Virginia Wine Trade Intensive: Full Schedule

The Virginia Wine Trade Intensive is a high-impact professional development experience built for the trade to taste, learn, and sell Virginia Wine with confidence.

8:45am EDT

Registration

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

9:30am EDT

Virginia in Context: A Comparative Grand Tasting

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

A guided, comparative blind tasting that places Virginia wines alongside classic global benchmarks, allowing attendees to evaluate Virginia through a familiar lens. Expect clear takeaways on where Virginia stands apart, where it aligns with known categories, and how to communicate about it with confidence.

Moderators

Jay Youmans MW

Educational Director, Capital Wine School

Jay Youmans has been tasting wine professionally for nearly 30 years. He is the Educational Director and Owner of the Capital Wine School; and the Owner of Rock Creek Wine Merchants, a sales and marketing consultancy. Jay has served as a wine judge for numerous wine competitions and... Read More →

Speakers

Winn Roberton

Head Sommelier, Bourbon Steak Four Seasons Hotel

Dave McIntyre

Food & Wine Writer, Dave McIntyre's WineLine

Dave McIntyre is the author of “Dave McIntyre’s WineLine,” recommended by The Wall Street Journal as one of the best wine publications on Substack. He is also Associate Wine Editor and columnist for The SOMM Journal. Dave wrote the weekly wine column for The Washington Post... Read More →

Cheron Cowan

Writer-at-Large, Wine Enthusiast

Cheron Cowan is the beverage director at Craft, Tom Colicchio's flagship restaurant in NYC. Her 20-year career working in high-profile restaurants includes wine director and general manager roles at Esca Restaurant and guest-engaging positions at Blue Hill NYC and Gramercy Tavern. Cowan... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

11:00am EDT

Blends with Intention: How Virginia Builds Balance and Style

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Blending is one of Virginia wine’s most effective tools for achieving balance and consistency in a climate that rewards thoughtful composition. This session explores blend styles where Virginia consistently excels, highlighting how intentional blending helps producers manage vintage variation and results in wines that perform well on the list and in the market.

Moderators

Sebastian Zutant

Primrose & Lightwell Survey, Owner

Sebastian began his career in wine in 2003–2004 as the opening sommelier at Komi in Washington, DC. Early on, he developed a strong interest not just in service, but in the culture, history, and craft behind wine, setting the foundation for everything that followed.

In August 2006, he moved to Sonoma, California, where he spent a year working alongside several winemakers during the 2006–2007 harvest. This hands-on experience in both vineyard and cellar work gave him a deeper understanding of the process and proved to be a defining moment in... Read More →

Speakers

Nate Walsh

Walsh Family Wine

Nate Walsh is the founder of Walsh Family Wine, focusing on vineyard-designate wines in Loudoun County, VA. He has worked for vineyards and wineries in Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Oregon, and New Zealand.

Luca Paschina

Estate Director, Barboursville Vineyards

A third generation winemaker , born in Torino he graduated at the School of enology in Alba in 1981 and then worked in grape-growing and winemaking in Piemonte, Puglia, Napa Valley, Finger Lakes NY and Switzerland.He has been managing the Barboursville Vineyards Estate since July... Read More →

Chelsey Blevins

Winemaker, Fifty-third Winery & Vineyard

Virginia Native, Chelsey Blevins, is a first generation winemaker that has been diligently crafting in the Virginia Piedmont since 2014. “My role in this world is to make wine, not just any wine but Virginia Wine. The same minerals and water that flows through our soils, and the... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Morning Breakout

11:00am EDT

Rooted in Resilience: Viticultural decisions shaping Virginia’s winemaking future

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Explore how Virginia’s winemakers and growers are making deliberate viticultural choices to meet the challenges of a changing climate. It examines how decisions around variety selection—including the increasing role of hybrids—along with farming practices and vineyard management are shaping both sustainability and wine quality in the state. Attendees will gain practical tools for framing...
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Moderators

Lee Campbell

Speakers

Karl Hambsch

mondayCRM 1 Desiree Harrison-Brown Sequences Quotes and Invoices Mass email tracking AI Sidekick Vibe AI Workflows AI Agents AI Notetaker Board Planning Calendar Board Tasting Pass Application Planning Notes Governor's Cup Board Governor's Cup Tickets Board Judges Feedback Board 2026 Gold Medal Wine Trail Assets Trade Intensive Board Wines_Intensive Wine Summit Notes Board Submissions: The Virginia Wine | Trade Intensive Board Intensive To-Do List Board Flights_Vetting Board Trade Intensive Panelist Submission Form Completed Virginia by the Glass Landing Pages Norton Trail Board New Form Board New Board Board New Form AI Sidekick Vineyard Manager and Winemaker, Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery

