| Tuesday, February 23, 2027 | |
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| 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Location: Paso Robles Inn | Iconic CABs of Paso Robles |
| WineBusiness Monthly is partnering with the Paso Robles CAB Collective to present Iconic CABs, an evening celebrating exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons. Join fellow wine industry professionals for a curated tasting and networking reception at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom. | |
| Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | |
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| 8:00 am | REGISTRATION |
| Registration for Central Coast Insights 2027 | |
| 8:30 am - 8:45 am | WELCOME | Erin Kirschenmann, Managing Editor, WineBusiness |
| Opening remarks to preview the day and provide timely updates. |
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| 8:45 am - 9:30 am | Finding Opportunity in a Changing U.S. Wine Market |
| U.S. wine consumption fell 20% from 2021 to 2024. This isn’t a temporary cycle. It’s a structural reset driven by long-term shifts in demographics, social habits and drinking occasions. Rabobank’s Bourcard Nesin looks past the headlines at what is really behind the change, from Gen Z’s coming of age to the new consumers reshaping the market. He then shares a framework for separating the forces wineries can influence from those they can’t. Attendees will leave knowing where the market is headed and where to focus to build demand. Keynote Speaker: Bourcard Nesin, Vice President of Research / Beverages, Rabobank |
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| 9:30 am - 10:15 am | Reading the Shift: What the Data Says About Wine in 2027 |
| Bars and restaurants are holding steady while retail shelves soften. Moderation is being redefined, and younger consumers are reshaping flavor, occasions and how they choose to drink. NielsenIQ’s Kaleigh Theriault, a beverage alcohol expert, unpacks the latest sales and consumer data to show where wine is gaining ground, where it’s losing ground, and how it stacks up against beer, spirits, RTDs and non-alcoholic options. She’ll then translate the numbers into practical priorities for pricing, positioning, innovation and route-to-market in 2027. Speaker: Kaleigh Theriault, Director of Beverage Alcohol Thought Leadership, NielsenIQ |
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| 10:15 am - 10:30 am | Morning Break |
| 10:30 am - 11:45 am | Getting to the Glass: Rethinking Route to Market |
| Getting wine into a consumer’s glass takes more strategy, more partners and more investment than it used to. Distributor consolidation, tighter buyer expectations and the rising cost of supporting brands in-market are reshaping how wine reaches consumers. This panel brings together a banker, an on-premise buyer, an off-premise buyer, a distributor and a winery marketer, each a key link in the chain. They’ll share what’s working now: how wineries are balancing wholesale and DTC, what earns placement and support, and how collaborative regional programs that bring appellations, wineries and key accounts together can turn shelf space and wine lists into real consumer demand. Moderator: Cynthia Lohr, Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines Panelists: Marshall Graves, Managing Director, Wine Division, First Citizens Bank Richard Hanauer, Operational Partner, RPM Restaurants, Pizzeria Portofino and Wine Director for The Oakville Grill & Cellar |
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| 11:45 am - 1:00 pm | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Central Coast Grape and Bulk Wine Supply: Strategies for a Shifting Market |
| Changing demand, high inventory levels and pricing pressure are reshaping the Central Coast grape and bulk wine market. Turrentine Wine Brokerage gives a current look at supply, pricing and activity across key varieties and regions, and explains what those trends mean for growers and wineries. They’ll then share practical strategies for navigating contracts, managing excess inventory, finding sourcing opportunities and making production decisions in a market where flexibility and timing matter most. Speakers: William Goebel, Broker/Partner, Turrentine Brokerage Eddie Urman, Central Coast Grape Broker, Turrentine Brokerage |
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| 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm | The New Valuation Reality: M&A and Asset Sales in a Resetting Wine Industry |
| As the wine industry resets, so does the value of its assets. Shifting demand, ample supply and tighter financing are changing how wineries, brands and vineyards are priced, bought and sold. This panel looks at what buyers are seeking, how lenders and investors are shaping deal structures, and where traditional valuation assumptions no longer apply. Owners and executives will leave with a clearer view of current market value, what buyers prioritize, and the options for selling, acquiring or recapitalizing a wine business in 2027. Moderator: Jenny Heinzen, Broker/Principal, Vineyard Professional Real Estate, LLC Panelists: Andrew Nelson, President & Co-Founder, WarRoom Cellars Mario Zepponi, Managing Director, Beverage Alcohol Team, BMO Capital Markets |
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| 2:15 pm - 2:30 pm | Afternoon Break |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Financing What’s Next: Capital, Credit and the Path Forward for Wine |
| Demand gets the headlines, but capital determines who is ready when demand returns. With valuations reset and inventories long, loans written during the expansion years are now coming due in a very different market. This panel brings together the lenders who make the credit decisions and the winery leaders who work with them. They’ll cover what lenders are underwriting today, how collateral is being valued, what a workable refinance looks like, where non-bank and private capital is stepping in, and what sets funded operations apart. Practical and specific, this session is built for owners and CFOs planning the next three years. Moderator: TBD Panelists: Adam Beak, Managing Director, Head of Beverage Vertical, BMO Commercial Bank Nathan Garcin, Senior Vice President, AgWest Farm Credit Patrick Ruiz-Gurin, Director, Asset Based Lending, JPMorgan |
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| 3:30 pm | CLOSING REMARKS | Erin Kirschenmann, Managing Editor, WineBusiness |
| Thank you for Attending! | |
| 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Bottle Bash Central Coast |
| Join WineBusiness Monthly for the Central Coast edition of Bottle Bash—a night of networking, collaboration and celebration. WineBusiness Monthly is bringing Bottle Bash, the party that kicks off each year’s Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, to Paso Robles as part of the Central Coast Insights and WiVi Central Coast events. Hundreds of local winemakers, growers, speakers and sponsors will gather following the Central Coast Insights conference. | |