Welcome Letter
Wineries Unlimited 2010
Location: Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, PA
Conference Dates: March 9-12, 2010
Trade Show Dates: March 10-11, 2010
If you've ever wondered whether Wineries Unlimited is worth it, this year's program should convince you it is. "Balancing Costs and Quality for Profits" is the theme, an issue on everyone's minds in our industry. We know we can't afford to sacrifice quality, but how can we hold costs down while maintaining or improving quality? Our speakers will tell you how, across the four days of seminars through newcomer sessions on Tuesday, plenary session on Wednesday, dedicated viticulture, enology and marketing/management tracks on Wednesday and Thursday, and an all-day marketing seminar Friday.
We've brought in top speakers from as far as Texas, Georgia and California to share their secrets to success with you. We're proud to have Andy Beckstoffer, one of the most influential and respected independent growers in the American wine industry (and a Richmond, VA native) give the keynote address at the lunch on Wednesday, and he'll also speak on a panel with top Eastern growers on "Extreme Viticulture: What It Takes to Get Top Dollar." Winemakers will sample and discuss top wines that also have very good economics. Jeff Sully CPA (and V&WM columnist) will discuss "Time, ROI and Profitability." The enology focus on Wednesday will be on yeast nutrition, with presentations from Cornell's extension enologist Chris Gerling and from three suppliers on their new products. Thanks to our Advisory Board for their help in designing the program and to ASEV Eastern Section for Chris Gerling and Keith Striegler, our Focus speakers, and for providing many session moderators.
You'll enjoy the usual social highlights: the BYOW Welcome Reception, the Keynote Lunch and Best of the East reception featuring top wines of the International Eastern Wine Competition, followed by dinner and a live auction to benefit the ASEV/ES scholarship program, as well as chatting with colleagues and suppliers during the trade show Wednesday and Thursday.
Marketing has never been a higher priority than in this economy, and V&WM columnists Elizabeth Slater and Paul Wagner will present two days of brilliant and focused sessions, including how to develop a marketing plan on Thursday, and an all-day workshop Friday on how to implement it, in "Building Community Around Your Brand."
We've actually lowered our "Early Bird" registration rates to keep Wineries Unlimited affordable in this economy. This year, you can't afford NOT to register and come to Wineries Unlimited!
 | Richard Leahy Program Director Wineries Unlimited
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 | Robert Merletti Event Producer/Publisher and President Wineries Unlimited and Vineyard & Winery Management magazine
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Advisory Board 2010:
| Peter Bell Fox Run Vineyards Mark Chien Penn State Extension Mark Friszolowski Childress Vineyards Art Hunt Hunt Country Vineyards | Jim Law Tom Payette | Chris Pearmund Paul Wagner | Dr. Bruce Zoecklein Art Carmichael | John McClain McClain Ozone Mark Bassel Bruni Glass Vern Young Ganau America Inc. |