2026 Hill Country Wine Symposium

• 12pm-5pm - Exhibitor Check In & Setup - Conference Center

• 3pm-5pm - Attendee Early Check-in - Conference Center

• 4pm-5:30pm: One Block Challenge - Phase 2 of the Sustainability in Texas Wine Project Workshop - Colleen Myles, Texas State University - Room TBD

In this workshop, Dr Colleen Myles (and available members of the One Block Challenge (1BC) Texas Technical Team) will lead a discussion and demonstration related to the ongoing "One Block Challenge” in Texas, which has emerged as the primary focus for Phase 2 of the Sustainability in Texas Wine project. All are welcome to attend!

• 6pm-8pm: 12th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception - BYOWine - Conference Center

*NOTES: session times/dates may be adjusted pending speaker schedules, session descriptions coming soon

9am: Welcome - THCW Staff, Board & Presenting Sponsor

9:30am

• Opening Keynote Speaker: James Tidwell, TexSom - Main Ballroom - Sponsored by Moss Adams

10:30am: Exhibitor Break

11am: Breakout Sessions:

• Tasting: Top Texas Wines Unveiled: A Blind Tasting of Award Winning Texas Wines - Moderator: Bryan Chagoly, Sandy Road Vineyards/Top Texas Wines, Panel: Gary Elliott/Driftwood Estate Winery, Tim Drake/Michael Ros Winery, Bob Young/Bending Branch Winery, Reagan Sivadon/Sandy Road Vineyards - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

Join us for an exclusive blind tasting featuring two white and two red wines from some of Texas' most awarded producers. Presented by Top Texas Wines, this interactive session puts your palate to the test as you taste without labels, guided by a panel of award winning winemakers. Discover the varietals, explore the stories behind each wine, and experience firsthand the quality and diversity that’s placing Texas on the world wine map

• Business: Trends in the Industry - Moderator: Chris Hillin - William Chris Wine Company, Panel: Philip Hawkins - Heath Family Brands, Derek Stutz - Carter Creek Winery, Miguel Lecuona - Siboney Cellars - Main Ballroom

• Winery: Wine Closures – One Winery’s Journey to the Screwcap - Blake DeBerry, Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery- Limestone Ballroom

This presentation will explore the variety of wine bottle closures intertwined with one winery’s journey to its final closure, the screwcap.  Additionally, it will present the current trends in wine closures as reported in Wine Business Monthly and discuss consumer preferences/biases based on closure type including two different types of screwcaps.  Finally, it will conclude with the latest research from New Zealand on the aging of wine under screwcap and our anecdotal experience with screwcaps.

12pm:

• Lunch sponsored by Berlin Packaging
• Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards

1:30pm: Breakout Sessions

• Business: Texas Wine Rising –First Impressions, Lasting Impact: FOH That Wins - Moderator: Amber Saidler, Texas Wine Collective, Panel: Beth Valley - Texas Wine Collective, John Cedillo - Be Hospitable, Nichole Bendele - Becker Vineyards, Jesse Barter - Hill + Vine - Main Ballroom

This fast-paced session delivers real-world strategies straight from the hospitality front lines, equipping tasting rooms and wineries to turn first-time guests into lifelong brand superfans. Discover what separates good from great, from staffing and storytelling to space design and genuine guest connection. Hospitality leaders from Texas wineries, a top-tier restaurant, and a tourism and hospitality strategist will share practical insights and tools you can implement immediately.

• Winery: Texas Wine Rising, Sparkling Wine - Moderator: Seth Urbanek, William Chris Wine Company, Panel: Elisa Jones - Elisa Christopher Wines, Barbara Lecuona - Siboney Cellars - Limestone Ballroom

• Vineyard: Texas Wine Rising, Understanding Grape Quality - Moderator: Tate Gregory, William Chris Wine Company, Panel: John Rivenburgh - Kerrville Hills Winery, Mike Nelson - Ab Astris Winery, Tyler Buddemeyer - Texas Heritage Vineyard - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

