2009 Symposium Poll Results

2009 Eco-friendly Wine: Over-hyped, Over-priced?
A Symposium on Green Wine Marketing
Asia Pacific Hall
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre
580 West Hastings Street
1:30-5:00 pm (Reception from 4:00-5:00 pm)

If you have any questions, comments or ideas to add to the discussion, please send them to WFsymposium@gmail.com.

  

            

Sponsored by Wine Access, ContainerWorld, the IVSA and Tetra Pak

MODERATOR

Anthony Gismondi, Editor-in-Chief, Wine Access
Anthony Gismondi is one of Canada’s most influential wine critics.  He is currently in his twelfth year at Wine Access – Canada’s Wine and Food Authority, his fifth as editor-in-chief and two decades as the weekly columnist at The Vancouver Sun, where his full page Saturday column reaches over 800,000 homes.  His personal, comprehensive wine website, www.gismondionwine.com, attracts over 750,000 hits monthly from 60 countries.  An avid proponent of appellations and site specific wines Anthony spends at least 3 months annually traveling the world’s vineyards to experience the wine notion of ‘terroir’ in person.

FACILITATOR

  Glenn Sigurdson, Principal, CSE Group

Glenn Sigurdson has a proven track record in dealing with complex challenges and difficult problems.  He gives leadership to create effective working relationships, build durable partnerships and resolve seemingly intractable disputes.  He has an international reputation in dealing with complex multi-party challenges particularly relating to resources and the environment.  Glenn is Principal of the CSE Group, a group of independent practitioners formed in Vancouver in 1990 that is dedicated to achieving sustainable outcomes and organizations by building sustainable relationships.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Business.

 

  Jose Asensio, Export Director, Familia Zuccardi Winery

Jose Asensio has fond childhood memories of touring his father’s beautiful Malbec vineyard south of Mendoza.  Growing up surrounded by the wine industry enabled him to develop his comprehensive knowledge of the agriculture and people who make up this inspirational wine region.  As a holder of a Master in Business from L’Ecole National des Ponts et Chauses, Jose went on to work at ProMendoza and was responsible for the development and execution of promotional programs for the wineries of Mendoza.  In 2000 he became Export Manager for Familia Zuccardi and now holds the title of Export Director.  Jose is fully committed to the Familia Zuccardi “sustainable by nature” concepts.

 

  Jean-Charles Boisset, President, Boisset Family Estate

Jean-Charles Boisset grew up in Vougeot among the historic vineyards of the Cote de Nuits, where he was immersed from the very beginning in a family deeply involved in the world of wine, his parents having started the family wine business in 1961.  After completing his studies at the University of London, including courses in Spain and Germany, he moved to the US for graduate studies in business and finance.  He soon began work with Boisset’s American operation, where he successfully developed a domestic portfolio of wines and built a sales and marketing arm for the US and Canada.   Integral to Jean-Charles’ long-term vision has always been a dedication to innovation and the environment, two qualities that have led to pioneering efforts in sustainability from the vineyard to the vessel.  At wineries from DeLoach vineyards to Clos Jordanne and Domaine de la Vougeraie, organic and biodynamic farming techniques have been implemented.  Simultaneously, he has launched innovative new brands in alternative packaging including French Rabbit wines in Tetra Pak, Yellow Jersey in PET and an AOC Beaujolais wine from Mommessin in the first 750 ml aluminum wine bottle.

 

  Owsley Brown III, President, Magnanimus Wine Group

Owsley began working in the wine industry in 1993 at Napa Valley’s Mayacamas Vineyards, and two years later co-founded Chameleon Cellars, a Napa Valley boutique label.  In 2000 he was introduced to biodynamic winegrowing at Mendocino’s Bonterra Ranch while working for the Brown-Forman Wine Estates Group.  This experience cultivated Owsley’s great passion for biodynamic wines and later inspired him to launch Magnanimus Wine Group, a company dedicated to producing authentic and distinct wines that reflect not only a sense of place, but also the highest standards of quality and environmental stewardship.

 

  Tilman Hainle, Owner and Winemaker,
Working Horse Winery

Tilman is a professionally trained European winemaker and was the first certified organic winemaker in Canada.  Working Horse Winery, Tilman’s new organic winery, is set amidst the organic estate vineyards he planted by hand 30 years ago, on the location where he made the first icewine 25 years ago.  Working Horse Winery is the realization of Tilman’s lifelong vision:  a sustainable organic farm with a boutique premium winery and vineyard that honours heritage varietals and draft horse farming techniques.

 

  Robert Hill Smith, Owner, Yalumba Winery

A fifth generation descendant of Samuel Smith who founded Yalumba in 1849, Robert did not need to find an industry in which to build a career.  Following his forebears Samuel, Sidney and Walter “Tiger” Smith, then his father Wyndham, Robert joined Yalumba in 1970 working in the vintage cellar laboratory and the vineyards.  After extensive travel and harvest work in Europe he joined the Sales and Marketing Department, and in 1985 he was appointed Managing Director.  Four years later Robert and his brother, Sam, purchased all shares in the company not held by their family, thereby ensuring the growth and future direction of the company.  Robert’s leadership qualities, which have driven Yalumba to the enviable position today as one of Australia’s most progressive and successful wine companies, made him a worthy recipient in 2008 of the Len Evans Award for Leadership.

