2025 Symposium Speakers

Maryam Ahmed is a Napa, CA based food and wine entrepreneur. As the owner of Maryam + Company, a certified B Corporation, she works at the intersection of sommeliers, chefs, activists, sustainability experts, media, and organizations to design impact-driven brand extension and educational programs that celebrate food and wine. She is the creator of Field Blends, an immersive food and wine travel experience focused on opening up conversations about what’s emerging in wine and agriculture.

Maryam is the co-founder of the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum, which she leads in partnership with Dr. Akilah Cadet and she is a member of the Executive Leadership Board for the UC Davis Viticulture & Enology department. She was named a Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemaker in 2022, received the 2023 Impact Award from the Wine & Culture Festival, was listed as one of the Imbibe 75, and nominated for the Social Visionary Wine Star Award in 2022. She is also a cast member on SOMM TV, a published writer, public speaker, and a partner at PLAYTE Kitchen.

Maryam + Company, California

Mackenzie Aragon has been a graduate student under Dr. Thomas Collins at Washington State University since 2021, pursuing her PhD in Food Science. Her research is focused on wine and spirits chemistry. She is taking a closer look at the phenolic compounds found in smoke-affected wines and oak alternative products.

Before joining as a graduate student at WSU, Mackenzie worked in the New Mexico wine industry for two years while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from New Mexico State University. She hopes that her area of research provides applicable information that allows the wine industry to improve the quality of wine through a better understanding of chemistry.

Washington State University, Tri-Cities

Lise Asimont studied with the Environmental Horticulture graduate group with a specialization in viticulture in the lab of Dr. M. A. Walker at the University of California and conducted her master’s research on grapevine rootstock resistance to root-knot nematodes. After graduating from UC Davis, Lise has had the opportunity to work in Santa Barbara County in vineyard management at Cambria Vineyard and Winery, grower relations roles with Geyser Peak Winery and the Francis Coppola Winery throughout the state of California and Oregon, as CEO for Vinsense in agricultural technology, winegrowing in the North Coast for Cakebread Cellars, and Farm Management for Prudential in the West Coast. Lise joined the Foley Family companies in 2022 and serves as their Senior Vice President for Foley Family Farms, collaborating with an intrepid team overseeing five thousand planted acres throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, which strives to sustainably grow the greatest wines on earth.

In 2016, her family launched Dot Wines, LLC, a wine brand specializing in Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and produces wines expressive of the beautiful vineyards they come from.

Sharing her valuable knowledge and passion, Lise is a strong voice for the American Society for Viticulture and Enology; she served as a past president and currently serves on their technical program committee. She lives in Healdsburg with her family and enjoys the agrarian life of Sonoma County.

Foley Family Farms and Dot Wine, California

Descended from generations of wine merchants, I was raised in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia (Spain). Following my family’s tradition, I tasted a drop of Cava within hours of my birth, setting me on my path.

After earning my MBA at ESADE, I moved to Sonoma, California, in 1987 as part of the original team that launched Gloria Ferrer Winery from a trailer in a Los Carneros cow pasture. For over 30 years, I was part of the management team of both Gloria Ferrer Winery and the Ferrer family import company, Freixenet USA, where I launched and grew brands both boutique and high-volume brands from over 25 of the best-known appellations in eight countries, spanning Old and New World.

In 2019, I founded a business consulting company that assists domestic and import wineries and trade associations with strategic planning, business development, and sales plans.

I am a pentaglot (English, Catalan, Spanish, French, and Italian), and my travels have taken me to visit over 50 appellations around the world. There is so much more to discover!

Eva Bertran Consulting, California

Jeff Bitter is a life-long resident of California. Born into a family vineyard operation, Jeff has always had a passion for agriculture and specifically grape growing. Jeff is the President of Allied Grape Growers (AGG), a 500-member statewide grape growers cooperative marketing association. AGG markets approximately $100,000,000 worth of grapes annually to wineries, shippers, packers and dehydrators. In addition to managing AGG, Jeff is a fourth-generation California grape grower, actively farming winegrapes in Madera County, where he resides.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from California State University, Fresno and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the same. Jeff is also a graduate of Class XXXII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a prestigious two-year fellowship program emphasizing leadership training and development for those involved in California agriculture.

