One of my fondest memories of Eastern Wineries Exposition was hanging out with Michael Kaiser, of Wine America, and David Falcheck, the event's ubiquitous moderator, as we hung out in an after dinner suite with lifetime achievement award Doug Moorhead and famed east coast wine author Hudson Cattell. Doug and Hudson were both far older than any of us. But there we were, the youngsters, yawning, and making our excuses for our respective Irish Goodbye's, while the septuagenarian and the octogenarian were partying on. They weren't leaving that suite. And we were laughing to ourselves. But that's the kind of bonding that goes on at EWE.
My winemaking year traditionally begins on a Tuesday night in mid-March, when hundreds of winemakers and winery owners gather at 6pm at the Eastern Winery Exposition Welcome Wine Reception. There, I will greet many old friends, and get a chance to taste wines from up and down the Eastern seaboard.
I'm getting older. I've been going to winery conferences since 2007 or 2008. That doesn't make me the most senior, but it makes me older than I'd like to admit. I have made the long trips to Lancaster and Syracuse, through mild winters, snow storms, rain storms, even the beginning of the shut down to the Covid pandemic. Nothing better than getting away from a cold farm, cold winery buildings, and icy cold pruning, to drive the long distances, that were in the end, so so rewarding. From when I was a novice to since well passed.
I have attended Eastern Wineries Exposition since it was established by Richard Leahy, along with Operations Director Marcia Gulino and former owner Bob Mignarri, back in 2012. And I am really looking forward to this year‘s conference as much as I ever have.
As a former winery owner, as a winemaker, and as an industry journalist, it is the best and largest wine conference. It is jam packed with classes and panels all tuned to the east coast winemaker and winery owner. It also features the best trade show floor, packed with specially selected vendors for them. And it has proved invaluable over the years.
Over the last decade, plus, I have been a blogger, a panelist, and a lecturer. If for nothing else, EWE also happens to be the largest gathering of east coast winemakers annually, and the exchange of information and the camaraderie are second to none. I have met a galaxy of people I would not otherwise have met, and learned more than I ever would have reading books and journals simply by hanging around smarter, better people than myself. It has been one of the best learning experiences of my life.
This years event will be held in Syracuse, from March 12-14 (Oncenter Convention Center
800 South State Street, Phone: 315-435-8000), and promises to be one of the best schedule of classes and workshops ever presented. The 3-day event will feature an exhibit hall with more than 200 exhibiting companies and more than 40 Workshop & Conference sessions. The Trade Show will be open Wednesday, March 13 from 11:00 am to 5:45 pm, and Thursday, March 14 from 9:15 am – 2:30 pm.
Firstly! New in 2024! The License to Steal® National Wine Marketing Conference (LTS), traditionally a separate conference at EWE, is now combined with the EWE Conference and presented as a full Marketing track on March 13-14. Any registration pass that allows access to the EWE Conference also allows access to all LTS Marketing sessions. A separate LTS registration is no longer required. That’s a big deal. A great deal! And marketing will be more important than ever in these challenging times.
This year's agenda places a major emphasis on bottling and canning, and proper labeling; sustainable and organic farming; a whole section on enology; a lot of new info on viticulutral practices and cultivars; and managing winery finances.
I am always about people, and I can't wait to see some these presentations. I am looking forward to Steve DiFrancesco and Howard Bursen, two very accomplished wine makers speaking on tips and tricks on how to save wines. Then there's Karl Hambsch & Phil Plummer on how to make Pet Nat. Nova Cadamatre will be speaking on the "Top Mistakes Winery Owners Make".
Tons of industry professionals will gather, including winemaker Peter Fox, winemaker Tim Benedict, Jerry Forest from Buckingham Valley Vineyards, consultant Patty Held of Missouri, and consultant Tom Payette from Virginia. Other notables include Vinny Aliperti, Paul Brock, Michaela Centinari, David Falcheck, Joe Fiola, Morten Hallgren, Craig Hosbach, Joe Juniper, Michael Kaiser, John Levenberg, Tim Martinson, Abby Stamp and Donniella Winchell just to name a few!
Organizer Richard Leahy called the expo the “most validating professional experience of my life, having to take this kind of a risk to start a brand new show,” he said of the restart in 2012. “I’ve had the support of management to keep doing what I’m doing and they don’t ask me a lot of questions about stuff they know is my domain and so forth. And that’s great,” according to journalist Paul Vigna. Indeed, Leahy and Marcia, and Chuck run a tight ship. Well run and super smart.
Of course, there's the Award Banquet for the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Birchenall Award is also handed out, and there is an exceptional industry Live Auction. It's always a great way to see familiar faces, meet new ones, and enrich your knowledge of the industry.
Oil will be checked. Tires checked. Gas tank filled. Hope to see you there.
Can't wait.