July 2, 2010
Abbey Klassen, Executive Editor, Ad Age
For those of you who have followed this blog over the years, you will know that it was launched in 2005 when we first created WITS. The 6th Wine Industry Technology Symposium promises to be our best ever. Besides an action packed agenda of break out sessions with real take home value, I am very pleased with our two keynote speakers Michael Gelb and Abbey Klaassen. Both of these accomplished individuals represent what WITS is all about, innovation and how we can all adopt to the changing business environment in which we live. I hope you choose to join me at this year’s conference. It will be worth the effort. See you in Napa!
Abbey Klaassen of Advertising Age to Deliver Keynote at
Wine Industry Technology Symposium in July
Register Now for Tech Summit
June 9, 2010, Napa, CA – Abbey Klaassen, Executive Editor of Advertising Age, a leading global source of news, intelligence and conversation for marketing and media communities will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)® July 13-14, 2010 at the Marriott Napa Valley.
Klaassen’s address, titled “Living in a Post-Digital World,” will address consumer behavior and the resulting opportunities for businesses in this post-digital world. When every physical location is accompanied by a digital experience, social media increasingly becomes a reflection of real life. Interactive technology is like the air we breathe “so ubiquitous we often take it for granted.”
Conference co-chair, Lesley Berglund said: “We were looking for a keynote speaker who could address the technology shift that has changed the way we do business. We wanted to go beyond networking tools and really take a look at the far reaching implications of our digital lives. We are thrilled to have Klassen sharing her perspective…”
Best Selling Author Michael Gelb to Deliver One of the Keynotes
at Wine Industry Technology Symposium in July
Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking - Gelb and Wallin at book release
Register Now for Tech Summit
June 22, 2010, Napa, CA – Michael Gelb, author of international best seller How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Innovate Like Edison: The Five-Step System for Breakthrough Business Success and Wine Drinking For Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium® (WITS) July 13-14, 2010 at the Marriott Napa Valley.
Gelb’s general session address, titled “How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci,” will discuss the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development. Gelb is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, accelerated learning, and innovative leadership and has more than 30 years of experience as a professional speaker, seminar leader and organizational consultant.
Gelb will not only be one of the keynote speakers in the general session but will also be a speaker for the networking dinner being held at the Napa Marriott on Tuesday night, July 13th. His address, titled “Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices,” also the title of his book, will discuss expanding creativity through wine appreciation. Gelb’s book comes highly recommended by wine authorities such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Host of Wine Library TV and Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate and others.
Conference co-chair, Smoke Wallin said: “Gelb’s message couldn’t be more timely. The wine industry is changing at a rapid pace which requires both owners and team members to find new ways to do business. We’re thrilled that we can offer both innovative technologies and a new perspective for applying them at the conference.”
Online Registration Now Open
The Wine Industry Technology Symposium® (WITS), the premier industry event showcasing innovation and the strategic use of information technology, is now accepting online registrations for its fifth annual conference. The event will be held on July 13-14, 2010 at the Marriot Napa Valley. www.wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com
Early Bird Pricing Ends July 2
Tickets are available online before Friday July 3rd and at the “early bird” price of $100 for day one and $250 for day two, per guest. After July 4th, registrants pay the full price of $150 and $300, respectively. Full program details are available online.
About WITS
The Wine Industry Technology Symposium® (WITS) was created in 2005 by a group of wine industry and technology professionals. The purpose of WITS is to address the unique information technology and services needs of the wine industry. WITS is dedicated to bringing the world’s leading wineries, wholesalers and retailers together with some of the world’s leading technology experts to foster learning and discussion. Panels of experts will discuss specific examples and case studies. www.WineIndustryTechnologySymposium.com
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Media Contact:
Lesley P. Berglund, co-chair, 707-246-6827
Pete Blackshaw of Nielsen on last year’s WITS conference:
November 6, 2009
New Film Takes Unprecedented Historic View of America’s Wine Industry – ‘America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition’ Includes Interviews Which Chronicle The Rebuilding Of The Wine Industry And The Emergence Of A New American Wine Culture.
NEW YORK, NY, November 06, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ — Wine 2.0, the innovator in social networking and events in the wine industry, announces the Premiere and New York release of the documentary film America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition at Wine 2.0 New York, November 18th at Webster Hall.
The new documentary film, commissioned by UC Berkeley’s world renowned Bancroft Library, is an in-depth look at wine in America. It covers everything from the “Noble Experiment” of Prohibition, which decimated the vibrant wine community, to the rise of the “Phoenix” generation of wine pioneers including Robert Mondavi and Ernest Gallo to the more recent battles over direct shipping of wines to consumers. No wine lover should miss this historic film.
‘America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition’ will be showcased in a Reserve and Trade Event prior to the over 1,000 wine and tech lovers and media at Wine 2.0 New York and supported on Wine 2.0′s social network www.winetwo.net with a public fan page.
