Wine industry experts set to lead workshops at upcoming symposium
Workshops at direct-to-consumer wine symposium focus on data
– The 18th annual Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium, presented by and as a fundraiser for Free the Grapes, will feature an expanded program with twice the number of workshop sessions, offering a more personalized and customizable experience for attendees. Full program details can be found at dtcwinesymposium.com/program.
The symposium will take place Jan. 21-23 in Monterey, Calif., and will provide numerous networking opportunities for industry professionals, as well as chances to expand business knowledge with innovative ideas and actionable strategies. This year’s lineup was created based on feedback from past attendees. The sessions will cover topics ranging from marketing and branding to human resources and diversity. The symposium’s programming committee consists of wine industry professionals with deep knowledge of current trends and challenges in the direct-to-consumer space.
“Every year, our workshop committee takes great care to address the most pressing issues facing direct-to-consumer wine professionals and attract talented experts with unique business perspectives,” said Brian Baker, event chair. “This makes the symposium a critical part of the annual educational process. Without question, the 2025 symposium will offer cutting-edge insights and actionable strategies that will empower you to innovate and expand your business in these challenging times.”
Some of the workshop sessions include:
- Leveraging accurate data to win over today’s discerning wine consumers
- The elements of winning email marketing
- Redefining the wine experience for the emerging luxury non-alcoholic market
- How wineries can captivate and convert the millennial crowd through events
- How investing in training boosts performance, retention, and morale
- Charting the journey for wineries to tap into influencer marketing
- Insights from wineries on navigating the shift to wine subscriptions
- Turning your winery’s brand into a money-making machine
- Moves to improve budget allocation across the board
- Cultivating a company culture where your team thrives
Attendees can expect to engage in interactive and practical sessions led by subject matter experts from both within and outside the wine industry. In addition to workshops, the symposium will feature keynote speeches, town hall-style discussions, and a trade show highlighting the industry’s top suppliers.
The symposium is presented by and as a fundraiser for Free the Grapes. The annual conference marks its 18th year as the nation’s premier event dedicated to winery direct-to-consumer sales and marketing. The symposium funds the Free the Grapes campaign, which seeks to expand consumer choice in wine with legal, regulated direct-to-consumer shipments.
Free the Grapes works with industry lobbyists and regional associations to streamline shipping regulations and increase the number of legal states for shipments, which has grown from 17 to 47, covering 98% of the U.S. population. The campaign executes state-specific advocacy campaigns to encourage consumers to contact their legislators and works with media and advocacy groups to support favorable legislation.
For more details, visit dtcwinesymposium.com and freethegrapes.org.
