2013 Regional Conference Preview

The event calendar for 2013 is filling up quickly, proving positive growth for the Midwest’s wine industry.  Most of the 11 states that Midwest Wine Press covers will be hosting state conferences and are highlighted below.  As winemaking technology improves and growing techniques change, Midwest winemaking is continuously evolving.  The state conferences listed below are an integral part of that development.

To start the year off, the 27^th Annual Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association Conference takes place on January 11^th-12^th in Topeka, Kansas. There will be two days of speakers and presentations on topics that relate to growing grapes and making wine in Kansas and the Midwest. Topics will include, cold hardy grape varietals, Growing Vignoles and making Vignoles wine, Fruit Wine Production, Winery Sanitation, Crimson Cabernet, Midwest Wine acid management and more.

Presentations We’ll Be Attending:

“Ozone as a Vineyard Treatment” by Ernie Wilmik, AgriOzein

“Crimson Cabernet,” by Lucian Dressel, Davis Viticultural Research

The 2013 Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Show is again at the Wilderness Hotel and Resort in the Dells on January 20th to January 21st.  If you want a break from the sessions, the location has  a 250,000 sq. ft. indoor water park.  The Wisconsin event includes apples, berries and vegetables, but grapes and wineries have separate sessions throughout the day on the 21st.  There’s even a Wisconsin Food and Wine Pairing dinner on Sunday night.

Presentations We’ll be Attending:

“Beyond the Obvious: Grape Pest Identification and IPM” by Dean Volenberg, University of Wisconsin

“The Pros and Cons of Oak Maturation” by Alan Dillard, Limestone Creek Winery

The 2013 IGGVA Annual Conference and Winter Wine Festival takes place on January 31^st and continues into February 2^nd in Springfield, Illinois. This year the Illinois conference will merge the traditional offerings of a conference with the spirit of a wine festival. The event will start with a pre-conference workshop focusing on aroma and will move into other topics including the wine making process, the Iowa and Ohio Quality Wine Programs and tastings throughout the event. The last day of the conference will feature the IGGVA Annual Banquet and Auction including four courses of food and wine pairings.

Presentations We’ll be Attending:

“Wine Microbial Stability,” by Katie Cook,  University of Minnesota

“Steps for Increasing Tasting Room Sales,” by Patty Held, Patty Held Consulting

The largest wine show in the Midwest, and the third largest in the nation, takes place on February 7^th-9^th in St. Charles, Missouri. The Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and Trade Show will host speakers and discuss topics covering new products, trends, and the latest industry technology. There will be over 170 exhibitors that will fill the St. Charles Conference Center.

See Related Story:  Robert Merletti Previews Midwest Wine Conference

The Michigan Grape and Wine Conference has more than 200 Michigan wine industry sponsors and exhibitors on their 2013 agenda. The conference will host educational sessions on grape and wine production, business management and sales and marketing. The conference takes place in Lansing, Michigan on February 13^th-15^th at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

Presentations We’ll be Attending:

“Big Ten Banquet” Keynote Address by Bill Oliver of Oliver Winery 

“Alternative Wine Grape Varieties of Promise for Michigan,”  by Dr. Paolo Sabbatini, Michigan State University 

February 21^st-23^rd will be a busy few days for Norther grape growers and winemakers; the 2013 Cold Climate Conference starts in the heart of Minnesota’s capitol city, St. Paul.  The Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront will host the event, expanding the trade show floor by 30 percent. The event includes workshops and informational sessions led by keynote speaker, Sara Spayd. The conference wraps up with the annual Medal Gala Awards Night that includes live entertainment and dancing.

“Yeast Selection” by Dr. Anna Katherine Mansfield, Cornell University 

“Canopy Management, Leaf Pulling and Shoot Thinning for Fruit Exposure” by John Thull, University of Minnesota

Iowa has over 300 commercial vineyards and more than 100 wineries. The 2013 IWGA Annual Meeting will be hosted at the West Des Moines Marriott in Iowa. The conference takes place on March 15^th-16^th and will include some of the states’ best vendors.  (The agenda for IWGA Annual Meeting has not yet been released.)

Spring will bring wine lovers together at the World Wine Meetings America 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The conference proposes targeted, pre-scheduled meetings to support the development of business relationships between European wine and spirit producers, importers and distributors from North and South America. The event takes place on April 20^th-22^nd.

In Indiana, The Story Inn will host the 11^th Annual Indiana Wine Fair on April 27^th. Tickets cost $10-20 for a day filled with wine, food and music. The cost of entry is $20 at the gate and only $10 if you are a designated driver.

There will be much to talk about and even more to learn at these state events. Nebraska and Ohio will also be hosting state conferences in 2013; however, registration details will be available mid to late January.

Professionals and enthusiasts are both encouraged to support these conferences that expand and promote the growth of the Midwest wine industry.

Make sure to look at Midwest Wine Press online events calendar for links to all of the state conference websites for more details!