Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/51841
PUBLISHER'S PAGE Onward & Upward Well, 2012 is here, and another year has passed to which many in the industry were only too happy to say goodbye. In addition to the con- tinuing economic slump, Mother Nature didn't seem to be in a great mood, either. Hurricanes, unsea- sonably cool weather, early rain, and frost were only a few of her tricks in 2011. But the good news for growers was that grape prices increased, along with demand for quality, sound fruit. Wineries Unlimited celebrated its first year in its new location in Richmond, Va., and it was a great success. Wi th the unwavering support of the state of Virginia and the other states of the Eastern Sea- board, the show was well-attended and the overall mood was very positive. Many vendors com- mented on the num- ber of new customers they met because of the show's loca- tion change. Both new and estab- lished wine and grape producers said they appreciated having such a large marketplace in which to shop for and compare products and services. The 2011 program was created under a new, multidimen- sional management team that put experts in charge of each section of the program, providing more depth and focus to our sessions than ever before. Another first for our company was the addition of the Midwest Wine & Grape Conference. We moved the annual conference and trade show in Missouri from Lake of the Ozarks to near the St. Louis airport in St. Charles. The result: The facilities were much better and more accommodating, and access 10 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT JAN - FEB 2012 to the show was much easier for those in many of the surrounding states. Attendance and the size of the trade show doubled from the previous year, and the feedback we received from those who attended was outstanding. We're looking for- ward to seeing many of you there again this year; it promises to be another great show for the Mid- west! We added two established wine competitions to our lineup during the past year – the NextGen Wine Competition and the International Women's Wine Competition – and we're excited to be launching a brand- new competition for 2012, the U.S National Wine Compet i t ion, under the direction of respected wine writer Gerald D. Boyd. This brings the number of our wine competitions to six – each with its own unique focus and marketing opportuni- ties for entrants. On the magazine side, we've expanded our coverage to include "News in Focus," written by respected journal ist Michel le Locke, which gives readers a more in-depth look at the industry's top headlines. Shorter news briefs have a new home on the V&WM website under the "News Flash" heading, and our magazine's "Spot- light" section now has a focus on supplier news and new products. Despite the challenges of 2011, we can't wait to see what 2012 has in store! Rob Merletti, publisher Comments? Please email us at feedback@vwm-online.com. vwm-online.com WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM