Our 2024 Summit is a wrap! Watch this space for recordings and more! 

Join the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and co-hosts from California, Washington, New York and Oregon to learn about cutting-edge sustainable and climate beneficial practices being adopted in vineyards and wineries across the U.S. — and in the broader value chain. Be inspired and gain ideas on how to share sustainable winegrowing stories with consumers and trade. Engage in conversations and build community with others dedicated to sustainability and wine at the 2024 U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit.  
 

Agenda Overview:​

Day 1: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (in-person at Wine & Roses, Lodi, California)
All times listed are PDT 
 

• Sustainable Vineyard and Winery Tour​

  • Bus departs Wine & Roses 

  • Welcome to Lodi and Introduction to LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing 

    • Stuart Spencer, Executive Director, Lodi Winegrape Commission  

    • Stephanie Bolton, Research and Education Director, Sustainable Winegrowing Director, Lodi Winegrape Commission 

  • ​KG Vineyards  

    • Madelyn Kolber, Owner and Sustainability Director 

    • Ben Kolber, Owner and Chief Operating Officer 

  • LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards  

    • Aaron Lange, Vice President of Vineyard Operations
       

• U.S. Sustainable Wine Walk-Around Tasting and Reception at Wine & Roses 
   

• Welcome Dinner and Keynote Address 
  Dana Nigro, Senior Editor, Wine Spectator   
   

Day 2: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 
 

• Summit Welcome
  Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
   

• Importance of Sustainability for the U.S. Wine Industry
  Robert P. Koch, President and CEO, Wine Institute
   

• Consumer Perceptions on the Importance of Sustainability
  Dr. Liz Thach, MW, President, Wine Market Council, Professor, Wine Writer and Consultant 
   

• Climate Change Impacts and Actionable Strategies for Adaptation and Mitigation  
  There is a compelling need for action to address the impacts of climate change on the U.S. wine industry. Dr. Steve Ostoja, director of the California Climate Hub, will provide an overview of the latest science on climate change impacts related to viticulture, dig deeper into the implications of the science and discuss what actions can be taken by winegrape growers to adapt and prepare. Dr. Steve Ostoja will lead a conversation with several wineries dedicated to climate action about how to identify and prioritize climate smart practices. The conversation will provide concrete ideas for how to implement practices that help adapt to changes and achieve greenhouse gas reductions. 
  
  Moderator: Dr. Steve Ostoja, Director, California Climate Hub 
  Speakers: ​​

  • Timothy E. Martinson, Ph. D., Senior Extension Associate Emeritus, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University

  • Will Drayton, Director Technical Viticulture, Sustainability and Research, Treasury Wine Estates  

  • Pam S. Turner, Co-Owner, Ambar Vineyards and Vinovate 

  • Molly Sheppard, Assistant Winemaker and Environmental Manager, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery
     

• Sustainable Supply Chains: The Power of Sustainable Purchasing and Wine Packaging 
  Sustainable purchasing can influence suppliers and vendors and lead to a greater positive impact. By putting into place sustainable purchasing policies, vineyards and wineries can amplify their commitment to sustainability within their supply chain. Hear from vineyards and wineries about how they put sustainable purchasing policies into place, how they in turn influenced their vendors’ practices or approaches, and how wine packaging decisions are an important piece of sustainable supply chains. A responsible packaging supplier will also share how they communicate their sustainability commitment to their customers and how they support wineries in their own storytelling. 
  
  Moderator: Dr. John Heckman, Wine Sustainability Expert, Independent Consultant
  Speakers: 

  • Meredith McGough, Director of Winemaking and Supply Chain, Union Wine Company 

  • Patrick Rawn, Owner, Vineyard Manager, Two Mountain Vineyards and Winery   

  • Remi Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Domaine Carneros  

  • Ryan Norton, Commercial Director, Vinventions
     

• Sustainability Storytelling: Creating Content, Visitor Experiences and Sales  
  Sustainability is complex and comprehensive, and therefore communicating about a vineyard or winery’s sustainability commitment can be challenging. In this session, Sandy Skees — author of "Purposeful Brands: How Purpose and Sustainability Drive Brand Value and Positive Change" and EVP, global purpose and impact practice lead at Porter Novelli — will discuss how to leverage your sustainability work in communications and storytelling. In a follow-up discussion, wineries and communications experts will share how they incorporate sustainability in their content, visitor experiences and sales meeting. 
  
  Moderator: Sandy Skees, Author and EVP, Global Purpose and Impact Practice Lead, Porter Novelli 
  Speakers: 

  • Richard Morley, Director, First Pour  

  • Emily Ely, Marketing Director, Wölffer Estate Vineyard

  • Ann Wallace, Director of Sustainability Sales Integration, Jackson Family Wines  ​
     

• The People Pillar of Sustainability: Inclusive Workplaces and Hospitality 
  Social sustainability is about how businesses impact people, including employees and customers. While environmental aspects of sustainability are often well understood, there is growing interest and understanding on the social side of sustainability. Stakeholders are increasingly interested in worker health and safety, diverse and inclusive workplaces, hospitality and marketing. This panel of experts and wineries will explore these issues related to social sustainability and provide actionable examples of how to further invest in elevating the importance of social issues in the sustainability conversation.  
  
  Moderator: Dr. Liz Thach, MW, President, Wine Market Council, Professor, Wine Writer and Consultant  
  Speakers: 

  • Dr. Monique Bell, Associate Professor of Marketing, Fresno State 

  • Heather Pyle Lucas, Owner and Winemaker, Lucas Winery, Tangles Wine and Member of Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective  

  • Julia Oudeh, Senior Director, Sustainability and Social Impact, Liquor Control Board of Ontario