Karl Hambsch is the owner, vineyard manager, and winemaker of Virginia's only certified-organic vineyard and winery. Karl has worked in the wine industry for 25 years, has been making wine for 20 years, and has begun his 15th vintage year at Loving Cup.
Karl endeavors to farm with humility and attempts to work with nature, rather than against it. "Do no harm" is the standard against which all farming practices at Loving Cup are measured. Biodiversity and soil health are protected and encouraged, adding layered resilience in V... Read More →

Matthieu Finot

Winegrower, Domaine Finot

Domaine Finot is a bi-national viticultural bridge between the French Alps and Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Winemaker Matthieu Finot brings a "garagiste" soul to Turk Mountain Vineyards, championing minimalist intervention: natural yeasts, no added SO2, and sustainable farming. By blending... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Morning Breakout

11:00am EDT

Today’s Industry: Trends & Virginia’s Role

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

The wine industry is navigating one of its most dynamic periods in recent history. In this session, we’ll examine the trends reshaping wine consumption and what they mean for Virginia. This conversation explores what consumers are buying, how regional identity influences purchasing decisions, and why education, storytelling, and stewardship are more critical than ever. We’ll take a candid look...
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Moderators

Frank Morgan

Frank Morgan has been writing about the wines, wineries and winemakers of Virginia for over 15 years. He serves as Director of Judging for the Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition and organizer of the Monticello Cup Wine Competition and the Shenandoah Valley Wine Competition... Read More →

Speakers

Aileen Servier

Marketing Director, Winebow

Lisa Granik MW

Managing Director & CEO, Master of Wine, Tastingwordks

Lisa Granik MW entered the wine trade following an earlier career as a lawyer and law professor. Having worked in both the importing and distribution channels, she currently advises European wineries, regions, and importers on strategies for the US market. As a specialist in Russian... Read More →

Jason Wilson

Wine Writer

JASON WILSON is senior correspondent for The New Wine Review. He also writes Everyday Drinking, a newsletter about the world of wine & spirits (awarded Substack’s Food Intensive Fellowship).
He is the author of Godforsaken Grapes, which The New York Times named one of “The Bes... Read More →

Lisa Katic

Wine Gallery 108, Owner

Lisa started her career in hospitality while she was in college studying for her Dietetics and Nutrition degree. She spent 20+ years working in many different capacities as a nutrition professional while expanding and cultivating her knowledge of wine. With her artistic abilities... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Morning Breakout

12:15pm EDT

Lunch

Tuesday June 9, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

1:45pm EDT

Pour with Purpose: Virginia Wine & Trade Strategy

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Virginia wins when it’s poured purposefully, especially by the glass and through smart list placement. Built for buyers, sommeliers and distributors, this session explores which Virginia styles perform best BTG, how to place them effectively on wine lists, and how thoughtful programming can support margin and encourage discovery.

Moderators

Kristi Delovitch

Vice President Sales, Winebow Mid Atlantic, Winebow

Speakers

Antoinette Landragin

Loudoun Wineries & Winegrowers Association, Cork & Fork Fine Wine Merchants

Robert Jones, MS

Robert Jones grew up in Roanoke VA and holds a BA in Psychology from Roanoke College. He received the Master Sommelier diploma in March 2001 and since June of 2001 has worked as a national account manager for the wine importing company Kysela Père et Fils, LTD. He also runs the wine... Read More →

Crystal Cameron-Schaad

Owner, Sommelier, Crystal Palate Wine & Gourmet

Crystal Cameron-Schaad, DipWSET, is the owner and lead educator at Crystal Palate, a wine boutique and tasting room in Norfolk, Virginia.