  Anthony Hudry, Sales Manager, Domaines Paul Mas

Anthony began his career in the wine business by moving to Malta, where he worked for a year and a half as Operations Manager for Cleland & Souchet.  For the next five years he took on the role of Wine Purchasing Manager for the supermarket chain, Intermarche,  with 2,000 outlets.  His buying focus was on Bordeaux, the southwest of France and foreign wines.  Since the 1^st of January 2008 Anthony has been Domaines Paul Mas’ Sales Manager and is a firm believer in the owner’s philosophy that responsibility for and care of the environment is key to future success.

 

  Josh Metz, Director of Sales and Marketing,
Magnanimus Wine Group

Josh manages the development of new markets for the Magnanimus Wine Group. He has focused on growing the “green” wine category over much of the past 8 years working with growers and wineries in northern and southern California. He is a contributing member on the Wine Institute Sub-committee on Sustainable Winegrowing Certification as well as a participant in the current effort to update the Demeter-USA Biodynamic farming standards.  Josh combines his enthusiasm for wine business, geography and the environment in pursuing an ever more “green” wine industry. He holds a Master of Landscape Architecture for UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Humboldt State University.

 

  Shari Mogk-Edwards, Vice-President, Merchandising, LCBO

For the past 27 years, Shari has held progressively responsible positions with the LCBO in Retail, Logistics and Sales and Marketing.  In her current role she oversees the Merchandising Department in the Sales and Marketing division.  Shari is also responsible for overseeing the activities of the three LCBO business units:  Spirits, Wines, Beers and Ready-To-Drink, as well as Pricing Administration and Inventory Development.   She has represented the LCBO and VINTAGES on global buying trips since 1996 and has been an international wine judge since 1987.  Shari holds the Higher Certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and among her many awards she is the 2006 recipient of the inaugural Partnership Award from the Ontario Imported Wine-Spirit-Beer Association.  

 

  Anthony Nicalo, Founder, Farmstead Wines

A chef by trade, Anthony Nicalo has spent his lifetime examing the connection between fine food and its farmed roots.  Anthony launched his culinary career as Executive Sous Chef under Dean Zanelle at 312 Chicago, creating dishes based on the local produce selection at Chicago’s only sustainable grocer, Green City Market.  After serving as interim Executive chef at Hotel Monaco”s Poste, Anthony assisted in the launch of family-owned Ristorante Castello Banfi and learned about the intricacies of complementing dishes with regional wines.  His experience in Italy led him to his own calling of founding Farmstead Wines in Vancouver.  He carefully chooses exquisite, naturally farmed wines from small sustainable farms.  Wines that bear the Farmstead seal meet a rigorous certification program, ensuring that each wine is not only naturally farmed and handcrafted but is made with truly sustainable practices.

 

  Barbara Philip, Master of Wine

Based in Vancouver, Barbara Philip is a consultant, writer and presenter with almost 15 years experience in the wine business.  She was the first Master of Wine in Western Canada and is the only female MW in the country.  Barbara’s background is primarily in the restaurant trade, and she is now Curriculum Department Head for the International Sommelier Guild (ISG).  Over the past six years she has trained sommeliers in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Austin.  In Vancouver Barbara is a guest instructor for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level Four Diploma Program.  Together with her husband, Iain, and their company, Barbariain Wine Consulting, Barb conducts corporate wine seminars, writes a regular column for Good Life Connoisseur Magazine and consults for different sectors of the wine industry.

 

  Mischa Popoff, Agricultural Consultant

Mischa Popoff grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and earned at BA (Honours) in the history of science, specializing in the development of nitrogen for fertilizer and warfare.  In addition to working on the farm, he also worked for five years as an Advanced Organic Farm and Process Inspector in Canada and the United States.  He currently works as an agricultural consultant and freelance writer in British Columbia and has a manuscript on organic agriculture seeking publication.

 

  Jim Robertson, Global Business Relations Manager, Pernod Ricard New Zealand

Industry veteran Jim Robertson has been part of New Zealand’s wine explosion onto the world stage and has been in key positions to affect the country’s wine growth since 1992.   Jim is involved in a number of industry groups including New Zealand Winegrowers Global Marketing Committee which develops in-market programs for global markets, among them the initiative to have all exporting wineries certified to the Swiss developed New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowing Program by 2010.  Additionally, Jim is part of the Pernod Ricard New Zealand team developing the global group’s Sustainable Development Charter in New Zealand.  Pernod Ricard is the first wine company in New Zealand to achieve the five top international industry standards relating to quality, the environment, health and safety and food safety for all of its vineyards, wineries and packaging facility.

 

  Bill Tieleman, Owner, West Star Communications

Bill Tieleman is one of BC’s best known communicators, political commentators and strategists—and also a wine collector and blogger who has written about organic wine issues.  Bill writes a weekly column on politics in Vancouver’s weekday newspaper, 24 Hours, and is heard Mondays on CKNW am 980’s The Bill Good Show.  He also runs winebarbarian.blogspot.com, a wine and food blog, and has visited Bordeaux, Tuscany, Ribera del Duero, Champagne, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Monterey as well as wine regions in BC and Ontario.  Bill owns West Star Communications, a strategy and communication consulting firm.