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Schedule of Events

2011 Program: Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley

The dates for the 2011 symposium are February 22-25, 2011. Please check here for program and speaker information later this year.

2010 Program: How to Succeed in Wine Media by Really Trying

February 16-19, 2010

Tuesday, February 16: Wine and Sense of Place
At Meadowood Napa Valley

9 - 11:30 a.m.
Optional vineyard and winery tours
Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville - Tour of historic To-Kalon vineyard with pruning demonstration
Cade Winery, Howell Mountain - Introduction to winemaking in a green environment, with cave tour.

12:30 p.m. Buffet Lunch / Ice Breaker in Woodside Room

Vintners Room
1:15 Welcome
Linda Reiff, executive director, Napa Valley Vintners; board member, Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley

1:30 p.m.
Introduction, "How to Succeed in Wine Media by Really Trying"
Jim Gordon, symposium director, and editor of Wines & Vines

1:45 p.m.
Keynote: Frances Mayes, author of "Every Day in Tuscany, Seasons of an Italian Life"

2:45 p.m.
Interactive writing exercise on Sense of Place with Louise Kiernan, Chicago Tribune writing coach.

4 p.m. Panel: All Good Wine Writing Is Travel Writing
Moderator: Bruce Schoenfeld, wine and spirits editor, Travel & Leisure
Panelists: Heather John, Bon Appetit; Gary Walther, former editor, Forbes Life; Michelle Locke, freelance writer, Associated Press

4:45 p.m.
Free time / Coaching with Antonia Allegra, Louise Kiernan, Gary Walther

6 p.m.
Reception in the Woodside Room; Frances Mayes book signing

7 p.m.
Vintners Room, Opening Dinner & Introductions

9:30 p.m.
Post-prandial hospitality, Woodside Room
Readings, Madrone Room

Wednesday, February 17: Building Wine Knowledge
At the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone

7:45 a.m. Bus to CIA Greystone from Meadowood

8 a.m. Continental breakfast in Greystone Teaching Kitchens

EcoLab Theater
8:30 a.m.
CIA Welcome
Charles Henning, managing director, CIA Greystone
Cate Conniff-Dobrich, board member, Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley

8:45 a.m.
Is There a Right Way to Make Wine?
Jeff Morgan, author and vintner

9:30 a.m.
Tasting and Writing Exercise: The Tyranny of the Tasting Note, Part II
Karen MacNeil, chair of wine studies, CIA Greystone; and Eric Asimov, wine writer, The New York Times

10: 45 a.m. Break

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Writing About Food & Wine Together, with food-wine tasting
Session leaders: John Ash, chef, author and instructor, CIA Greystone; Antonia Allegra, symposium founder and food writing coach
Panelists: Michael Bauer, food and wine editor, The San Francisco Chronicle; Molly Wizenberg, founder, Orangette blog

Vintners Hall of Fame
12:30 p.m.
Lunch
Brief on Accelerated Wine and Beverage Certificate Program, Charles Henning, managing director, CIA Greystone
The Recession Aftershock - A Sea Change for Wine, or Return to Normal?
Vic Motto, chairman, Global Wine Partners

Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
1st Breakout Sessions
-- Crash Course in White Wine Varietals, with tasting. Gilles de Chambure, director of wine education, Meadowood Napa Valley
-- Master Class in Winemaking Techniques & Flaws, with tasting. Mark Krasnow, postdoctoral scholar, University of California, Davis

3:15 p.m.
Break

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
2nd Breakout Sessions
-- Crash Course in Red Wine Varietals, with tasting. Mark Krasnow & Karen MacNeil
-- Master Class in Bordeaux-Style Varietals, with tasting. Gilles de Chambure, with Christopher Howell, winemaker and general manager, Cain Vineyard & Winery

4:30 p.m.
Optional tour of CIA kitchens, store, bookstore

5 p.m.
Bus to Meadowood
Free time / Coaching Sessions with Antonia Allegra, Louise Kiernan, Gary Walther

7 p.m.
Attendees dine on their own

9:30 p.m.
Post-prandial hospitality, Woodside Room
Readings, Madrone Room

Thursday, February 18: Career Enhancement
At Meadowood Napa Valley

Vintners Room
7:45 a.m.
Buffet Breakfast

8:30 a.m.
Brief by Jim Gordon

8:45 a.m.
Panel: Maximizing and Monetizing Your New Media Wine Writing
Moderator: Alder Yarrow, Vinography founder
Panelists: Doug Cook, director of search, Twitter; Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast; Joe Roberts of 1WineDude blog; Patrick Comiskey, freelance writer

9:45 a.m.
Survey Results on Wine Writer Ethics
Jim Gordon

10 a.m.
Panel: Wine Writers, Ethics & Income Streams
Moderator: Steve Heimoff
Panelists: Michael Bauer; Heather John; Thomas Ulrich, California State University San Jose journalism department

11:30 a.m.
What Wine Drinkers are Reading: Research Results
Christian Miller, Full Glass Research

12:30 a.m.
Lunch in the Madrone Room

1:30 p.m.
Luxury Media: What Do Editors Want?
Moderator: Gary Walther
Panelists: Richard Bradley, editor in chief, Worth; Bruce Schoenfeld; Stephen Wallis, deputy editor, Departures; Stephanie Wilson, editorial director, Haute Living

3 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
-- Still Photography for Writers & Bloggers with Avis Mandel of Avis Mandel Pictures
-- Blogs & Books, with Molly Wizenberg of Orangette blog and Blake Edgar of the University of California Press
-- The Newsletter: An Avenue for the Independent Writer, with Charles Olken, Publisher, Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
-- How to Record Video with Jonathan Elliman, CTO of Submerce.com

4:30 p.m.
Free Time / Coaching with Antonia Allegra, Louise Kiernan, Gary Walther

6 p.m.
Reception in the Woodside Room

7 p.m.
Fellowship Dinner with vintner sponsors in the Vintners Room

9:30 p.m.
Postprandial hospitality, Woodside Room
Readings, Madrone Room


Friday, February 19: To-Do List
At Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

7:30 a.m. Meadowood checkout required for Friday departures; Bell desk can hold luggage

7:45 a.m. Bus to CIA

8 a.m. Breakfast in Teaching Kitchens

8:45 Panel: Big Stories for 2010
Retail: To be announced.
Restaurant: Marian Jansen op de Haar, corporate buyer/educator, Flemings Prime Steakhouse
Distributor: To be announced.

9:30 Final Discussion: What's Next for Wine Writers?

10 a.m. Perspective Tasting, Rudd Center for Wine Studies
Premiere Napa Valley's annual blind vertical tasting of the three most recent vintages

Noon
Segue to Premiere Napa Valley activities for those attending