Day One

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Day One

Below is a preliminary schedule of this year’s conference.
Session details will be linked as they are confirmed.

Please note that all seminar topics and speakers are subject to change.
Please visit this website often for updates as speakers are added.
All times below are EST (Eastern Standard Time)

DAY ONE | March 5, 2024

Business | Enology | Viticulture

Schedule is Subject to Change.

Start Time	End Time	Session Title
7:45 AM	8:45 AM	Registration/Tradeshow/Breakfast Lobby and Grand Ballroom Breakfast Roundtable - "Inside a Brand of Outsiders: Understanding the New York Wine Brand Family" Presented by Bronze Sponsor - Born Collective Speakers: Duane Bombard, Dion Pender Canandaigua Room (2nd floor) Born Collective will share work completed on the New York Wine & Grape Foundation’s updated Boldly, NY. brand family, the guidelines for use, and insight into the strategy behind how it was developed. Embracing these updates is crucial in understanding the direction of New York wines moving forward and how you can use messaging, tactics, and the brand family to increase sales and promote your own business.
8:45 AM	9:00 AM	Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:00 AM	9:45 AM	Business Keynote: The State of the Wine Industry Grand Ballroom Speaker: Kathy Kelley, Ph.D. Description: Each year comes a new set of alcohol beverage consumption statistics, trends, and predictions. As consumers' tastes, interests, and expectations evolve for alcoholic beverage products, what should industry members be aware of, and what should they focus on to meet consumer needs? Learn more about recent changes in what alcoholic beverage consumers drink and purchase, with particular emphasis on wine.

9:45 AM	10:45 AM	Business Panel: Opportunities for Growth (Part 1): Market Strategies for New York Wines Grand Ballroom Moderator: Kathy Kelley, Ph.D. Panelists: Ami Opisso, Erin McMurrough, Cathy Huyghe, Suzanne Hunt, Julia Hoyle Description: Our industry is well aware of the complex and ever-changing market for wine sales. Recent reports suggest that younger audiences are shifting away from wine and towards spirits or low-or-no alcohol options. This trend presents a unique challenge for wineries seeking to expand their audience and cater to the evolving preferences of consumers. This two-part session, from a panel of industry leaders with proven success stories, will help you develop strategies and tactics to replicate that success for your own winery. Topics to be covered: International Markets. One of the most effective ways to expand your audience is to tap into international markets. With the rise of globalization, wine has become a popular commodity in many countries. However, expanding to international markets requires a deep understanding of cultural differences and preferences. Sustainability Seekers. If you are looking to cater to sustainability seekers, you can focus on sustainable grape growing and wine production practices. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their choices, and they are more likely to choose products that align with their values. Multi-Generational & Multi-Cultural audiences. It is essential to cater to a wide range of consumers. Consider offering wines that appeal to different cultures and generations, and tailor your marketing strategy to reflect diversity and inclusivity. Wine Experiences. Wine experiences and wine tourism are also viable options for expanding your audience. Consumers are looking for unique and immersive experiences, and wine tourism offers just that. Technology. Finally, using technology to expand and deepen your markets is another option. With the rise of e-commerce and social media, it is easier than ever to reach new consumers and build brand awareness. Join us for this panel session on March 5th, 2024, to discuss high-level strategies and tactics for expanding your audience and growing your business.
10:45 AM	11:15 AM	Break & Tradeshow
11:15 AM	12:15 PM	Business Panel: Opportunities for Growth (Part 2): Marketing & Sales Tactics for New York Wines Grand Ballroom Moderator: Wanda Mann Panelists: Ami Opisso, Erin McMurrough, Cathy Huyghe, Suzanne Hunt, Julia Hoyle Join our esteemed panelists for a deep dive into marketing and sales tactics, including examples from wineries in New York - and beyond - who have successfully expanded their audience and grown their businesses.
12:15 PM	1:30 PM	Lunch & Unity Awards - Grand Ballroom
		Breakout Sessions
1:30 PM	3:00 PM	Enology Candaigua Room (2nd floor) 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Grapes Don't Have Kidneys: What's known and unknown about absorption and storage of environmentally-derived odorants in grapes Speaker: Gavin Sacks Description: Coverage of ‘smoke taint’ and its ill effects on wines often focuses on its sensory consequences but ignores the remarkable ability of grapes and other plants to absorb and store certain classes of environmental odorants. Many share chemical properties with herbicides, and the biochemical machinery used by grapes to denature airborne odorants appears to be the same as those used on other toxins. Similar detoxification pathways exist in humans, and end products are eventually excreted. However, grapes lack kidneys (no citation available), and will instead accumulate these products as “flavor precursors”. This talk will review recent literature on the absorption of smoke and other environmental volatiles by grapes, and their potential for affecting wine flavor. Recent research in the Sacks and Mansfield labs on the potential for cannabis taint will also be discussed. 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM Genetically Modified Organisms Speaker: Pat Gibney Description: The goals of this talk are to 1) provide the perspective of a molecular biologist and geneticist on GMO technology, its development, uses and risks, and 2) provide an alternative approach to thinking about or discussing GMO technology beyond the notion of "for or against". The talk will focus on the evolution of genetic modification technologies, current uses for GMOs, and evaluating the risks and benefits of GMOs.	Viticulture Grand Ballroom Pesticide credits will be available for this session Description: The session covers a range of topics centered around tools to maintain compliance with evolving requirements about pesticide use while also improving the efficacy and efficiency of pest management programs in vineyards. Our speakers will cover strategies to reduce pesticide drift, along with pesticide recordkeeping requirements, and a newly updated tool to help with that. We will also hear about new technologies for weed management that may have advantages over current methods like herbicides and cultivation. 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM Managing Pesticide Drift and Recordkeeping Speaker: Mike Helms, Cornell Cooperative Extension 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM New and Updated Trac Software for Pesticide Application Recordkeeping Speaker: Juliet Carroll, Cornell AgriTech 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Emerging Options for Weed Management Speaker: Lynn Sosnoskie, Cornell AgriTech

