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Jon Berg

Jon started his career working in sales for Pfizer but moved over to the Beverage Alcohol industry where he has been for the last 20 years.  His recent work history has been with MillerCoors, Bacardi USA and Moet Hennessy.  Jon’s roles have been focused on commercial insights development, category management, shopper research, and retail pricing design.  His investigative work and primary consumer research has taken him to all the major US and Canadian markets, as well as global projects in Europe.  Now within the Thought Leadership framework at NielsenIQ, Jon is working across BevAl segments to develop insights material that can support and help define NIQ client success.

NielsenIQ is a global measurement and data analytics company providing the most complete and trusted view of consumers and markets in 90 countries covering 90% of the world’s population. Focusing primarily on consumer packaged goods manufacturers and fast-moving consumer packaged goods retailers, NielsenIQ gives customers the power to defy what’s possible.

Erica Duecy

Erica Duecy is one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She is founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and data + marketing consultancy, and has built data insights and marketing programs for Drizly, Union, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She served as Chief Content Officer for VinePair and Pix, and was founding Editor in Chief of SevenFifty Daily. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest, Saveur, and Fodor’s Travel. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, wine judge, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.

 

Fintan du Fresne

Born and raised in New Zealand, Fintan (Fin) du Fresne has been making wine in California since 2001.  His Degree in Geology, Postgraduate Degree in Viticulture and Enology and MBA in Wine Business give him a well-rounded academic background.

Originally a viticulturalist, Fin transitioned to winemaking during harvest in 2001 but retains his passion for the viticultural side of the business.

After stints in Martinborough and the Hawkes Bay (NZ), Calera and Adelaida Cellars (California) he was hired as head winemaker at Chamisal Vineyards in 2006. Following the acquisition of Chamisal by the Crimson Wine Group he was promoted to General Manager and Winemaker.

In 2022, Fin transitioned to GM at Phase 2 Cellars, managing 13,000 tons of custom crush.

In 2018, Fin saw a need for winery specific contracting services on the Central Coast and started Winemech.  Since 2018, Winemech has grown to serve over 450 wineries between Temecula and the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Winemech has service contracts with 4 of the largest winery equipment suppliers and numerous smaller suppliers.  To support this rapid growth, Fin moved to managing Winemech full-time in June of 2024.

Fin is a current Vineyard Team Board member and past Board member for the World of Pinot Noir and SLO Coast Wine Collective.  Fin is a strong supporter of the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture program, assisting with their commercial wine production and scientific programs for a number of years.

 

Erin Kirschenmann

Erin Kirschenmann, DipWSET, is the managing editor for WineBusiness Monthly and has been with the company since 2012. In addition to production responsibilities for the monthly trade magazine, she writes about business, technology, sales and marketing, and also oversees content and programming for WBM’s symposiums. She speaks on wine industry trends at numerous conferences, including the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium and the World Bulk Wine Exhibition, and guest lectures on wine, media and public relations. In 2022, she joined the Napa Valley Wine Academy as a WSET Level 1 and Level 2 instructor. Erin has served as a judge in the international Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine competition since 2016 and at several regional competitions. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in communications with a journalism emphasis from Sonoma State University. Find her online via her Instagram, @erinakirsch.