Agenda

2019 Wine Media Conference Agenda

Below is a skeleton agenda for the 2019 Wine Media Conference. We will be filling out the agenda with events, content, and speakers in the coming months. To keep updated, please enter your email address in the WMC News box to the right. All events from October 10 – 12 will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley unless otherwise indicated.

Monday – Wednesday, October 7 – 9

Pre-Conference Excursion: We are working on this now with the goal of announcing details by early February. This will likely take place in a state other than New South Wales.

Thursday, October 10

12:00 – 8:00 PM Registration 

12:30 – 1:30 PM Wine Education Sessions: These small-group sessions include wine tasting and require advance registration.

2:00 – 3:00 PM Wine Education Sessions: These small-group sessions include wine tasting and require advance registration.

3:30 – 4:30 PM The Blog as a Communication Media: Is wine blogging dead? There are over 1,300 “citizen” wine bloggers throughout the world and likely many more than this operated by wineries (as blogs or “news” pages). Wine blogging is not dead. Choose one of three sections:

• Advanced Wine Blogging: Hear from experts on the mechanics of wine blogging including the latest plugins, search engine optimization, Google Analytics, and more.
• Beginner Wine Blogging: If you are new to blogging or yet to start, learn about the best way to set up your blog, how often you need to blog, establishing an identity, etc.
• Wine Blogging for Business: The blog or news page is critical for wineries and other wine businesses as it tells Google you are updating your site, allows you to send out an immediate email via RSS feed, and provides content for your email and social media communications. Don’t underestimate the power of a blog on your industry website.

4:30 – 6:00 PM Opening Reception and Expo: This is your opportunity to meet sponsors and try wines from the Hunter Valley, Australia, and around the world.

6:00 PM Evening Festivities: To be announced

Friday, October 11

7:45 AM – 4:30 PM Registration & Expo: Meet our sponsors on breaks throughout the day.

8:30 – 8:50 AM Conference Opening: By Allan Wright, President of Zephyr Conferences

8:50 – 9:00 AM Welcome to Australia: By James Halliday

9:00 – 9:45 AM Introduction to the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, and the Australian Wine Industry 

9:45 – 10:30 AM Keynote: To be Announced

10:30 – 10:45 AM Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM Wine Media: Similarities and Differences Around the World: The 2019 Wine Media Conference will be the largest international gathering of wine media ever. Hear from a panel of writers, bloggers, and social media influencers from different countries on the current state of wine media in their regions.

11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Lunch

1:15 – 2:15 PM Wine Media: Online Versus Print Wine Writers: All wine bloggers are wine writers but not all wine writers blog. Hear from a panel of expert wine writers, bloggers, and social media influencers as they discuss the current state of wine writing, with particular emphasis on how digital wine writing has changed the world of wine media.

2:15 – 2:30 PM Break

2:30 – 3:30 PM The Future of Wine: We will have some very learned folks attending the Wine Media Conference and will bring three of them on stage to discuss the future of the wine industry. Topics can include global warming, marijuana legalization, the boom in both craft beer and craft spirits, the health effects of wine, and more. We will put out a call to attendees for topics. Speakers to be announced.

3:30 – 4:30 PM Live Red Wine Blogging: Live Wine Blogging is the signature event of the conference, in which 25 wineries each have five minutes to pour one wine for a table of attendees. Bloggers, writers, and influencers taste, analyze, and write about the wine or winery on the spot. Wineries then move to a new table in a speed-dating format.  Participating wineries so far:

• De Iuliis Wines | @mikedeiuliis
• First Creek Wines | @firstcreekwines
• Glandore Wines | @Glandorewines
• Silkman Wines | @SilkmanWines
• Tintilla Estate | @tintillaestate (IG)

4:30 – 5:00 PM Live Red Wine Blogging Follow-up – Meet the Winemakers: Take a few minutes to ask additional questions or try the wines of winemakers who did not reach your table. 

5:15 – 9:45 PM Wine Country Dinner Excursions: These “mystery” dinner excursions are included in the ticket price. More details to come.

Saturday, October 12

8:30 AM  Registration

9:00 – 9:45 AM Breakout Sessions: Choose one of three breakout sessions. Two will be applicable to wine media and one will be applicable to the wine industry.

9:45 – 9:55 AM Break

9:55 – 10:40 AM Breakout Sessions: Choose one of three breakout sessions. Two will be applicable to wine media and one will be applicable to the wine industry.

10:40 – 10:50 AM Break

10:50 – 11:35 AM Breakout Sessions: Choose one of three breakout sessions. Two will be applicable to wine media and one will be applicable to the wine industry.

11:35 AM – 1:05 PM Lunch

1:05 – 2:05 PM Discovery Sessions: Choose one of three Discovery Sessions, which are in-depth introductions, including wine tasting, to a winery or wine region.

2:05 – 2:20 PM Break

2:20 – 3:20 PM All-Group Session: To be announced

3:20 – 4:05 PM Lightning Talks: This is the opportunity to hear from your fellow attendees. We will have eight speakers, each of whom will have five minutes to present on a subject that is near to his or her heart. The catch is each speaker has to use 20 slides that are set to auto-rotate every 15 seconds, which keeps the talks fast and fun. We will issue a call for volunteers approximately 45 days prior to the conference.

4:05 – 4:20 PM Announcement of 2020 Location

4:20 – 5:20 PM Live White/Rosé Wine Social: Live Wine Social (previously Live Wine Blogging) is the signature event of the conference, in which 25 wineries each have five minutes to pour one wine for a table of attendees. Bloggers, writers, and influencers taste, analyze, and write about the wine or winery on the spot. Wineries then move to a new table in a speed-dating format.  Participating wineries so far:

• First Creek Wines | @firstcreekwines
• Glandore Wines | @Glandorewines
• Misty Glen Wines | @MistyGlenWines
• Silkman Wines | @SilkmanWines
• Thomas Wines | @thomaswines
• Winmark Wines | @WinmarkWines (IG)

5:20 – 5:50 PM Live White/Rosé Wine Social Follow-up – Meet the Winemakers: Take a few minutes to ask additional questions or try the wines of winemakers who did not reach your table.

5:50 – 6:00 PM Break

6:00 – 7:30 PM Australia Regional Wines Reception: Visit with representatives and taste wines from wine regions throughout Australia.

Sunday – Tuesday, October 13 – 15

Post-Conference Excursions: We will be offering three or four post-conference excursions to wine regions inside New South Wales but outside the Hunter Valley.