of consumers, and explored out-of-the-box ideas to meet customers where they are.
Speaker:
Brooke Bunnell, Senior Director, FIJI Water, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, Lewis Cellars & Landmark Vineyards
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Location: Ponderosa
​Winemaking & Vit Session
Producers highlight different trials showcasing variety and the regional diversity of the Central Coast. Hear from the winemakers and see the data at work.
Speaker:
Federico Casassa, PhD, Associate Professor, Cal Poly
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Location: Frontier
DTC Revenue Beyond the Tasting Room
Growing DTC sales alongside a loss of traffic isn’t impossible! Find out how wineries are capturing revenue beyond the tasting room with creative, multi-pronged strategies including roadshows, in-market events, text/SMS campaigns, phone calls, and more.
Moderator:
Liz Mercer, WISE Academy
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Ponderosa
Alternative Varietals on the Central Coast
Compare and contrast a selection of up to eight alternative varietals produced along the Central Coast regions including Monterey, Paso Robles, SLO Coast AVA and Santa Barbara.
Moderator:
Erica Duecy, Founder and Podcast Host, Drinks Business
Speakers:
Drew Nenow, Nenow Wines
Steve Dooley, Stephen Ross Cellars
Coby Parker-Garcia, El Lugar Wines
Sonia Magdevski, Clementine Carter