Crystal is a certified wine educator with Wine & Spirt Education Trust (WSET), and offers the WSET L1-L3 courses at Crystal Palate as a satellite provider for Vitis House. She is also a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, a keynote speaker, and writer. Crystal... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Afternoon Breakout

1:45pm EDT

Same Grape, Different Stories: Cabernet Franc Across Virginia

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Cabernet Franc has become one of Virginia’s most compelling calling cards—fresh, lifted, and quietly complex. This guided tasting explores five distinct expressions of the state’s most planted grape, ranging from bright, red-fruited and floral to savory, herbal, and peppery; from lighter, chillable styles to more structured, cellar-worthy bottlings. Along the way, discover how site and...
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Moderators

Erin Scala

Market Street Wine

Erin hails from Market Street Wine in central Virginia, a wine hub dedicated to sustainability, wine education, and community building. She’s also a content creator and wine journalist, and has written articles for Wine & Country Living, Wine & Spirits, Knife & Fork magazine, and... Read More →

Speakers

Boela Gerber

Winemaker, Southwest Mountains Vineyards

Boela Gerber is an internationally recognized winemaker whose career has spanned continents and decades, earning him a reputation for craft, curiosity, and restraint. A graduate of Stellenbosch University with a BSc in Agriculture focused on oenology and viticulture, Boela went on... Read More →

Corry Craighill

Winemaker, Septenary Winery/Wound Tight

Corry brings many years of winemaking experience from a variety of regions, including South Africa, France, Australia, New Zealand, California, and Oregon in addition to her native Virginia. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she is excited to be in Charlottesville making... Read More →

Joy Ting

Winemaker, Joy Ting Wine

Joy Ting is an independent Virginia winemaker producing small-lot wines under her own label, Joy Ting Wine. She sources fruit from local vineyard partners and makes her wines at the Virginia Wine Collective in Charlottesville. Before launching her own project, Joy worked at Michael... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Afternoon Breakout

1:45pm EDT

The Pour That Changed Everything

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

A candid, story-driven tasting featuring buyers, sommeliers, distributors, and writers who once had doubts about Virginia wine—and the specific bottle that changed their mind. Hear the turning-point moments, taste the wines, and unpack the cues that signal quality, value, and list-worthiness.

Moderators

James Tidwell, MS

TEXSOM

James Tidwell is a writer, speaker, and educator. Tidwell founded and produces the TEXSOM Conference and produces the TEXSOM Awards.He consulted on The World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition as well as the forthcoming update to the Oxford Companion to Wine, contributes to the annual Hugh... Read More →

Speakers

Grayum Vickers

Sommelier, AMP Hospitality

Growing up, Grayum Vickers wanted to study tornadoes. After earning a Graduate degree from Florida State University for meteorology, Vickers moved to Brooklyn, New York, where his roommate at the time, a bartender at New York’s Death & Co, helped him land an interview at The NoMad... Read More →

Booth Hardy

Owner, Barrel Thief Wine & Provisions

Growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, Booth was torn between two passions: food and music. Choosing music, he studied percussion at Berklee College of Music and spent years performing, but a harvest job in Sonoma County in 2005 changed his path. The blend of art, science, and camaraderie... Read More →

Sedale McCall

Writer

Sedale is a writer and editor focused on the stories and conversations that are not being told enough. His passion is for stories related to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the industry. A Virginia-native, Sedale focuses on people and places wine is enjoyed outside of typical... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Afternoon Breakout

3:00pm EDT

Palate Pause

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

3:45pm EDT

Through the Judges’ Glass

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

A look at Virginia Wine through one of its most consistent lenses: the Virginia Governor’s Cup. Drawing on years of judging insight and trend observation, this session—led by Competition Director Frank Morgan—traces how Virginia’s varieties, styles, and regional strengths have evolved, highlighting what’s rising now and what it signals for buyers, wine lists, and the broader market.

Moderators

Frank Morgan

Speakers

Luca Paschina

Estate Director, Barboursville Vineyards

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Late Afternoon Breakout

3:45pm EDT

Virginia at the Table

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

The best argument for Virginia wine isn't made in a classroom; it's made at the table. This session pairs Virginia wines with a curated spread of Virginia-sourced small bites. Come with your menu in mind. Leave with pairings you can sell and a conviction that Virginia wine doesn't just belong on your list, it belongs on your table.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Late Afternoon Breakout

3:45pm EDT

What’s in Your Glass? The New Faces of Virginia Wine

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT

The Jefferson Hotel

A tasting and conversation spotlighting a new generation of small, independent Virginia producers shaping what comes next for the state’s wine identity. Meet the people (and the wines) driving quality and originality through fresh approaches to farming, grape selection and business models.

Moderators

Nate Walsh

Walsh Family Wine

Speakers

Corry Craighill

Winemaker, Septenary Winery/Wound Tight

John Noer

Owner/Winemaker, Noer Vineyards

I grew up on a property with a small 2 acre vineyard in the front yard. I became an assistant winemaker at the oldest winery in Loudoun County and did school through UC Davis before I started Noer Vineyards. Noer Vineyards is the largest vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
The Jefferson Hotel

Late Afternoon Breakout