Join us as we take a tour throughout the world of wine. We'll hear from some of the wine world's leading women winemakers and estate owners and be inspired by discussions on collective contributions and experiences from pioneers of the wine industry. 

Panelists:

Veronique Dausse, Directeur Général
Château Phélan Ségur, Saint-Estèphe, France

While she has kept a love of the land and of terroirs from her Piedmontese and Gascon origins,  Véronique Dausse has enjoyed a global wine career. With an MBA under her belt, she started her career at Clos du Val in Napa Valley. Here, she established the four pillars of her wine know-how: knowledge of the product, a commercial spirit, an Anglo-Saxon approach to marketing refined through contact with distributors and consumers around the world, and insatiable curiosity. In becoming Managing Director of Château Phélan Ségur in 2010,she brought her energy, her determination and her obsession with quality to one of St Estèphe’s most brilliant wine estates. In 2018, Château Phélan Ségur came under the ownership of the Flemish Van de Vyvere family. In love with the property and its terroir, Véronique accompanies Philippe Van de Vyvere in realizing his dream, for which he puts his entrepreneurial values to work in search of aesthetic and technical excellence, with respect for environmental and social balance. The mother of 3 children, she divides her time between her family, her oenological and culinary travels, and opera.

Elizabeth Cooper, Eastern Sales Director
Fess Parker Winery and Vineyards, Santa Barbara, California

With over 30 years in the food and beverage industry, Liz hasWith over 30 years in the food and beverage industry, Liz hasworked in just about every facet of the business. She receivedthe Advanced Sommelier certification from the Court of MasterSommeliers in 2008 and sat for the Master exam in 2010, 2011and 2012. Liz now enjoys traveling the country sharing Fess ParkerWinery and Vineyards’ wines and story. Liz’s tenure with the Parkershas been divided over 7+ years. Fess Parker Winery and Vineyardsis a small, family owned and operated winery, farm, ranch, restaurantand brewery that has been evolving into an incredible, sustainable, food and beverage“ecosystem” over the last 30 years.

Kim Bolander, Director of Sales
L'Ecole N° 41, Walla Walla, Washington

Joan Szkutak, Proprietor
SAMsARA Wine Company, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California

Susie Selby, Proprietor & Winemaker
Selby Winery, Russian River Valley, California

Selby Winery was founded by Susie Selby, Winemaker, and her father, David K. Selby, M.D. After receiving her BA in Economics from Vanderbilt and her MBA from George Washington University, Susie learned to make wine in a hands-on apprenticeship environment, starting as a Tasting Room Manager, Cellar Master and eventually becoming the Assistant Winemaker at a large winery, while still making Selby wines. After Dr. Selby passed away suddenly in 1997, Susie decided to continue the dream of Selby Winery and managed to do it on her own through a lot of hard work and challenges. Today she still has no partners or investors. Selby Winery produces over sixteen different varietals and has won numerous awards and accolades. “Enjoy wine; enjoy life,” will continue to be Susie’s approach to being a winemaker. That expression, like the wines, is a reflection of the passion and the enjoyment she shared with her father and co-founder.

Julie Johnson, Proprietor & Winemaker
Tres Sabores, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California

Julie Johnson is the Winemaker and Owner of Tres Sabores, a winery nestled into the western Rutherford bench land of the Napa Valley. Passionate about food, wine, and the land, for the last 33 years Julie has lived on Napa’s first certified organic farm, growing winegrapes (Cabernet, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah) pomegranates, lemons andolives while raising her children (not to mention Golden Retrievers, Guinea Hens, and sheep.) A native of California, Julie graduated from Columbia as a P.H.N. after receiving a B.A. from Bowdoin College. Relocating to the Napa Valley in 1980, she practiced nursing even as she founded Frog’s Leap Winery (with her first husband, John Williams and partner, Larry Turley) in 1981. In 1990 she joined with Michaela Rodeno, past CEO at St. Supery Winery, and founded “Women for Wine Sense, a vital national organization whose “vision is to support theappreciation for and responsible consumption of wine.” Julie started Tres Sabores in 1999 as a single vineyard estate and soon began making her own wine.

Mary Joli, National Brand Manager
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Oregon

This tasting seminar is devoted to native Italian grape varieties and the wines made from them. Led by some of Italy’s top producers, our panel takes you on a journey through Italia, tasting various whites and reds from some of the country’s most prestigious regions.

Valentina Abbona, Proprietor
Marchesi di Barolo, Barolo, Italy

Marta Magnabosco, Proprietor
Monte Tondo, Soave and Valpolicella, Italy

Sara Maule, Brand Ambassador
Nino Negri, Valtellina DOCG, Italy

Lorenzo Gatteschi, Proprietor & Winemaker
Podere Ciona, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

Francesco Zaganelli, Export Manager
Lungarotti, Umbria, Italy

The seminar will give wine lovers a chance to taste California’s diverse wines and learn the winemakers’ philosophies on California terroir and the direction California wine is heading. You'll be cruisin' through California...Buckle up!

Tom Gamble, Proprietor & Winemaker
Gamble Family Vineyards, Napa Valley, California

Barry Collier, Proprietor
Collier Falls, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California