3:00 PM	3:15 PM	Break & Tradeshow
		Breakout Sessions
3:15 PM	4:45 PM	Enology - Consumer Side Concerns Canandaigua Room (2nd floor) Wine consumers rarely see the hard work that goes into making a bottle of wine, but instead get most of their information from the label and their own sensory experience. Anna Katharine Mansfield will start this session with an experiential exploration of white wine sweetness and acidity, allowing attendees to explore the moving target that is wine ‘balance.’ On a more legalistic note, the session will end with a crash course on nutritional labeling in wine, and what pending regulations might mean for wine producers. 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Balancing Act: Acid-Sugar Perception in White Wines WITH TASTING Speaker: Anna Katharine Mansfield Description: Sensory balance in white wine is driven by the ratio of sweetness to acidity- but that ratio is shaped by more than just a straight-forward measure of sugars and acids. Human thresholds to sugar and acid vary widely, other wine components contribute sweet tastes, and the multimodal effects of sight and smell muddle perception. In this interactive session, we’ll explore individual sugar and acid thresholds and compare the concept of balance in different white wine types, giving you additional tools for wine sensory evaluation and production. 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM Nutritional Labeling: What winemakers need to know Remote Speakers: Paul Huckaba and Cynthia Stoub Description: Will required nutrition labeling be the next challenge NY winemakers face? The verdict is still out, but it’s good to be prepared. This session will provide a comprehensive summary of methods for deriving nutrition data (energy and carbohydrate values), what we know about current and planned government regulations, and how using QR codes and a nutrition database can satisfy current EU labeling regulations.	Viticulture Grand Ballroom Pesticide credits will be available for this session Description: Between the growing incidence of pesticide resistance and a decline in the development of new pesticides, it becomes increasingly important for growers to consider the use of all available materials and practices to reduce disease pressure within vineyards, while also diminishing reliance on conventional pesticides. This session will highlight some key considerations for New York grape growers about how to navigate the evolving landscape of disease management. Our speakers will discuss methods and materials for disease management that can enhance the resilience and sustainability of their vineyard operations. 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM The Role of Cultural Practices in Disease Management Speaker: Bryan Hed, Penn State University 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM Integrating Biological Pesticides into an IPM Program Speaker: David Combs, Cornell AgriTech 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM Non-chemical Options for Sour Rot Management Speaker: Hans Walter-Peterson, Cornell Cooperative Extension
4:45 PM	6:00 PM	Reception / Sponsored by: Waterloo Container

