Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/437957
B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y B R OU G HT T O Y OU B Y i n e y a r d & W i n e r y M a n a g e- ment (V&WM) is gearing up for its two annual conferences and trade shows, the Midwest Grape & Wine + Craft Brew Conference, and Craft Beverages Unlimited (for- merly Wineries Unlimited). Craft Beverages Unlimited will take place March 4-5 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Va.; the Midwest Grape & Wine show will be held March 10-12 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo. In keeping with current trends and market demand, both events will now serve producers of wine, craft beer and spirits. "For two years now, we've been testing the marketplace to deter- mine the demand for a one-stop educational and shopping experi- ence," said Robert Merletti, event producer and president of V&WM. "Many of our exhibitors service more than one industry and many wineries are exploring alterna- tive business models that expand beyond wine." 'POSTMODERN' WORKSHOP One of the highlights of both conferences will be the two-day workshop presented by Dr. Bruce Zoecklein, enology professor emer- itus at Virginia Tech, and winemaker Clark Smith, whose "Postmodern Winemaking" was hailed as Wine & Spirits magazine's 2013 Book of the Year. The two experts will con- duct an interactive forum on cut- ting-edge winegrowing techniques and technologies for experienced grapegrowers and winemakers. The workshop will involve dis- cussions of winegrowing topics, including the impacts of vine bal- ance, maturity and extraction on structure, integration and longevity; managing Brettanomyces and vola- tile acidity in the vineyard; game- changing harvest technologies; reduction management; and sulfite- free winemaking. The session will conclude with a sensory tasting. COMPETING IN TODAY'S MARKET Competition for wine, beer and spirits spending has never been more intense in the U.S. market. Wineries today are not only compet- ing with each other, but with craft brewers and artisan spirits produc- ers. At both the Virginia and Mis- souri shows, Danelle Kosmal, vice president of client services with Nielsen's Beverage Alcohol Practice, will present data on sales trends and growth drivers across the wine, beer and spirits categories. To help producers stand out among all that competition, Ron Cates, director of digital marketing education for Constant Contact, will offer creative strategies in his ses- sion, "The Power of Digital Market- Midwest Grape & Wine + Craft Brew Conference + Craft Beverages Unlimited Preview T R O C R A F T B E V E R A G E S U N L I M I T E D T R A D E S H O W + C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 5 C R A F T B E V E R A G E S C R A F T C R A F T C R A F T B E V E R A G E S B E V E R A G E S B E V E R A G E S U N L I M I T E D U N L I M I T E D T R A D E S H O W + C O N F E R E N C E U N L I M I T E D U N L I M I T E D U N L I M I T E D U N L I M I T E D U N L I M I T E D U N L I M I T E D T R A D E S H O W + C O N F E R E N C E C R A F T C R A F T C R A F T B E V E R A G E S B E V E R A G E S B E V E R A G E S C R A F T C R A F T C R A F T B E V E R A G E S B E V E R A G E S B E V E R A G E S 1 5 2 0 2 0 1 5 2015 conferences offer education and networking for vintners, brewers and distillers 1 1 2 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | J a n - F e b 2 015 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m