As you know, I’ve Co-Chaired the Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS) since we created it in 2005.  I’m very excited by the response to this year’s agenda (still shaping up) and our keynote speakers we announced.  Wines & Vines dis a fantastic story on it yesterday.  Here is a bit and you can go to their site for the rest…

Napa, Calif.—Since 2005, the annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS) has brought together experts from within and outside the wine business to help growers, wineries and marketers make the most of the newest tools available to them. It’s a moving target, and every year yields valuable insights for both techies and technophobes.

WITS is scheduled this year for Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12 and 13, at the Napa Valley Marriott. Last year’s symposium drew registered attendance of more than 300. Keynote speakers on Wednesday morning will be Leslie Sbrocco, TV host, author and consultant, who will deliver: “The Vision and Technology Behind Thirsty Girl,” a member-driven community celebrating women. Serial entrepreneur Tim Bucher, who has held executive roles with tech icons Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Michael Dell, will take on “Technology and Innovation.”

Wines & Vines, a WITS sponsor, spoke with panelists on a few of the many more specialized sessions to get some juicy details. For the complete schedule and speaker bios, visit wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com.

Here is our announcement on keynotes that went out earlier… contact me if you have any thoughts or ideas to make this year’s event the best ever.  And if you are a strategic thinker, President, GM, CIO or other leader in the wine industry and you want to hang out with your peers and some of the most innovative people in technology and strategy AND enjoy some great wine in Napa don’t miss this event!

Technology and Innovation Leader Tim Bucher & TV Personality and Head Thirsty Girl, Leslie Sbrocco to Lead Keynotes for the

Seventh Annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium®, July 12-13, 2011

May 19, 2011, Napa, CA – The Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)®, the premier event showcasing innovation and strategic use of information technology and services for the wine industry, announced headline speakers for its seventh annual conference July 12-13, 2011 at the Marriot Napa Valley.

 

The symposium will open with a technology showcase and hands on experiential workshops on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 12, but the main event takes place on Wednesday, July 13 with the general session and keynote speakers.

Tim Bucher’s Keynote Address is titled “Technology and Innovation”

What do Microsoft, Apple, Dell and WITS all have in common? Alumnus Tim Bucher. Founder and current CEO of Tastingroom.com, Tim Bucher may be the only person in who has served in key executive roles for the big three: Bill Gates at Microsoft, Steve Jobs at Apple, and Michael Dell at Dell. He learned about innovation and business expansion from some of the leading technologists in the industry.

Bucher is a serial entrepreneur who has created several successful companies over the last 23 years, taking one of them public and selling four others for over $1 Billion. Besides Tastingroom.com, Bucher serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Product Officer of Zing Systems, Inc. He founded Mirra, Inc., in 2002. He is also Founder of ispiri. Bucher serves as Chairman of the Board of Mirra, Inc. and ispiri. Mr. Bucher holds an MSEE from Stanford and a BSEE from UC Davis.

Bucher will share his unique perspective on business technology and innovation during his keynote address. Imagine the secrets you will learn from serial entrepreneur Tim Bucher.

Leslie Sbrocco’s Keynote Address is titled “The Vision and Technology Behind Thirsty Girl”

What do Check Please!, the Today Show, and Thirsty Girl have in common? Wine Maven, Leslie Sbrocco, Head Thirsty Girl.  An award-winning author, speaker, wine consultant, television host, and founder of the new multi-media company, Thirsty Girl, Leslie Sbrocco built this thriving multi-media company using 100% social media. Thirsty Girl is a member-driven community that celebrates women. “With glass, fork, and plane ticket in hand, Thirsty Girls live life to the fullest.”

Sbrocco has appeared on Check Please!, The Winemakers, and the Today Show as well as had her work published in outlets such as Epicurious.com, O the Oprah magazine, Coastal Living, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping and Glamour among others. She also has published two books, Wine for Women and The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide (William Morrow); she is currently at work on her third book, Adventures of a Thirsty Girl.

Sbrocco and her Social Media Coach Janet Fouts will provide a point-counter-point interplay of ideas put into action through the use of social media, content and live events in their keynote address at WITS 2011. Learn how she has grown Thirsty Girl from scratch to significance – all through social media in just one year.

J. Smoke Wallin, WITS founder and Co-Chair said “I find it incredible to contemplate the vast innovation that we have witnessed since the first WITS in 2005.  Companies like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn were either ideas or just getting started.  Apple was not in the music or handheld business. Giving us their unique insights on this rapid innovation both Sbrocco and Bucher will help us gain perspective on how the wine industry is adopting to and benefiting from it all.”

The afternoon on day two will include panel discussions with take home value, an exciting technology showcase and conclude with a rocking wine reception. Panels will have four tracks: Technology Leadership, Consumer Direct Sales, Trade Sales & Marketing and Vineyard & Winery Operations.