Commenting on the New York Premiere, Bancroft Director Dr. Charles Faulhaber stated, “The Bancroft Library has been documenting the history of California and the American West for almost 150 years, always using state-of-the-art technology. In the 19th century it was the steam-powered printing press. In the 21st century we now use digital media for the same purpose. “America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition” is a major step forward for us, the first time that Bancroft has been involved in a documentary film on what has historically been one of California’s most important agricultural industries. We are thrilled at the work that Carla De Luca Worfolk and her crew have accomplished.”
“The remarkable journey we experienced in putting together this documentary enabled us to witness historical events, record final interviews, review private archives and share never-before displayed images, yet didn’t prepare us for the emotional impact of recognizing the passing of a generation.” said Filmmaker Carla De Luca Worfolk. She continued, “Immersing ourselves in the era of Prohibition and then its Repeal, we came to understand these complex times, as well as the culture we live in today, through vivid memories and personalities as their words informed our script and enlivened our images. While inevitable, we didn’t expect to be so personally moved as we worked in post-production and learned yet one more member of the “Phoenix Generation,” – eight total – had died since our interviews.”
“We could not be more excited to host the New York premiere of ‘America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition’”, said J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman of Wine 2.0. He continued, “Wine 2.0. The ‘America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition’ movie should cause everyone to gain perspective on the rich history of wine in America and appreciate what so many have done to lay the foundation for today’s vibrant wine market.”
Carla De Luca Worfolk, the Director, Executive Producer and Writer will have an interview with Wine 2.0 New York to discuss the film and wine with attendees. Media interviews are available.
Three years ago Bancroft’s Regional Oral History Office at the University of California, Berkeley, embarked on a project to augment the California Wine Industry Oral History Collection with a documentary to mark the 75th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition. In the making of the film, De Luca Worfolk and wine historian Dr. Victor Geraci used scholarly oral histories from the Bancroft’s Regional Oral History Office and Bancroft archival materials, augmented with over 40 original interviews and photographs and film clips from numerous other collections, to provide an historical overview of the legacy of Prohibition and the rebuilding of a new American Wine Culture.
About Wine 2.0
Wine 2.0 is the innovator in social networking and events in the wine industry. Wine 2.0 focuses on the next generation wine consumer and breaks down the barriers to learning about, experiencing and enjoying wine. Wine 2.0 events feature the newest generation of emerging technology companies, services and communication tools that are changing the world of wine. (www.winetwo.net)
About America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition
America’s Wine: The Legacy of Prohibition is a documentary film celebrating the rich history of the American Wine Industry. This documentary offers an unprecedented overview of the legacy of National Prohibition (1920-1933) and its continuing impact on the wine industry and everyday lives of Americans. Covering a span of one hundred years of winemaking up to the present day, the film tells the story of how the leading entrepreneurial wine families overcame obstacles to rebuild the American wine industry, which had been decimated after National Prohibition and its Repeal. From within this historical context, the film also explores the most significant news-making subject areas in today’s media that reveal Prohibition’s legacy: laws governing direct shipping of wine to consumers; scientific research that influences alcohol and health policy; and the changing global marketplace.
Marking the 75th Anniversary of Prohibition’s Repeal, the documentary brings to life never-before-seen archival photographs and film clips, and features nearly 40 interviews including those who experienced Prohibition, historians, winemakers, members of Congress, and public policy experts. Among those filmed are Kevin Starr, California Librarian Emeritus, Leon Panetta, Former Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton, and Kathleen Sullivan, Former Dean of Stanford Law School, as well as legendary winemakers Brother Timothy, Robert Mondavi, and Ernest Gallo. Through differing views and historical perspectives, the interviews contribute informed commentary as the documentary chronicles the rejuvenation of the American wine industry and the emergence today of a new American wine culture. It also pays tribute to the passing of a historic generation. Equally significant are the insights fueling the continuing societal debate over the issue of alcohol in America.
About Carla De Luca Worfolk, Director, EP/Producer, and Writer
Carla De Luca Worfolk, an Emmy award-winning television and documentary producer, has enjoyed an extensive career across media, gravitating towards highly creative assignments with an emphasis on education, public service and policy. Throughout her career, the San Francisco Bay Area native has worked as an independent producer, magazine editor, writer, public relations executive, and paralegal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Santa Clara University, and a Master of Journalism degree from the University of California at Berkeley. During her years as a CNN producer in Atlanta, Worfolk supervised content for the highly-rated CNN Saturday/Sunday Morning program, a live, two-hour magazine show, and was also on the Emmy-winning team that covered the Olympic Park Bombing in 1996
March 2, 2009
Event Features Cutting Edge Wine Industry Start-ups And Wineries From Around The World, Plus Over 1,000 Wine And Tech Lovers In One Exciting Event Timed To Coincide Again With O’Reilly Media’s Web 2.0™ Expo
San Francisco, CA (NEWSWIRE), February 19, 2009, Wine 2.0, the innovator in social networking and events in the wine industry, today announced that Wine 2.0 Expo San Francisco will be held on Thursday April 2nd at Crushpad urban winery. Crushpad will again host the 3rd annual San Francisco event which is being held during the leading Web 2.0 Expo conference. Last year Wine 2.0 Expo San Francisco hosted over 1,000 wine and technology lovers for an exciting evening of world-class wines and networking around cutting-edge Wine 2.0 start-up companies.