2:30pm: Exhibitor Break

3pm: Breakout Sessions

• Tasting: Mourvèdre - Moderator TBA, Panel TBA - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

• Business: Five Years of the Texas Vintners Cup: Trends, Insights, and the Future of Texas Wine - Jessica Dupuy, Wine Writer/Journalist/Educator - Main Ballroom

The Texas Vintners Cup is an annual evaluation of Texas wine, presented by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Uncork Texas Wine program and featured each October in Texas Monthly during Texas Wine Month. Now in its fifth year, the Cup has grown into a benchmark of quality, bringing together industry professionals for a rigorous and constructive review of the state’s wines. Each year, the judging panel includes two Master Sommeliers, joined by writers and certified sommeliers, ensuring a balance of expertise and perspective. This year’s panel features Jack Mason MS of Banville Wine, Steven McDonald MS of Pappas Bros Steakhouses, and Jessica Dupuy, wine writer and certified sommelier. Together, they will share insight into the good, the bad, and the encouraging developments across Texas wine. With five years of results, clear patterns and trends are beginning to emerge, offering valuable feedback for producers and meaningful direction for the future of Texas wine.

• Vineyard: Pros & Cons of Varieties in the Hill Country - Moderator: Kelsey Kramer, William Chris Wine Company, Panel: Bill Blackmon - Blackmon Wines, Jackie Mancuso - Atlas Vineyard Management, Lydia Nida - Pebble Rock Cellars, Doug Lewis - Lewis Wines - Limestone Ballroom

4pm: Partner Receptions

6pm: Winemaker Dinner (separate ticket)

*NOTES: session times/dates may be adjusted pending speaker schedules, session descriptions coming soon

8am: Breakfast Tacos & Networking

9am: Breakout Sessions

• Business: Beyond the Bottle: Crafting Wine Clubs That Work - Moderator: Valerie Elkins - William Chris Wine Company, Panel: Kristen Nelson - Ab Astris Winery, Gina Ross - Calais Winery - Main Ballroom

Wine clubs are more than just recurring revenue. They are the heart of your brand’s community. In this lively panel we will uncork experiences building and managing successful clubs for all different sizes. From choosing the right member acquisition strategy, to navigating emerging trends with smart segmentation, to digging into what really drives retention, this session is packed with real talk, fresh ideas, and proven tactics. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, you’ll leave with new ways to think about your club (and maybe a few “why didn’t I try that?” moments).

• Winery: Sustainability in the Winery, Presenter TBA - Limestone Ballroom

• Vineyard: Heat Resistance - Thomas Paveglio, Eden Terraforming Technologies - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

10am: Exhibitor Break

10:30am: Breakout Sessions

• Business: General Business Operations Budget for Wineries - Livia Schorlemer, Pedernales Cellars - Main Ballroom

• Vineyard: Optimizing Grapevine Performance and Water Use Efficiency Across Vineyards in Texas: What have we learned thus far? - Michael Cook, Texas A&M University - Limestone Ballroom

Since 2016, Michael Cook has served the nearly 120 growers and winemakers as the viticulture program specialist for the 55 counties of North Texas with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Based on grower needs he established a comprehensive vine water efficiency enhancement study that will serve as a foundational reference in Texas and other challenging environments. The overall goal of this project is to understand the impact on yield components and fruit/wine quality with an emphasis on acidity and wine stability across three distinct grape growing regions (High Plains, Hill Country, and North Texas) of Texas, which comprises 95% of our commercial acreage. Furthermore, due to the present and forecast continued depletion of water resources across hot climates in America, the aim of this study will also explore the relationship between irrigation strategies and water conservation as well as potential reduction of inputs and increase of profit margins. Cover cropping will also be utilized as a means of competition in vigorous, humid environments. This is the third season of trial implementation and data collection. Cook is using new technologies in vine stress monitoring, namely FloraPulse microtensiometers as well as an array of other sensors used to aid in scheduling of irrigation, all of which are accessible and economical for the grape grower to adopt. At the conclusion of this study, it is our goal to have tangible recommendations for growers to consider and adopt, specific to their own region, that will optimize grapevine water use efficiency and resiliency.

