Surry Community College to host Southeastern United Grape & Wine Symposium, Nov. 5-6

Dobson, NC – Internationally renowned experts in Viticulture and Enology will be featured during the Third Annual Southeastern United Grape and Wine Symposium to be held Nov. 5-6 at the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture & Enology on the campus of Surry Community College. “This event will be a wonderful educational opportunity consisting of lectures and workshops to help winemakers and grape growers increase their knowledge base,” said David Bower, SCC Enology Instructor. “Our symposium, educational program and our partnership with VESTA (Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance) focuses its efforts on a technical education and training experience for those interested in the fields of Viticulture and Enology. Our symposium specifically targets the entire Southeastern United States with hopes of bringing regionally specific technical topics to light for those in our area. This year we have included a new marketing track in our program that will focus on direct-to-consumer concepts, wine business, and brand building in the Southeast.” The symposium is being coordinated by SCC and sponsored by VESTA along with media partner, Wines & Vines magazine, the North American wine industry’s oldest and largest publication and industry directory, which merged with Practical Winery Vineyard, the publisher of technical journals. VESTA is a partnership of 17 colleges and universities nationwide that deliver groundbreaking distance educational opportunities for the grape and wine industry. Other event sponsors are Wright of Thomasville, Enartis- Vinquiry, Hanna Instruments, Scott Laboratories, Nomacorc, Bucher Vaslin, Carolina Wine Supply, Vintage Nurseries, Orchard Valley Supply, and Knights Grapevine Nursery. The two-day symposium will feature a variety of wine experts including: Katy Rogers, director of Direct-to-Consumer Marketing, Presqu’ile Wine; Karen Barnes, owner of Wine Direct Marketing Services; Elizabeth “E” Slater, marketing savant, In Short Direct Marketing; Ray Johnson, director of Sonoma State University, Wine Business Institute; Dr. Michelle Moyer, state viticulturist and assistant professor, Washington State; Dr. Alan Lasko, professor of viticulture, Cornell University, Geneva Station. Also, Dr. Andrew Reynolds, professor of viticulture, Brock University; Dr. Sara E. Spayd, state viticulturist and professor of horticulture at North Carolina State University; Dr. Mizuho Nita, research/extension grape pathologist, Virginia Tech; Dr. James Osborne, associate professor and enology extension specialist for Oregon State University; Scott Frost, Ph.D. candidate, University of California at Davis; Dr. Barry Gump, professor of beverage management, Florida International University; Tom Payette, winemaking consultant, Payette Consulting; John McClain, president, McClain Ozone; and Scott Wallace, managing director, Bucher-Vaslin North America. The event will include a Tour of North Carolina Wines Lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 5, featuring wines of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley along with a Lunch and Learn about food and wine pairing on Thursday, Nov. 6. The Grand Wine Tasting on Wednesday night (Nov.5) at 5:30 will highlight wines of the Southeast complemented by heavy hors d’oeuvres and is open to the public for a non-conference rate of $25. The registration cost is $100 until Oct. 18 and $125 after the early bird deadline. The registration deadline is Oct. 26. Participants can choose to register for the entire conference, which includes all meals and the Grand Wine Tasting. Tickets to Lunch and Learn or the Grand Wine Tasting may be purchased separately. Three workshops are being held at Surry Community College in conjunction with the symposium. VESTA Instructor Barry Gump is teaching a Wine Analysis Workshop on Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. along with an Introductory Brewing Workshop, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This brewing workshop will cover the science and history of brewing, and participants will complete an extract-based beer and a mini-mash. The Wine Analysis Workshop is $150, and Introductory Brewing is $100. VESTA Instructor Melba Allen is leading a Wine Sensory Analysis Workshop on Nov. 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This workshop will benefit winemakers, cellar workers, winery staff, and wine enthusiasts who seek a deeper understanding of sensory evaluation topics and their impact on a winery’s success. In addition, workshop attendees will be guided through sensory test methods to access perceived differences and preferences in wine. A certificate will be awarded from VESTA after the completion of this workshop. The workshop cost is $150. Participants can register for these events on the symposium’s website. To register for the symposium or for more information, go to http://symposium.surry.edu.