Jeff participates on numerous industry boards, committees and task forces and spends his free time farming, traveling and enjoying time with family and friends. Jeff has one minor and three adult children, one of which is married and provided Jeff with his first grandchild in 2024.

Allied Grape Growers, California

Molly Bossardt is the founder of Bread & Butter Digital Marketing, a boutique agency dedicated to helping wineries navigate the unique landscape of DTC marketing. With a background in direct-to-consumer marketing roles in New York City and a Master’s in luxury markets from Sotheby’s, Molly has honed her expertise in crafting compelling brand narratives. She believes that marketing is more than a tool—it’s a vital lifeline that can redefine a winery’s presence and attract new customers, even in challenging times.

At Bread & Butter, Molly’s approach goes beyond managing ads. She focuses on uncovering the unique essence of each winery and crafting stories that resonate, ensuring brands stand out in a competitive market. Molly to explore how a well-executed strategy can not only meet the moment but rise above it. Connect with Molly to explore how thoughtful marketing strategies can elevate your winery’s presence and drive growth.

Bread & Butter Digital Marketing, Virginia

Dr. Collins is an Assistant Professor of Grape and Wine Chemistry in the Viticulture and Enology Program at Washington State University. He manages a research program in wine and spirits aroma and flavor chemistry and teaches course in wine chemistry and winery operations. Tom’s current research focuses on the impacts of wildfire smoke exposure on grape and wine quality.

Prior to joining WSU in 2015, Dr. Collins was the Director of Research for the Food Safety and Measurement Facility at U.C. Davis. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from U.C. Davis in 2012. He has also served as the President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.

Washington State University, Tri-Cities

As Vice President of International Marketing for California Wines, Honore Comfort draws on her more than 20+ years of experience in international wine marketing, brand strategy, and association management to build the global brand for California wines and promote export sales. Prior to joining Wine Institute, Honore held several senior leadership positions in the wine sector including Executive Director of the Sonoma County Vintners, President of Brack Mountain Wine Company, and North American Brand Director for Penfolds and Rosemount Estate with Foster’s Wine Estates (now Treasury Wine Estates).

Before joining the wine industry, Ms. Comfort worked in marketing and advertising in both public and private sector roles and holds post-graduate degrees in both Business and Arts administration. She lives in Healdsburg, California with her husband, where they grow and make their own wines in the heart of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley.

Wine Institute, California

Audra Cooper
Director of Grape Brokerage / Partner

When it comes to getting her boots dirty and walking vineyard rows, Audra Cooper has years of experience in both the North Coast and Central Coast. Audra grew up on ranches in the Central Coast and graduated from California State University at Fresno with a degree in Agricultural Economics. Continuing education and professional growth are important to Audra, as she has pursued additional educational platforms, such as an online certificate in Strategic Management from Wharton.

Audra began her successful career with Turrentine Brokerage in 2006, providing support for Turrentine’s grape brokers throughout the state. Following her role as grape sales support, Audra was promoted to North Coast Grape Broker. In 2012, Audra transferred to the Central Coast as the lead grape broker for the region. A year later, she became a partner at Turrentine. Her experience and knowledge of both growing regions provide clients with a unique perspective. She has a keen sense of vineyard details and agricultural development. She is also actively involved in the agriculture community in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

Most recently, Audra has taken on a new role as Turrentine Brokerage’s Director of Grape Brokerage, overseeing the grape team and business unit.

Audra’s upbringing and life-long love of agriculture has given her the ranching bug, in recent years she has started a small family cow-calf and beef stocker operation. A venture that she hopes to pass on to her daughter and future generations. She resides in Paso Robles, California with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.

