Innovative Synergy: Creativity and Technology for Wine Industry Excellence (Presented in Spanish and includes a tasting)

Eva Bertran

Organization:

Eva Bertran Consulting, 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!

Oscar Gaona

Organization:

Monte Xanic Winery, Mexico

Oscar Gaona is a Mexican winemaker with 28 years of experience in the wine industry whose passion has led him to work in Mexico, Australia and Canada, both in conventional and alternative wines. Right now, is Chief Winemaker at Monte Xanic Winery in Guadalupe Valle in Mexico.

His curiosity for wine began at a very young age, so he decided to learn about the entire winemaking process under the direction of winemaker Francisco Rodríguez since the 90’s in the one of the leader wineries in Mexico, Casa Madero. This same desire to be a winemaker led him to first study Biotechnology Engineering at Monterrey Institute of Technology and then study Oenology at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

With the support of science, what he aims to do with his wines is to obtain the best of each valley and vinify with minimal oenological intervention to achieve excellence in each bottle of wine he makes. That is why the task of perfectly understanding each vineyard in each valley where he has participated, as well as understanding the biochemical processes of wine to express each grape variety to its maximum splendor. With this as a basis, he intends to place Monte Xanic as the spearhead of a new oenology in Mexico since 2020.

Throughout his career he has participated first-hand in the growth and evolution in quality of Mexican wine, which has led him to be in contact with a number of vinifications of Mexican wineries, which has led him to be a member of the technical group of experts of the Mexican Wine Council, of the International Organization of Vine and Wine; also Provino, a Baja California wine association, and of the Center for Viticultural Studies of Cetys University in Ensenada. He likes to share his passion for wine with the new generations of winemakers in Mexico, which is why he has taught at the Monterrey Institute of Technology, the Autonomous University of Parras, the Autonomous University of Baja California, the Center for Viticulture Studies of CETYS Ensenada, as well as the teaching of training and courses to industry personnel and wine lovers together with his sommelier wife to bring Mexican wine to more palates.

Matías Kúsulas

Organization:

Gård Vintners/Lawrence Vineyards, Washington

A Chilean with Greek roots, Matías was a Marine officer, Special Forces, and Naval Engineer in Chile for more than seven years when he realized that it was time to change the course of his career. In 2005, he started studying Agricultural Engineering at the University of Chile, where he graduated with distinction and a major in Viticulture and Enology. He worked in Chile for a few years and in 2011 he decided to start traveling the world on a quest to learn new wine-making techniques. After several harvests in Oceania, Europe and Africa, he settled down in France, to do his post degrees at the Universities of Bordeaux and Montpellier. He also performed for two years as a Maître de Chai for one of the oldest and most reputable wineries in Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie.

After years of traveling and over 15 harvests, he came to the United States in 2016 and joined Gård Vintners/Lawrence Vineyards as a Winemaker and Viticulturist, and is currently head winemaker for Gård Vintners, Contact Natural Wines, Valo, and his own label, Massalto. He also consults for 5 wineries in Washington, is a WSU advisor for the Washington Soil Health Initiative and is the Head Viticulturist for Lawrence Vineyards managing over 1500 acres of vineyards across Washington State.

Cristina Lazcano

Organization:

University of California, Davis

Dr. Cristina Lazcano is a soil ecologist and associate professor at the department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis. Her international career has taken her from Spain, where she completed her PhD, to the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Calgary (Canada) and UC Davis. Before joining the faculty of UC Davis in 2019, Dr. Lazcano was an assistant professor of soil ecology at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Dr. Lazcano currently leads a team of 20 researchers at different career stages and from different backgrounds, focused on understanding the links between soil biodiversity, agroecosystem functioning and human health.

Her work identifies the soil ecological interactions responsible for C sequestration, nutrient availability and retention in agroecosystems and how they can be managed to increase soil health and sustainability of agricultural production. Through on farm collaborative research, Dr. Lazcano hopes to help winegrape producers understand how to improve soil health, environmental quality and agroecosystem resilience while producing high quality grapes. Her recent work on no-till vineyards was awarded with the 2023 Viticulture Paper of the Year Award from the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology.

Lulu Martinez Ojeda

Organization:

Bruma Vinicola, Mexico

Lulu is a proud Ensenada native. She grew up as most of the Ensenadenses, surrounded by wines and food. She went to France more than 20 years ago, where she studied viticulture and oenology in Bordeaux.

“I never thought of going anywhere else in France to study wine. I saw Bordeaux as the world’s wine capital, so I didn’t want to be anywhere else”
After working in Chateau Smith Haut Laffite, in Pessac Leognan, she graduated and started working at Chateau Brane-Cantenac, second Grand Cru Classe, a winery owned by Henri Lurton one of the oldest and most lauded houses in Bordeaux.

In 2014, Lurton decided to invest outside of Bordeaux in Martinez’ hometown of Ensenada and the surrounding Valle de Guadalupe. She decided to head back home,
Her family was one of the 13 founding families of Ensenada and as a woman winemaker coming back to her country – where patriarchy is very much alive – she is proud to call herself a feminist.

She is now head winemaker and Wine director of Bruma and is one of the most prominent consultant winemakers in Mexico.

Martinez is a forward thinker, and she loves creating complex wines, with varietal typicity, natural freshness, aromatic finesse and balance.

Rodrigo Maturana

Organization:

Bonterra Organic Estates, California

Rodrigo Maturana
President Marketing

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.

Manuel Negrete

Organization:

Wine Bar by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Mexico

Manuel Negrete
Wine Director, Wine Bar by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

Originally from Mexico City, he began his training at the Mexican Sommelier Academy of the Association of Mexican Sommeliers (ASM) (winning the Award for the Best Wine List, presented as a final project), obtaining the title of Professional Sommelier Level 1 at the young age of 21.

After obtaining his degree as sommelier, he joined Freixenet de Mexico for a 3-year spell with the company, then he joined Grupo Gemaric in March 2016, as Operations Manager and consultant. Since December 2019 he joins the team of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) as part of the Marketing and Social Media team, as well as translating ASI’s newsletter into Spanish. As of April 2020, he joined the Wine Bar by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles team as Wine Director.

Besides his certification by the Mexican Sommeliers Association, he is one of only 8 Mexican ASI Diploma holders, in addition to being Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers: Americas and having achieved the WSET level 2 in Wines with Distinction.

In May 2018 he becomes the winner of the second edition of the ASM Master of Champagne Competition. In December 2021 he obtains second place in the ASM National Sommelier Competition 2021, same that earns him a place to represent Mexico at the ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas Competition, Chile 2022.

In addition to his position as Wine Director, he is the only official wine instructor in Mexico endorsed by the Administration of Development of Grape Industry of Ningxia, China; he teaches at the Mexican Sommeliers Academy and is a contributor to BuenaMesa, the gastronomic supplement of the Reforma newspaper, since February 2022, ambassador for Star Wine List in Mexico, and has also been judge for 5 different platforms of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Instagram: @mexican.somm

Gaspar Roby

Organization:

Terlato Wine Group, California

Originally from Argentina, Gaspar Roby has over 25 years of experience in the wine industry across Latin America and California. With an Agricultural Engineering degree and graduate studies at UC Davis, he specializes in winemaking, vineyard management, and supply chain operations.

As Vice President of Supply for Terlato Wine Group, Gaspar oversees production for renowned wineries like Chimney Rock, Rutherford Hill, and Sanford & Benedict, ensuring exceptional quality and efficiency in wine production. His expertise and commitment to excellence make him a respected leader in industry.