Women of the Vine Global Symposium Announces Keynote Speakers, Agenda and Sponsors

December 24, 2015 by evebushman

December 2015 (New York, NY) – The Women of the Vine Alliance recently published the agenda for the second annual Women of the Vine Global Symposium on its website, WomenOfTheVine.com. The benchmark event is to be held April 4-6, 2016 at the Meritage Resort & Spa, Napa, and will include a recent addition to the lineup, keynote speaker Lynda Spillane.

An accomplished psychologist, speechwriter and coach, Lynda Spillane is considered the best in the world at transforming heads of state, presidents, CEOs and executives into high-performing public speakers and communicators, and will present an address at the Women of the Vine Global Symposium entitled, “Brilliant Women, Excellent Speakers.” Other keynote speakers include Vice President of Marketing, E&J Gallo Winery, Stephanie Gallo, speaking on the subject of “Cultivating Boldness for Personal Growth and Professional Gain,” as well as President & CEO, House of Krug, Maggie Henriquez, and Founder, South Africa’s House of Mandela Wines, Dr. Maki Mandela.

Moderators scheduled for panels include Chief Wine Critic for the New York Times, Eric Asimov; Founder, Sokol Blosser Vineyards, Susan Sokol Blosser; Senior Director of Human Resources for Domestic Sales and Affiliated Distributors, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Alison Jerden; Executive Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Susan Kostrzewa; Wine Educator, Author, Consultant and Speaker, Leslie Sbrocco; M.S., CWE, Corporate National Accounts On-Premise Glazer’s Family of Companies, Guy Noel Stout; Founder and Motivator in Chief, Force Brands (BevForce, FoodForce), Josh Wand; and Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Vintage Wine Estates, Terry Wheatley.

The Symposium theme for 2016, “Step Up, Step Out,” is supported by seminars including:

“Finding the Time: Balancing Work, Relationships, and Life”
“Speak Up: Unlock Your Confidence to Stand Out”
“Negotiating with Giants”
“Family Ties: Taking the Reins”
“Navigating the Career Jungle”
“Spirited Women: Taking the Lead”
“Unsung Heroines”

Panelists for the second annual Women of the Vine Global Symposium include: Marilisa Allegrini, Allegrini Estates; Mary Barranco, Southern Wine & Spirits; Karena Breslin, Constellation Brands; Laure Colombo, Vins Jean-Luc Colombo; Jennifer DePaola, Young’s Market Company; Barb Egenhofer, Constellation Brands; Rachael Ellas, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Kelly Gamble, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Violet Grgich, Grgich Hills Estate; Sandra LeDrew, Treasury Wine Estates; Lorraine Luke, Republic National Distributing Co.; Helen Mackey, Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Cristina Mariani-May, Banfi; Simeen Mohsen, Vintages by Harlequin; Roberta Morrell, Morrell & Co.; Donna Morris, Winderlea Vineyard, OR; Anita Cook-Motard, Glazer’s; Maeve Pesquera, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; Jayne Portnoy, Napa Technology; Rachel Seder, Southern Wine & Spirits; Clarice Turner, Starbucks; and Carolyn Wente, Wente Vineyards.

The symposium also offers multiple networking opportunities with the alcohol beverage industry’s top professionals and influencers, including executive management, human resource professionals, directors of sales and marketing, on- and off-premise wine and spirits buyers, distributors, wine educators, winemakers, sommeliers, mixologists, importers/exporters, winery owners, public relations, media, viticulturists, hospitality operations, and more.

To view the full agenda, visit WomenOfTheVine.com.

“We couldn’t ask for a more stellar lineup of speakers, moderators, and panelists this year,” said Founder and President of Women of the Vine, Deborah Brenner. “Each person involved is participating out of passion for advancing the careers of women in the alcohol beverage industry. Attendees can expect to take away plenty of inspiration, tools, techniques and new friendships.”

As of today, Sponsors so far for the Women of the Vine Global Symposium include Founding Sponsor, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.; Diamond Sponsors: CF Napa Brand Design, Constellation Brands, E. &J. Gallo Winery, Glazer’s, Moët Hennessy USA, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, The SOMM Journal, The Tasting Panel Magazine; Platinum Sponsors: Palm Bay International, Treasury Wine Estates, Vintages by Harlequin, Vintage Wine Estates; Gold Sponsors: Bacardi, Banfi, Charmer Sunbelt Group, Fetzer, Global Wine Cellars, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Pernod Ricard USA, Republic National Distributing Company, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Trinchero Family Estates, Wente Vineyards, WineShop At Home, Young’s Market Company, among others.

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Deborah Brenner at info@womenofthevine.com, or call 888-750-1863.

About The Women of the Vine Alliance
The Women of the Vine Alliance is a membership-based alliance that empowers and equips women worldwide to advance their careers in the alcohol beverage industry, fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. Guided by an advisory board of top international executives in the alcohol beverage industry, Women of the Vine offers extensive education, advocacy, training, mentorship, networking and steadfast support for women at every position in the field, particularly through the annual Women of the Vine Global Symposium, April 4-6, 2016 in Napa, California. Women of the Vine: Raising the Bar. For more information, please visit WomenOfTheVine.com or call 888.750.1863.