Turrentine Brokerage, California

Dr. Monica Cooper joined University of California, Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Napa County as a Viticulture Farm Advisor in April 2009. Her formative work in the Peace Corps and her graduate degree program led her to a career in UCCE, at the intersection of her passions for science, plants, and public service. Educated as a Plant Doctor at the University of Florida, she has multidisciplinary training in plant pathology, entomology, soils, and plant science that she draws upon to help growers diagnose vineyard problems. Her applied research and outreach programs provide evidence-based technical information to the vineyard industry.

University of California, Cooperative Extension, Napa County

Steve Diver is the Farm Superintendent at the Horticulture Research Farm, University of Kentucky. He earned BS and MS degrees in horticulture at Oklahoma State University. He has worked as an Extension Horticulturist, farm manager, and soils consultant over the last 40 years, including 18 years as an agriculture specialist with ATTRA, the national sustainable agriculture information center funded by USDA. He conducted the first biodynamic agriculture consultancies for USAID in Russia and India and served on the NOSB Compost Tea Task Force.

Steve has lectured and published widely on soil health, soil biology, composting systems, compost teas and microbial inoculants, biofertilizers, and alternative farming systems from organic farming to regenerative ag. The UKY Horticulture Research Farms hosts the Viticulture & Enology Program, which explores grape varieties and trellising systems adapted to Kentucky.

University of Kentucy, Horticulture Research Farm, Lexington

Ed Feuchuk is a marketer and mistake-maker with over 15 years of experience building innovative DTC wine brands.

As the General Manager for Farm Collective Napa Valley, Ed has led creative, strategic, and technical initiatives for brands like Tank Garage Winery, James Cole Winery, Regusci Winery, and T-Vine Winery. With a passion for authentic experiences and renegade marketing, Ed and his work have been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times, Wine Spectator, and Playboy.

Tank Garage Winery, California

BSc (HONS) Microbial Biotechnology, University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom, 1997. Ph.D. Yeast Physiology and Fermentation Science, University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom, 2001. Dr. Hall has held various positions in the wine industry: Director of Microbiology at Bronco Wine Company, Ceres, CA (2002-2007), Technical Consultant at Vinquiry, Inc., Windsor, CA (2007-2009) and is currently at Scott Laboratories, Petaluma, CA employed as the General manager for the Fermentation and Enology Department (2009- Present). From 2009- Present, Dr. Hall is co-winemaker at Mathew Bruno Wines. Dr. Hall is very involved in the American Society of Enology and Viticulture serving as president in 2016-2017. She is a past chair of the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium and a long-standing member of the AVF grant management Enology committee.

Scott Laboratories, California

Austin Hope is an owner, winemaker and president of Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, California. He is an avid champion of Paso Robles who has spent more than 25 years at the helm of the family winery. Being awarded Wine Enthusiast’s “2022 American Winery of the Year” marked the highlight of Austin’s career to this point. Hope Family Wines today spans six brands that exemplify the quality and diversity of Paso Robles: Austin Hope, Treana, Quest, AUSTIN, Liberty School and Troublemaker.

Austin came to Paso Robles with his family in 1978, when his parents, Chuck and Marlyn Hope, bought a ranch and planted both vineyards and apple orchards. Austin enjoyed playing and working in the vineyards as a child, a sign of things to come.

Austin studied Fruit Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and graduated in 1996. Shortly thereafter, and in the wake of a family tragedy, Chuck Hope turned to his son to lead the family business. The bold and brash 23-year-old Austin jumped in ready to make his mark on the business. Making and selling Treana Red, an ambitious $30 red table wine, proved to be challenging at first. However, Austin remained firm in his belief in Paso Robles wines, and he began to win over buyers and customers alike. The success of Treana would ultimately spark the creation of Hope Family Wines and its diverse portfolio of Paso Robles-grown offerings.

In 2007, along with fellow Paso Robles winemakers, he helped produce the TTB petition for the creation of 11 new sub-AVAs for Paso Robles, a critically important distinction that elevated the region’s status on the world stage. In 2019, Austin was named “Wine Person of the Year” by the San Luis Obispo Wine INdustry. He is also active in the community as a supporter of Must! Charities, Operation Surf and others.