For more information about the event schedule and to register today, visit: www.wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com/schedule.html

About Wine Industry Technology Symposium (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 wine industry professionals 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

I recently had the opportunity to sit down at with Michael Schwartz, chef/owner of Michael’s Geniune in Miami.  http://www.michaelsgenuine.com/ Michael’s Genuine is located at 130 Northeast 40th Street
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 573-5550

Michael is an amazing chef and a great person to hang with.  Michael just published his first book – “Michael’s Genuine Food”

Aside from the incredible food and dining experience, I had the chance to ask Michael some questions about his background, his cooking philosophy and importantly to all of us, his views on wine.

“Schwartz’s culinary innovation  puts him at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement. He’s now on a national stage, based primarily on his straightforward, ingredient-driven cuisine, as well as his commitment to supporting local farmers and responsible, seasonal food sourcing.

He was recently honored with the prestigious 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef and has appeared on national TV shows including Top Chef”, Rachael Ray’s Rachael’s Vacation, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, After Hours With Daniel Boulud, Simply Ming with Ming Tsai, and Fresh Food Fast with Emeril Lagasse.”

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/27/2142158/michael-schwartz-cook…

J. Smoke Wallin (JSW):  What got you into cooking?

Michael Schwartz (MS): Well I grew up in Philadelphia in the ’60s and ’70s.  The closest I came to cooking as a kid was cutting up the Stroehmannwhite bread for stuffing at Thanksgiving dinner!!  My mom didn’t make much from scratch…  Things changed when I was 15 and I got a job bussing tables at Dilullo’s, a Northern Italian restaurant in Philadelphia.  The place was ahead of its time and really swanky, importing expensive, high quality ingredients from Italy. After about a year, I had worked my way into the back of the house.

 

JSW: What has been the greatest thing about starting Michael’s Genuine?

MS: Meeting great people and doing great things with them.

 

JSW: When you decided to open another restaurant, why Grand Cayman?

MS: Well it was less of me deciding it was time to open another MGFD than realizing we could when DART approached me.  I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first.  I didn’t think it was possible to replicate the experience of the restaurant, which has so much to do with the process – the responsible sourcing that is so important to who we are.  But I went down there and met with them, and liked who I met and what I saw. There was an emerging farming community poised to embrace a restaurant like ours and we’ve just been learning and growing with each other.  It’s really great.  We’re getting great variety of local product down there, even this past summer – thai eggplant, callaloo, herbs, peppers, amazing mangos, and local pumpkins… Of course there are things we need to bring in, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised.

 

JSW:  What made you want to write your book?

MS: I’ve always wanted to do a book. Again it was all about timing and relationships. Some executives from Clarkson Potter were in town and ate with us and said they wanted to publish my first book.  I pulled together a proposal and two years later, we have MICHAEL’S GENUINE FOOD: Down-to-Earth Cooking for People Who Love to Eat.  I’m really proud of the work we did to pull it together – I got to work with some pretty talented people, like my photographer Ben Fink.  The photos are beautiful and really capture what the dishes are all about – simple preparations using really fresh product.

 

 

JSW: What is your wine philosophy at Michael’s?

MS: Our philosophy is just like food. It starts with the best producers and great product. I’m very lucky to have a sommelier like Eric Larkee. He’s always one step ahead of the game. We’re able to keep prices very reasonable and offer a creative, yet edited list. I’m lucky to have talented friends like Dennis Scholl and Richard Betts with the Betts & Scholl label… Jim Clendendon of Au Bon Climat..The list goes on… We’re of course trying to always to be responsible in every aspect of the business… So I know Eric gravitates towards producers that are using natural methods… and we recycle our corks and bottles (for water service) whenever possible. I’m looking into glass cutters right now so we can recycle the bottles for drinks glasses too.

 

JSW:  Describe the perfect meal.

MS: One with my family, cooking food from our friends.

 

JSW: What’s best about being Michael?

MS: What kind of question is that?! I would say I’m lucky for the people I’m surrounded by, so that’s what’s best.

 

JSW: what has been your biggest challenge?

MS: Spending as much time with my family as I do with my other family at work.

 

JSW: What can we expect when we buy your book?

MS: Well it’s definitely a Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink greatest hits to a certain degree, which is what I wanted out of a first book.  It’s divided similar to how our menu is set up, with a bunch of the dishes that we know and love, and some new things too.  I think what I’m most happy about is that the book really works.  So many times, especially with recipes you find on the internet, nothing works.  My compulsive organization really worked to my advantage on this one!

JSW: When can we get you out to the Bay area and up to Napa to enjoy some wine and share your book and story with our friends?

MS: Um, soon!!

 

This is the first footage from Wine 2.0 packaged up to give a flavor for the event.  Overall a great success and positive feedback from our wineries, trade and consumers! More to come!