We invite you to apply to join us in Napa Valley for the premier wine writers’ conference. The Wine Writers’ Symposium returns to its in-person incarnation next year, and the 2026 program has been developed to focus on both the art and science of wine writing, with workshops, panels, and excursions. Attendees will have mentorship and … Continue reading “We invite you to apply to join us in Napa Valley for the premier wine writers’ conference.”

Wine writing is in motion. Shaped by shifting media, cultural change, innovation, and new voices entering the conversation, the Wine Writers’ Symposium asks: Where do we go from here? The question is no longer just what we write, but how and why we tell these stories today. Moderator Felicity Carter leads an unflinching conversation with … Continue reading “Contemporary Considerations for Wine Writers”

Join the Wine Writers’ Symposium for a powerful conversation about recovering historical facts and narratives, questioning the idea of a single “truth,” and using tone as a tool to open up one’s perspective on historical record. Moderated by Anna Lee Iijima, this roundtable features Elaine Chukan Brown, Joey Hernandez, and Sydney Love — three writers … Continue reading “Recovering History: Who Tells the Story of Wine—and How?”

Join us as we explore how to communicate about wine in ways that resonate with people, create meaningful exposure, and evolve beyond traditional narratives.

Writing on the Edge. So … what could the edge mean for us?  Who are we, anyway?  Let me guess.  We’re people who like to write, which means using silence and paper – and nowadays a keyboard and screen — to craft messages about the world for our fellow human beings. 

We are excited to announce the 2024 Fellows for the Wine Writers’ Symposium, joining us in Napa Valley from around the world as we return to an in-person event from January 28th through 31st: Laura Algieri • Henna Bakshi • David Brown • Allison Burton-Parker • Aiden Carroll • Kate Nowell-Smith • Christy Frank • … Continue reading “Announcing the 2024 Fellows”

As part of our virtual roundtable series, we’re excited to return with this compelling session on maintaining your voice as a writer as you work with your editor to balance editorial need and your point of view. Global Wine Educator, Wine Writer, and Symposium Board member Elaine Chukan-Brown led a conversation with Tara Thomas, Managing … Continue reading “2023 Virtual Roundtable: The Writer’s Voice”

Another perennially important topic, this session led by veteran journalist John Brecher highlights the importance of clarity and precision, both in your pitch and in your piece. In this roundtable, John refers to the piece Caribou Bones and Burgundy by Elaine Chukan-Brown in Wine Enthusiast, Open That Bottle Night in the Wall Street Journal, which … Continue reading “2023 Virtual Roundtable: Get to the Point!”

Dorothy J. Gaiter moderates a stellar panel of wine reporters: Esther Mobley, Chasity Cooper, and Elin McCoy. The topic is Reporting 101, and themes explored include the core principles of reporting a story, from answering the 5Ws – Who? What? Where? When? Why? (and also How?) – to remembering who your audience is and why they’re reading your story and, finally, reminding us all to allow for silences, for although they might be uncomfortable, they often result in wonderful, unexpected disclosures.

Like all of the fellows here, I was tasked to answer the question of why wine is important, so here’s my practical short answer: it is what helps me pay the bills, it’s the reason for my employment, and it is the cornerstone of my career.

It is also one of the things that makes me supremely happy simply by existing; it soothes on days that take too much; it inspires when the inevitable block begins to creep; it makes food infinitely more delicious and complex; it induces emotions that make memories long-lasting.