At the heart of everything Austin does, there is a passion for Paso Robles and a dream of making it a global household name. At the forefront of this effort is the Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon—a luxury Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon that has twice been named a Top 10 Wine of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. This is a wine that he likes to say is “Paso Robles defined.”

Austin lives on the family vineyard in the Templeton Gap District with his wife Celeste Hope and their two daughters, Ainsley and Avery Hope.

Hope Family Wines, California

Cathy Huyghe is an entrepreneur, writer and mindfulness proponent. She is the co-founder of Enolytics, a technology-centric disruptor and provider of business analytics solutions for the wine industry. She writes about the business and politics of the wine industry for Forbes, and she also co-creates the content for A Balanced Glass, a community dedicated to wellness in the wine and spirits world. All three of those ventures have been recognized for their innovative contributions. She also founded the Harvard Alumni in Wine and Food (HAWF) Shared Interest Group, and in 2021 Huyghe was named one of the industry’s Most Inspiring People by the Wine Industry Network. In 2022 she was nominated as Innovator of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine, and in 2023 she joined the advisory board for the Harvard Data Science Review. Huyghe’s most recent work involves thought leadership speaking engagements around the world, particularly on the subject of innovation and AI for the wine industry.

Enolytics, Georgia

Allison serves as Vice President, Environmental Affairs for Wine Institute, an advocacy group of more than 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, promotion and enjoyment of wine. She joined Wine Institute in 2003, shortly after the publication of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, and helped create the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, a nonprofit organization established by the Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to promote sustainability from grapes to glass.

Allison has served as Executive Director of the Alliance since 2007, leading the organization’s education, certification and communications programs. She holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at University of California Berkeley, a B.A. in Psychology from Allegheny College, and a WSET Level 2 certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. After earning a Certificate in Wine Business Management from Sonoma State University, she now teaches a sustainability course for the school’s Global Executive Wine MBA program. In addition, Allison is a board member for the National Grape Research Alliance, a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier San Francisco Bay Area chapter, and an alumna of the German Marshall Fund’s Marshall Memorial Fellowship.

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

Kristina Kelley is the Executive Director of the Washington State Wine Commission. The WSWC is a state government agency founded in 1987 that represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington. In her role at the Wine Commission, she leads a team responsible for driving the growth of Washington state wine through marketing, communications, viticulture, and enology research, supporting Washington’s position as the second-largest wine-producing state in the U.S.
Kristina has spent the entirety of her career in the wine industry, holding leadership roles in various functions that provide her with a broad perspective to inform her strategic approach.

Before joining the Wine Commission, Kristina spent over 25 years at E. & J. Gallo Winery, leading teams in sales, premium and luxury marketing, public relations, and corporate communications. She also spent five years in sales within the Wine Division of Brown-Forman. In addition, she and her husband owned a vineyard in Oregon’s Dundee Hills for more than 18 years.

Kristina is a former Board Member of Women of the Vine & Spirits and currently serves on the Board of The Auction of Washington Wines. Kristina and her husband live in Port Ludlow, WA, with their Weimaraner, Finn.

Washington Wine Commission

Steven Kukesh, Director of Winemaking Research & Development at Delicato Family Wines since 2015, brings over 15 years of research winemaking expertise to the industry. A graduate in Biological Sciences from California State University, Stanislaus, Steven’s commitment to winemaking is reflected in his leadership. Upon joining Delicato, he undertook the task of building the research program from scratch. Since then, he has collaborated with the entire winegrowing team to implement a diverse array of projects spanning processing, ingredients, equipment, and vineyard evaluations, ensuring a comprehensive approach to advancing winemaking practices while prioritizing wine quality. Steven has also introduced a sensory program, both internally and externally, and has spearheaded product development initiatives.

Delicato Family Wines, California

Marian Leitner-Waldman is the founder and CEO of Archer Roose Wines, one of the fastest growing wine companies in the U.S. Marian is on a mission to democratize fine wine by making the wine industry more inclusive and leveraging format to fit the lifestyles of modern consumers.