Day Two

DAY TWO | March 6, 2024

Business | Enology & Viticulture

Schedule is Subject to Change.

Start Time	End Time	Session Title
7:45 AM	8:45 AM	Registration & Tradeshow
8:45 AM	9:00 AM	Welcome Remarks
9:00 AM	9:50 AM	Viticulture & Enology Keynote: Update on Farm Labor Regulations Lake Front Grand Ballroom Speaker: Richard Stup Description: Farm labor regulations are a moving target in New York. This presentation will address the key points that employers need to know about overtime and the new tax credit, minimum wage, H-2A updates, and farm union activity in the state. Taking proactive steps to improve employee management practices is much more effective than reacting when there is a problem.
9:50 AM	10:20 PM	Business – Session A: Effective Strategies for Selling NYS Wine Lake Front Grand Ballroom Speakers: Lorraine Hems, Gregory Gardner, Julie Purpura Description: What makes consumers buy and appreciate NYS wines? Does it matter what the name of the varietal is? We will share what our research suggests consumers want to drink and best practices to sell NYS wine.
10:20 AM	10:45 AM	Break & Tradeshow Lake Front Grand Ballroom & Pre-Function Space
10:45 AM	12:00 PM	Viticulture & Enology – Session B: Harvest Decision-making Lake Front Grand Ballroom Speakers: Dave Breeden - Sheldrake Point Winery, Dave Wiemann - Sheldrake Point Winery, John Santos - Hazlitt 1852, Nova Cadamatre - Trestle Thirty One Description: When should we pick the grapes? In an ideal scenario, this very important decision can be made solely based on fruit maturity. All too often, the decision is made based on some combination of weather, machine/crew availability or logistics at the receiving winery. From whether to put on another spray to receiving the grapes when the press is empty, early, effective communication between vineyard and winery can greatly ease tension and improve outcomes. Growers and winemakers will discuss what they wish they knew, what they’re happy to share if only someone would ask, and what can be done to make harvest as smooth and efficient as possible for everyone involved.
12:00 PM	1:15 PM	Lunch & Tradeshow Lake Front Grand Ballroom & Pre-Function Space
1:15 PM	2:45 PM	Viticulture & Enology – Session C: 2023 Vintage Review Lake Front Grand Ballroom Speakers: Hans Walter-Peterson, Chris Gerling, Jennifer Phillips Russo, Jeremy Schuster Description: Now that we have a little distance and hopefully some perspective from harvest, this session will provide a data-driven look at the 2023 growing season. We will include weather, grape ripening and wine production information to highlight relevant regional and statewide trends. Combining Cornell data sets and commercial production records, we hope to objectively characterize the season, compare against other years, and invite discussion about how best to position the resulting wines and manage similar conditions in the future. We will be tasting 2023 tank samples from several NY wineries during the session as well.
2:45 PM	3:00 PM	Break & Tradeshow Lake Front Grand Ballroom & Pre-Function Space
3:00 PM	4:30 PM	Viticulture & Enology – Session D: 2023 Vintage Review continued with Tasting Lake Front Grand Ballroom Speakers: Mike Colizzi, Jon Zollo, Chris Stamp, Matt Doyle, Lynne Fahy, Jeff Murphy Moderators: Hans Walter-Peterson, Chris Gerling