• Tasting: High Plains AVA Wines - Moderator: Brad Buckalew, Lost Draw Wines, Panel: Jason Centanni - Llano Estacado, Spenser Igo - McPherson Cellars, Roman Cuevas - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

11:30am:

• Lunch
• Hill Country Wine Industry Awards

1pm: Breakout Sessions

• Business: Behind the Brand: A Conversation with Chris Brundrett of William Chris Vineyards - Chris Brundrett, William Chris Wine Company & Jessica Dupuy, Texas Monthly/Journalist - Main Ballroom

Chris Brundrett is one of the most recognizable figures in Texas wine. As co-founder of William Chris Vineyards, he has helped shape not only a successful winery but also the larger conversation around what Texas wine can be. Part farmer, part winemaker, part entrepreneur, and full-time champion of people, Chris brings passion and honesty to everything he does. This session pulls back the curtain on the real story of building a wine brand. Expect an unfiltered conversation about the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way. From his beginnings in entomology at Texas A&M to leading one of the state’s most dynamic wine companies, Chris will share what he would change, what he would repeat, and how he measures success. Packed with insight, humor, and inspiration, this is a rare opportunity to learn from a leader who continues to define Texas wine.

• Winery: From Brix to Barrel: Fermentation Strategies, Setbacks and Successes - Moderator: Meredith Reed - Kerrville Hills Winery, Panel: Janet Miertschin - Portree Cellars. Jackie van Sant Downes - Driftwood Estate Winery, Remi Immler - The Burg Wine Company - Limestone Ballroom

Fermentation is the heart of winemaking—and no two approaches are exactly alike. In this open panel discussion, four seasoned Texas winemakers share their real-world strategies for managing fermentation from start to finish. From yeast selection and nutrient additions to temperature control, troubleshooting stuck ferments, and vessel choice, this session offers practical insight and hard-earned lessons from the cellar floor. Bring your questions and join the conversation.

• Vineyard: Single Vineyard Case Study - Andy Timmons, Lost Draw Vineyard - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

2pm: Exhibitor Break

2:30pm: Breakout Sessions

• Tasting: Hill Country AVA Wines - Moderator: Mike Nelson, Ab Astris Winery, Panel: TBA - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F

sponsored by Atlas Vineyard Management

• Business: Sustainability: it's about more than just the environment - Colleen Myles, Texas State University - Main Ballroom

The concept of “sustainability” is often described as tripart, encompassing environment, economy, and society. Environmental concerns often take center stage in sustainability discussions; however, the economics of sustainable systems and the social conditions that facilitate (or detract from) them are also crucial to consider. Join Dr Colleen Myles for a presentation and discussion about the opportunities and challenges of 1) identifying what values define a “sustainable” economic or social system and 2) how to pursue those values authentically and effectively.  

• Winery: Inventory Management - Moderator: Tate Gregory, William Chris Wine Company, Panel: Andrew Sides & Brad Buckalew - Lost Draw Wines and Tyler Wolz, David Newitt & Chase Jones - Slate Theory Winery - Limestone Ballroom

3:45pm: Closing Panel

• Wine Down & Spill the Tea: Insider Talks & Trends

Moderator: Shelly Wilfong, This Is Texas Wine (recording session for podcast)

Panel: Jennifer Beckmann - Re-Rooted 210, Chris Brundrett - William Chris Wine Company, Roxanne Myers - Lost Oak Winery, John Rivenburgh - Kerrville Hills Winery, Katy Jane Seaton - Farmhouse Vineyards and Ron Yates - Spicewood Vineyards/Ron Yates Wines

Join six of Texas’ most charismatic winemakers and winery owners for a rollicking finale! Hot takes, juicy gossip, behind-the-scenes tales, and a touch of mischief abound. Packed with entertaining anecdotes and candid insights, this final session shares the stories that don’t make the press. Equal parts enlightening and entertaining, it’s your last chance to laugh, learn, and raise a glass to Texas wine in all its messy, magical glory.

CLICK HERE to see Speaker Bios