Her emmy-award winning commercials, starring business partner Elizabeth Banks, have been lauded by the San Francisco Chronicle as the “most innovative wine marketing around.” Archer Roose has been recognized by Wine Spectator and the Beverage Tasting Institute. Her wines can be found in James Beard Award Winning restaurants, Target, Hannaford and JetBlue.

Archer Roose, Massachusetts

Julie Lumgair is an award-winning consulting and hands-on winemaker. Her wines span nineteen vintages and 25 varietals from Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Italy. She has served in many combined estate winemaking and winegrowing roles with a keen eye on agricultural and cellar practices to significantly elevate sustainability, wine quality and sales. Her calling cards are consistently producing acclaimed wines that reflect their place, excellence in winery operations, substantial innovation and trial programs feasible for artisan wineries’ scale, a passionate attention to customer delight and long-lasting relationships.

Julie is a 5th generation Tennessee family farmer, who honed her sensory science, new product development, team building and executive leadership in her first career at Procter & Gamble and other noted Fortune 100 firms for 15 years. That experience, along with her “roll up the sleeves” work ethic, plus technical and analytical skills learned on the job from many mentors in the vineyards and cellars have been supplemented by years of rigorous independent technical study.

She has made exceptional wines including Art Nouveau, a new artisan Napa winery launching in 2025, J. Moss, Ideology Cellars, Valley of the Moon / Lake Sonoma, Castello di Montegiove, Windsor Oaks Vineyards and other private clients. Julie’s ongoing wine trials and experiments have been featured in industry press and conferences. Over 70 of her wines have consistently achieved 90+ scores and been noted by several leading critics including a Wine Spectator “Producer to Watch,” Wine & Spirits varietal “Top Ten” and “Year’s Best” lists.

Julie deeply enjoys volunteering, mentoring and building community. She is one of thirty industry leaders on the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Program Committee and serves as President of Women for WineSense Napa / Sonoma and long-time Chair of their Winemaking & Viticultural Roundtable. She is a contributing technical writer and wine judge for wine industry trade and consumer publications, frequent winemaker panelist for Napa Valley Vintner’s top trade and media conferences and VIP immersions and masterclass developer / instructor at Napa Valley Wine Academy. She is a past board member for Napa Valley Wine Technical Group and IQ (Innovation + Quality) Conference for luxury winemaking advances.

For more information, please connect via LinkedIn or reach out directly to Julie.lumgair@gmail.com or 415-786-3415

Art Nouveau, California

As the President of Marketing at Bonterra Organic Estates, Rodrigo Maturana is a firm believer in the profound global impact of wine. Leading the marketing efforts for one of the world’s largest B Corp certified wineries, he orchestrates the strategy for a diverse portfolio of California and South American wine brands. Each of these brands is characterized by its unwavering commitment to quality, ethical business practices, and social responsibility.

For Rodrigo, marketing wine isn’t just a profession; it’s a means to cultivate a better world. His journey in the industry commenced as a Marketing Assistant for Concha y Toro’s Casillero del Diablo. He ascended in leadership quickly increasing in responsibility. His accomplishments included negotiating significant sponsorships, including the high-profile partnership with Manchester United, and executing successful product launches across multiple markets. Notably, he led groundbreaking initiatives for the

Bonterra Organic Estates, California

Amanda McCrossin is a certified sommelier, wine personality, podcast host, and wine-focused content creator on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. With over 500k followers across platforms, Amanda has been called “one of the most influential creators” in the wine community creating wine-focused, relatable content to help consumers via her @sommvivant channels.

A 10+ year veteran in the industry, Amanda spent the majority of her career as a sommelier in NYC and California. Perhaps most notably, Amanda helmed the wine list at PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley as both sommelier and wine director, overseeing the world’s largest, deepest restaurant collection of all Napa Valley wines in the world thusly earning her reputation as an expert on the region. She has been featured by Food & Wine Magazine, Decanter, Food Network, San Francisco Chronicle, on the cover of SOMM Journal and Wine Enthusiast who named her a Wine Star nominee for ‘Sommelier of the Year.’

