DTC Wine Symposium
The DTC Wine Symposium is presented by, and a fundraiser for, Free the Grapes! The event has raised more than $1.5 million for Free the Grapes’ PR campaign, and the Coalition for Free Trade’s legal work. These two groups have worked closely with industry lobbyists and regional associations to streamline onerous shipping regulations and to increase the number of legal states from 17 to 45 (as of July 2020) which represent 95% of the US population. The conference is the primary fundraiser for Free the Grapes! which executes state-specific advocacy campaigns encouraging consumers to write their legislators, and working with media and advocacy groups to keep the issue alive.
Barbara Gorder has served as Keynote Content Chair and on the Steering Committee since 2010 and developed innovative programming with Jeremy Benson, Brian Baker, Adrienne Stillman, and Ron Scharman.
Over a decade ago, we made a commitment to help Free the Grapes! fulfill their two-fold mission:
Simplify complex and outdated shipping regulations and enable consumers all over the country to enjoy better wine by buying direct-to-consumer from wineries.
Since 1998, Free the Grapes! has worked with industry groups to expand consumer choice with legal, regulated direct-to-consumer wine shipments from wineries and retailer license holders.
UNLO’s contribution was to create compelling professional content for the wine business across “blue ocean” topics.
Keynote Topics 2010 - 2022
State of the States Legislative Update Keynote by Steve Gross, Wine Institute
Social Media + Content Experts/ Creative + Legal:
Glen Gilmore of Gilmore Business Network/Forbes/Rutgers
Lauren Locke, Content Development of Food52
Drew Huening, Applying Digital Marketing Innovations via Social Video
Strategic Marketing Experts
Panelists:
Dave Knox, co-founder of The Brandery-Seed Stage Accelerator
Michelle Fenstermaker, Global Strategy Director of Fitch/Retail Revolution
Pamela Danzinger, Luxury Goods Expert
Kristi Faulkner, President of Womankind on Marketing to Women
Rob Lindenbusch of Laugunitas Brewing on Wine + Craft Beer Marketing
Wine + Cannabis Marketing with Legal and Grower perspectives
PHD Media on The Future of Digital Media Buying Expertise
Seth Greenfield of Imperson on Chatbots
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The Language of Wine
Ed Feuchuk Tank Garage
Evan Goldstein MS
Isis Daniel The Millennial Somm
Igniting a Conversation:
The power of Provocative Conversations
Cheri Carpenter
Alaina Merrill
Creative Marketing agency panels + Brand Marketing experts:
Millie Olsen, Jonathan Hoffman, Otis Gibson, Dan Goldstein
University Professors:
Bill Burnett of Stanford University and author of Designing Your Life
Ed Russell of University of Syracuse on The Art of the Marketing Plan
Philip Van Allen of the Art Center College of Design on Applications of Mixed Reality, Artificial Intelligence + The Internet of Things
CEO Roundtable on Driving through Fire, Frost and Competition: with Steve Tamburelli, Claudia Vecchio, Clay Gregory and Nate Belden
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Real Time Consumer Feedback Panels
From Boomers to Gen Z: Real Consumers in Real time
Jeremy Benson, Brian Baker, Ron Scharman, and many others on the steering committee, have been valuable partners over the years tapping new ideas, creating new connections and improving all aspects of wine marketing.