What: Wine 2.0 Expo San Francisco
When: Thursday April 2nd from 7 pm to 10 pm
Where: Crushpad, 2573 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Cost: Advance Purchase Tickets are $45 per ticket or 2 tickets for $70
Day of tickets $60 per ticket, VIP tickets for $125.00
Wine 2.0 Expo San Francisco tickets can be purchased online at: www.winetwo.eventbrite.com.
“Wine 2.0 Expo San Francisco is the West Coast showcase for the emerging companies and wineries that are reinventing how wine is made, marketed or sold. These forward thinking companies, combined with new players from the web 2.0 space are the cutting edge of wine sales and promotion.” said J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman of Wine 2.0. “We are very excited to have the strong support of leading industry players like Crushpad and new early adopters like Robert Oatley Vineyards and Hahn Family Wines which both recently signed on as a Wine 2.0 Cornerstone sponsor for the 2009 season.”
Wine 2.0 represents the future of the wine industry with a consumer trade show and a networking group combining online social networking and real world components. Wine 2.0 events highlight leading edge tech companies focused on various wine categories including winery direct sales, online wine retailing, community driven wine reviews, and online winemaking. Wine 2.0 has hosted over 3,500 wine trade and consumer advocates, 250 wineries, and more than 150 wine focused technology companies at their events since inception in 2006. Currently, Wine 2.0 has registered over 20,000 members across various social media networking platforms from over 90 countries.
Wine 2.0 San Francisco will be held from 7 pm – 10 pm on Thursday April 2nd at Crushpad, 2573 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Some of the companies attending past Wine 2.0 Expo’s include:
AmericanWinery.com, Bibola.com, Binends, Bottlenotes, C. Donatiello Winery, Camacho Cigars, Cameron Hughes Wine, Charles Krug, Chateau St. Jean, City Winery New York, CNET, Compli, Corkeeper, Cornerstone Cellars, Crushpad, Cruvee.com, Cycles Galdiator, Due Vigne, Eventbrite, eWinery Solutions, Fantesca Estate, Faust, FirstMark Capital, Foster’s Wine Estates, Francis Ford Coppola Presents, Fulcrum Wines, Gary Vaynerchuk, Glasshalffull.com, GoodGrape, Grant Street Vineyards, Greatfood.com, Greenhill, Hahn Estates, Highflyer Wines, Hinman Carmichael, iSante, KRON4, Kyte, Lenndevors, Magito, Michael David, Modus Operandi Cellars, Mutineer Magazine, New Zealand Wine, Ning, Oriel Wines, Orrick Law, POSLive, RadCru.com, Raymond Vineyards, Redeye Bloody Mary, Robert Oatley Vineyards, San Francisco International Wine Competition, ShipCompliant.com, Spencer Roloson, St. Supéry, Steelpoint Capital Partners, Stormhoek, TastingMaster, The Tasting Panel Magazine, Three Thieves, Thrillist, Twisted Oak Winery, Twittertastelive, Vator.tv, Veramonte, Vinecandy.com, Vinography.com, Vinvillage.com, Web 2.0 Expo, Wine and Spirits Magazine, Wine Business Monthly, Wine Tasting Network, WineLibrary.tv, Winelog.net, WinePod, Wines and Vines Magazine, WineSnob, Winetastetv.com
About Wine 2.0™ – “Blending the Line Between Wine & Technology”
Wine 2.0™ is the innovator in social networking and events in the wine industry. With a focus on the next generation wine consumer, Wine 2.0 breaks down the barriers to learning about, experiencing, and enjoying wine. Wine 2.0 events feature a rich diversity of world class wines and the newest generation of emerging technology companies, services and communication tools that are changing the world of wine. (Get Social at www.winetwo.net)
Wine 2.0 has a limited number of Cornerstone “Whole Season” Sponsorships available in key product and service segments. Contact Cornelius Geary at Cornelius@winetwo.com or via phone at (415) 596-1191 for information on available sponsorship packages.
About Crushpad
Crushpad is custom winemaking service with locations in San Francisco and Napa, whose over 5,000 clients include professional winemakers, wine enthusiasts, fine wine retailers and restaurants. Crushpad specializes in small-lot, luxury wine production from California, Oregon and Washington’s most notable vineyards. The company was founded in 2004 by wine industry veterans and technology industry refugees determined to liberate winemaking from its traditional stereotypes of impossible wealth, expansive chateaus and Golden Retrievers.
For more information about Crushpad, call 415-864-4232 or visit http://www.crushpadwine.com.