Today, in addition to her career as a wine content creator and host of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast, Amanda is a contributor at Wine Enthusiast and regularly sought out for media appearances and speaking engagements around the world including the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Premiere Napa Valley, World of Pinot Noir, and Wine2Wine in Verona, Italy.

SOMMVIVANT, Pennsylvania

In 1982 Steve McIntyre received his master’s degree in enology from California State University, Fresno. In 1982 he and his wife Kimberly moved to Carmel Valley, California to develop Galante Vineyards and Winery. In late 1983 Steve took a position with Smith & Hook Winery in Soledad, Calif. as an Assistant Winemaker, later returning to his agrarian roots to become viticulturist in 1985.

In 1992 Steve and Kimberly founded Monterey Pacific, Inc., a viticulture management and development company, which rapidly grew from 432 acres to become the third largest vineyard management company in the U.S. at over 20,000 acres.

In 2002, along with partners Mike Filice and Eric Laumann, Steve cofounded the Monterey Wine Company in King City, California. This12,000-ton state of the art custom wine processing facility developed a reputation for first class customer service and technological prowess. Among its many notable accomplishments, MWC was the first commercial winery in the US to introduce Flash Détente to the wine industry.

Steve and Kim founded McIntyre Vineyards on 1998 to produce small lot, handmade wines from their Estate Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. They have a Tasting Studio in The Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel and Carmel Valley Village and are developing a Hospitality Center at their Estate Vineyard on River Road near Gonzales.

Steve received the Wine Grape Grower of the Year from the California Association of Wine Grape Growers in 2013.

In 2022 Steve and Mayo Ryan established the Sitos Group to produce Biochar from various waste streams using a continuous, slow pyrolysis reactor at ReGen Monterey, the County solid waste facility. This is the first facility in the US to manufacture and sequester Biochar in permanent crops using a patented sequestration process. The certified process produces a high value carbon credit while providing agronomic and atmospheric carbon removal benefits.

Steve is an appointed member and past chairman of the CDFA Pierces Disease Board, Chairman of the Research Screening Committee; a member of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers, a graduate of Class 21 of the California Ag Leadership Program, previously a board member of the Big Sur Land Trust and currently serving as a board member of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Steve and Kim have 3 children and reside in Salinas, California.

Monterey Pacific, California

Rob McMillan, EVP & Founder, Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division

Rob McMillan is one of the top wine-business analysts in the United States and the author of Silicon Valley Bank’s highly regarded annual State of the Wine Industry Report, described by the New York Times as “…probably the most influential analysis of its kind.”

With decades of experience researching the wine business, his views on business and strategy are sought after and trusted by winery owners, journalists, entrepreneurs, and investors. He is a prominent speaker, both domestically and internationally, and you will find him extensively quoted in national, regional, and trade press.

Rob’s banking career has spanned 35-plus years — more than 25 with Silicon Valley Bank. In that time, he has held many roles, including founder and division manager of the Wine Group, executive manager of the bank’s Commercial Division, and several years as a member of Silicon Valley Bank’s Managing Committee. In addition to his public role, he is responsible for establishing new winery relationships and offers private management presentations and strategic consulting to the bank’s clients.

Rob received a bachelor’s degree in finance/economics from Sacramento State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. He has served on boards in diverse industries and continues to do so today.

Rob is married with five children. When time allows, he enjoys the outdoors, travel, golf, and drumming.

Silicon Valley Bank, California

Dr. Michelle Moyer is a professor and Statewide Viticulture Extension Specialist for Washington State University. Her extension and research programs focus on proactive approaches to grape growing and decision support for individuals at all stages of grape production, with an emphasis on integrated vineyard management. She is the current interim President of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture.

