Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/620640
1 0 6 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 2 016 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m i n e y a r d & W i n e r y M a n a g e m e n t 's t w o annual trade shows will continue their evolution in 2016, offering attendees and exhibi- tors more opportunities than ever to expand their knowl- edge, discover useful products and services, and network with industry colleagues. The Midwest Grape & Wine + Craft Brew conference has a new name: Craft Beverages Unlimited Midwest (CBU Mid- west). This moniker reflects the show's expansion to include the local craft beer and spirits indus- tries. It will be held once again at the St. Charles Convention Cen- ter in St. Charles, Mo., Feb. 3-5. Craft Beverages Unlimited East (CBU East), formerly held in Richmond, Va., will take place at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C., Feb. 10-12. This edition will mark the 40th anni- versary of the event. Regarding the move to Asheville, V&WM president Robert Merletti noted, "North Carolina has an active and growing wine industry, and it's a hot spot for craft beer in the United States. It's also close to Kentucky and Tennessee, which have thriving spirits industries." Craft Beverages Unlimited East will feature three distinct conference tracks, created by leading beverage trade maga- zines in their respective fields: Vineyard & Winery Manage- ment, Craft Beer & Brewing, and Distiller Magazine, published by the American Distilling Institute. A similar three-track program will be presented at Craft Bever- ages Unlimited Midwest, with the addition of Midwest Wine Press to the coalition of associ- ated trade publications. Trade shows featuring suppli- ers to the wine, beer and spirits industries will be part of both conferences, as well as collec- tive networking events that will allow members of all three indus- tries to connect and mingle. CBU Midwest speakers will include Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang, professor of grape breeding and genetics at the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, Mo.; Alexia Gannon, operations officer at Clover Meadow Winery in Shell Lake, Wis.; Steve Parkes, owner and lead instructor at the Ameri- can Brewers Guild in Salisbury, Vt.; and Karen Binder, co-owner and head distiller at Grand River Spirits in Carbondale, Ill. Featured speakers at CBU East will include Dr. Justine Van- den Heuvel, associate professor of viticulture at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.; Jennie Hess, wine club manager at Childress Vine- yards in Lexington, N.C.; Rob- ert Cassell, partner at Millstone Spirits Group in Philadelphia, Pa.; and Lindsey Guerdrum, sensory analyst at New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colo. 2016 shows head for St. Charles & Asheville 2016 Craft Beverages Unlimited Preview Complete program and reg- istration information for CBU Midwest and CBU East is post- ed at www.cbumidwest.com and www.cbueast.com.