Rhone Master Class with Jean-Luc “Not Stupid” Colombo 

September 20, 2013 by evebushman

Granted, it was a wee bit difficult for some to get past winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo’s heavily accented-English. The one word I did pick up, which peppered most of his one-hour lecture, was “stupid.” When I laughed out loud at one of his stories, detailing a wine practice he thought was stupid, I got a smile back from the master, as I may have been the only one that got his jest.

www.LearnAboutWine.com founder Ian Blackburn opened the session by explaining that we would taste nine wines that are distributed by Southern Wine and Spirits. Blackburn said that Colombo was originally a pharmacist – which alters how he thinks about organics and biodynamics; i.e. bees, flowers and animals are integrated into his vineyard practices in the small appellation region of Cornas.

Colombo began by thanking Blackburn and his own team. Then he explained a little of his own history: his wife was also a pharmacist but Colombo wanted to go to the Rhone Valley and learn about Cornas. He made his first wine, a single vineyard 100% Syrah. Cornas is a “sleepy town”, then and now, but now it’s known for its wines.

“Food and wine is not a business, it’s a lifestyle,” Colombo said. “It’s a shame to drink only water so it’s our job to educate people on food and wine.”

Colombo mentioned that they don’t use any pesticides in their vineyards. “People today talk too much about biodynamic or organic – it’s stupid – as it’s normal not to use pesticide. If you are a cancer patient in the hospital you never ask if your medicine is organic or not!”

Colombo continued, “If you don’t have a good climate you don’t make wine” as irrigation shouldn’t be needed. “Paying for water is completely stupid. For 2000 years (of winemaking) there was no irrigation…the more you talk about organic the more you are killing your vineyard. Then there will be no car wash (businesses) as there will be no water. Maybe one day we will say stop irrigation or stop organic. The great wines are made without irrigation…”

And, as we were about to begin the tasting Colombo reminded, or as I like to think, admonished us by saying, “Wine is for the table (with food) not a cocktail. A Cabernet or Merlot (or any wine) at 7 pm without food is not normal” to which I thoroughly agreed!

Now onto the wines of Jean-Luc Colombo!

In this tasting – all wines were about 13% alcohol

(Tasting Notes in parenthesis were provided by Colombo)

‘La Redonne’ Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2011 (70% Viognier, 30% Roussanne)

Sweet pineapple, freshly mown grass, wet gravel, lemon, sweet jasmine floral notes on the nose…full mouth viscosity, lemon-lime soda, citrus fruits – grapefruit, medium acid. (Tasting notes included stainless steel fermentation which may account for the gravel notes.)

‘Amour de Dieu’ Condrieu 2100 (100% Viognier)

On the nose I was greeted by honey, sweet pink lemonade, pineapple, honeydew melon, dried apricots…on the mouth lemonade with honey, nice mouthfeel, some acidity and lingering finish. (Tasting notes mention the same apricot.)

‘La Belle de Mai’ Saint-Peray 2011 (80% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne)

Cinnamon, apricot, anise…followed by a dry palate, less fruit forward than the first two, green apple, spice, more balanced and very interesting. (Tasting notes mention limestone, granite…and intense floral aromas.)

‘Les Forots’ Cotes du Rhone 2010 (100% Syrah)

Plums, blackberry, black cherry, green peppercorns, stewing mushrooms, seared steak…followed by a taste of dried plums, stems, tannins and pepper. (Tasting notes also mention blackberry.)

‘Les Bartavelles’ Chateauneuf du Pape 2011 (45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre)

Ripe black cherries, black currant, dark chocolate on the nose…on the mouth bright fruit, pepper, good spice balanced fruit and tannins, palate-drying. (Tasting notes called it exotic spice.)

‘La Divine’ Cote Rotie 2010 (95% Syrah, 5% Viognier)

Blackberry jam, very concentrated red and blue fruits, dusty, black pepper…followed by a less fruity taste, chewy, dark fruit, more smoke and tannins, very palatable.

‘Terres Brulees’ Cornas 2010 (100% Syrah)

Aromas of a kitchen filled with cooking vegetables, stew, steaks grilling, maybe someone brought some chocolate and a bouquet of velvety dark roses…and tastes of ripened blue fruits, black pepper, soil, and unsweetened dark chocolate.

‘Le Ruchets’ Cornas 2010 (100% Syrah)

Dark fruit, mint, cigar, chocolate, figs…smells good. On the palate smoky fruit, cigar and bark.

“La Louvee” Cornas 2010 (100% Syrah) Translates to “She Wolf”

Sweet hot chocolate, cinnamon, spice rack, roasted meat, blue and black fruits…on the mouth: dried plums, black pepper and green pepper, that same roasted meat.

www.VinsColombo.fr

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