Washington State University, IAREC

Juan Muñoz-Oca is the Chief Operating Officer for Marchesi Antinori’s business in the United States. As COO, Muñoz-Oca oversees all properties, spending most of his time leading the operations from grapes to table for some of the most historical and influential properties in Napa Valley, California and Red Mountain, Washington: the iconic Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in the heart of the Stags Leap District, Antinori Napa Valley in the Atlas Peak AVA, and Col Solare atop Red Mountain. Describing himself as “stupidly obsessed with wine,” Muñoz-Oca has a true passion not only for making great wine and influencing the way people experience it, but he’s also passionate about protecting the planet so future generations can make wine in the same pristine conditions we’re lucky to grow grapes today. He believes that wineries have the ability to influence geography, communities, and social environments.

Raised in Mendoza, Argentina, Juan gained respect for wine at an early age. After graduating from college, he joined the winemaking team at Terrazas de los Andes, an Argentine premium winery owned by luxury giant LVMH, following multiple harvests in Australia, France, and Spain, Juan moved to the US to work for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates where he was the creative force behind some of the most daring wines ever made in Washington: BORNE of FIRE and Intrinsic, eventually becoming their Chief Winemaker. In early 2023 Juan joined B Corp Certified O’Neill Vintners and Distillers where he served as its Chief Wine-Growing Officer.

Juan holds dual degrees in agricultural engineering as well as enology and viticulture from the National University of Cuyo and is a graduate of Columbia Business School at Columbia University in New York.

Marchesi Antinori, California

G3 Enterprises, California

Devin Parr is a leading personality in the wine industry. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Devin Parr & Associates, a PR, marketing, and content agency in the beverage, travel and tourism space. She holds her Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma as well as a certification in wine expertise from the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy, and a B.A. in political science and economics from UC San Diego. In 2017, she was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers.

A passionate storyteller, Devin regularly contributes to wine and lifestyle publications, including VinePair, WineCountry.com, NapaValley.com, Sonoma.com, and The Gourmet Insider, and her own blog on DevinParr.com, where she covers the business of wine. She is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Vintner Project, and co-founder of online wine community Grapeloop. When she’s not traveling the world in search of memorable wines, she moonlights as an aspiring ninja, pursuing her black belt in Shorin Ryu karate.

Devin is based in Temecula, California with her husband, two sons, and two bossy Shih Tzus. Follow her wine, parenting, and martial arts adventures at @thesocalwinegal.

Devin Parr & Associates, California

A decade into his publishing career at Time Inc., Dan Petroski took a moment to reflect, and he jettisoned to Italy for a year. While Petroski’s intention was to return to New York, a harvest invitation in 2006 to come to California was too good to pass up. After harvest, Petroski was hired at Napa’s Larkmead as cellar master, ultimately claiming the winemaker title in 2012. Petroski spent nearly 15 years at Larkmead, cementing his status as a top-tier Napa Valley Cabernet winemaker; during that period Petroski launched a white wine only brand called Massican, an ode to the Mediterranean and Petroski’s time spent living in Italy and drinking white wine. Petroski’s approach and ability to craft wines as diverse as Cabernet Sauvignon and Tocai Friulano has earned him perfect 100-point scores, Top 100 wines, recognition as San Francisco Chronicle’s Winemaker of the Year in 2017, Food & Wine magazine’s Drinks Innovator of the Year in 2022, and VinePair’s Winemaker of the Year in 2024.

Massican Winery, California

Meghan Phillips, the moderator for the AI session, brings a unique perspective as a leader at Honey, a Sacramento-based creative and marketing studio deeply connected to the wine industry. With extensive experience in helping wineries tell their stories, she approaches AI integration from both marketing and operational viewpoints. At Honey, she leads exploration into how artificial intelligence can ethically enhance processes and business efficiencies—insights particularly valuable to wineries navigating their own AI journeys. Her practical understanding of both agency operations and wine industry needs positions her perfectly to guide this discussion on responsible AI adoption and implementation.

Honey, California

A professional Prompt Engineer, Jacob Rangel, is at the forefront of leveraging Generative AI to revolutionize creative problem-solving and drive efficiency across industries. As a passionate advocate for the transformative potential of AI, he champions its responsible implementation. Through insightful applications and leadership, he inspires and helps businesses embrace and deploy AI to power their growth.

