Bringing Gen Z to the Table | Navigating the Next Gen of Wine Consumers
January 28, 2025
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Bringing Gen Z to the Table | Navigating the Next Gen of Wine Consumers
This engaging panel brings together Gen Z wine consumers and prospective wine drinkers to explore their perspectives on wine consumption. Moderated by Cokie Ponikvar, known for her fresh take on wine culture.
This session aims to uncover the factors influencing Gen Z’s relationship with wine and how the industry can adapt to appeal to this demographic.
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- Gen Z Wine Consumption Trends: Understanding current patterns and preferences among younger consumers.
- Barriers to Entry: Identifying obstacles that may be preventing Gen Z from embracing wine culture.
- Values and Priorities: Exploring what matters most to Gen Z when choosing alcoholic beverages.
- Digital Influence: The role of social media and online platforms in shaping Gen Z’s perception of wine.
- Sustainability and Ethics: How these factors impact Gen Z’s purchasing decisions in the wine industry.
- Keeping Wine Cool: Strategies for modernizing wine brands to appeal to younger consumers, including:
- Innovative collaborations
- Engaging events
- Modern marketing tactics
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Moderator
Cokie Ponikvar
Organization:
Cokie's World of Wine, Canada
Cokie, affectionately also known as the “wine whisperer” for her ability to get seemingly anyone excited about wine is a Master of Wine student with nearly half a million followers on Instagram. She travels the world to visit wine regions and shares perspectives and lesson that she picks up along the way in an approachable and easy to understand video format style.
In addition to the Master of Wine program which she is studying with the European chapter, Cokie is preparing also for the Advanced Sommelier Exam. Before branching out to run her social media page full-time and later start a marketing consulting practice, she was the Sommelier at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto.
In addition to her work in wine, Cokie also attends the University of Toronto, where she studies ancient civilizations and English.
Speakers
Meghan Leno
Organization:
Honey, California
Meghan Leno, Marketing Director at Honey, is the driving force behind the marketing endeavors for the creative studio’s clients. Overseeing the marketing team, she guides the strategic direction of Honey’s work across a range of projects including brand development, marketing and campaign strategy, partnerships, packaging, and websites. With nearly a decade of experience in the wine industry, Meghan has helped renowned brands shine through thoughtful marketing and intentional storytelling.
Founded in 2008, Honey is a women-led creative firm that intersects design and marketing to create impactful work. As experts in the food, beverage, cannabis, and agriculture industries, Honey focuses on building brands and creating connections that bring consumers to the table.
Aakanksha Malhotra
Organization:
Penguin Random House Canada
Aakanksha is a Public Relations professional with a background in Consumer Behavior and Marketing. She currently works at Penguin Random House Canada as a Publicist. With over 5 years of experience in corporate and lifestyle public relations and marketing she has worked alongside clients from several industries from fashion, banking to spirits and wine. Experienced in both media and influencer relations she has an interest in helping relay the story behind the brand.
Sophia Miller
Organization:
Colangelo & Partners, New York
Sophia is an Account Executive at Colangelo & Partners, bringing experience in social media management and content curation. She holds the WSET Diploma certification, and is based in the New York office. During her time at the agency, she has worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from EU consortiums, to high-profile domestic portfolios. At C&P, her work has spanned both media relations and social media.
Sam Neely
Organization:
Eleven Madison Park, New York
Originally from the UK, Sam moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue a career in the beverage and hospitality industry. Starting out his journey in coffee, Sam was a three-time finalist in the United States Barista Championship while beginning to study wine as a hobby. In 2020 Sam left the coffee industry and moved to Austin, TX to pursue a career in wine and restaurants. Here he gained his certified sommelier certification before moving to New York City in 2023 to join the wine team at three michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park. In 2024 he won the Chaine Rotisseur’s Best Young Sommelier in the United States competition.