Prompt Krafter, Inc., California

University of Missouri, Assistant Extension Professor and State Extension Specialist for Enology
PhD Microbiology and Wine Science, Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
Engineering Diploma in Beverage Technology, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Germany

Dr. Sommer joined the Grape and Wine Institute at the University of Missouri in August 2022. He is the enology program leader and provides extension support for all wineries in the State of Missouri. Prior to moving to Missouri, he was the Director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at California State University Fresno. As Director of VERC, he provided research and administrative leadership by planning, promoting, and administering all viticulture and enology research programs. Prior to that, Dr. Sommer was the academic program director and an Assistant Professor of Fermentation Sciences at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He also brings more than eight years of industry experience in various fields of beverage production including wineries, sparkling wine companies, breweries, table water production, and related fields including industrial flavor production.

University of Missouri, Columbia

Kim Stemler is the President/CEO of The Carmel Foundation, where she leads efforts to support successful aging and community well-being—including affordable housing, meals, and engaging programs. So why is she moderating at Unified? Not because the industry is aging (although it’s said that wine professionals, like wine, get better with age), but because Kim served as the Executive Director of the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (MCVGA) for nearly 11 years.

Kim’s deep passion for Monterey County agriculture and its renowned wine industry has defined much of her career. At MCVGA, she served as a dedicated advocate for the region’s wines, vineyards, and growers, fostering collaboration and innovation within the industry.

With over 25 years of leadership experience in management, strategic planning, organizational development, and communications, Kim has worked with foundations, colleges, and nonprofits to refine strategies and design impactful programs. Her work during the COVID pandemic was particularly notable, as she spearheaded a county-wide initiative to bring COVID testing and vaccinations to underserved populations.

Kim holds a master’s degree in administrative science from The Johns Hopkins University and is a certified Executive and Management Coach as well as a Certified Wine Appellation Specialist.

The Carmel Foundation, California

I’m Erica Walter, and email marketing is more than my bread and butter… it is my jam.

I’m deeply passionate about empowering small businesses with tools, resources, and training to send marketing emails that convert. I have over 16 years of experience in winery email marketing; I spent over a decade as the VP of a wine marketing agency before starting my own business, Email Mavens. My favorite thing to do in my role is create and execute compelling email marketing strategies that drive engagement and sales.

My second favorite thing to do is teach YOU to do it yourself.

I’m the creator of PRESS SEND: Email Marketing Mastery for Wineries, a digital course that gives wineries everything they need to do and know to make email marketing a profitable revenue channel, without tech headaches, overwhelm or a degree in graphic design or UX. I’m also the host of the Email Mavens YouTube Channel, the place for winery owners and marketing pros who want to sell more wine online by sending better marketing emails.

Having worked with just about every tech stack, I understand the pros and cons (and can uncover the hacks) inherent in winery systems. Helping demystify and exploit the tech component is critical to creating truly action-inspiring email strategies, driving delight and engagement with customers, and generating consistent profit to the bottom line.

I’m thrilled to share what I’ve learned with attendees at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.

Email Mavens, Washington

Mike Veseth (pronounced VEE-seth) is editor of The Wine Economist newsletter (WineEconomist.com) and author of more than a dozen books including Wine Wars (2011), Around the World in Eighty Wines (2018) and Wine Wars II: The Global Battle for the Soup of Wine (2022). He is a sought-after speaker at wine industry meetings both in the United States and around the world.

Veseth’s writings on wine and globalization have been widely praised. Globaloney was selected as a Best Business Book of 2005. Wine Wars was named a Best Wine Book of 2011. The Wine Economist was named Best Wine Blog by Gourmand International in 2015. Money, Taste, and Wine: It’s Complicated received the 2016 Gourmand International award for Best Wine Writing.

A noted educator, Veseth is professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. In 2010 he was named Washington Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Veseth received the Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Puget Sound and the Master’s and Ph.D degrees in Economics from Purdue University.

The Wine Economist, Washington