2025 Hill Country Wine Symposium
presented by Uncork Texas Wines
This highly anticipated event spans two immersive days, offering an array of engaging seminars, enlightening lectures, and thought-provoking panel discussions. With over 20 sessions meticulously curated across four dedicated tracks—Vineyard, Winery, Business, and New Vineyard/Winery—the Symposium provides a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of the wine industry as we focus on the theme Vintage Roots | Modern Growth: Next Generation of Texas Wine.
Join us January 13-15, 2025 at Horseshoe Bay Resort
- Regular price
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$425.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$425.00
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In 2015, Texas Hill Country Wineries established the esteemed Hill Country Wine Symposium. This event consists of seminars, lectures, panel discussions and an intimate trade show providing you the opportunity to connect with your current Texas clients, while also meeting new potential accounts.
Join us for the 11th Annual Symposium
Vintage Roots | Modern Growth: Next Generation of Texas Wine
We have curated an incredible roster of industry experts and thought leaders who will bring their wealth of knowledge and insights to the forefront. The focus for 2024 will be Sustainability from Vineyard to Winery to Business.
In the past, our esteemed speakers have included luminaries such as Tammy Boatright (VingDirect), Al Wagner (Clos du Val), Clark Smith (WineSmith), Don Brady (Robert Hall Winery), Gary Finnan (GFC|Evoke), Doug Beckett (Peachy Canyon Winery), Christophe Hedges (Hedges Family Estate), Dr. Andrew Landers (Cornell University), Sandra Hess (DTC Wine Workshops), Dr. Gregory Jones (Linfield College), Michael Wangbickler (Balzac Communications), and many more!
Be prepared for an enriching and inspiring experience as we delve into the wine industry with our esteemed speakers, engaging presentations and impactful scholarship recognition.
Interested in becoming an Exhibitor or Sponsor participant?
2025 Event Agenda
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Monday
January 13
12pm: Exhibitor Setup
3pm: Early bird check-in
6pm: 11th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception - BYOW
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Sched Symposium App
Symposium AppNew this year we'll be using the Sched app to help you navigate the Symposium. The app will include all session details, speaker info, sponsor and exhibitor contacts and more.
Download now to get your account set up, plan out your schedule and start connecting with other attendees.
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Tuesday
January 14
9am: Welcome
9:30am: Opening Keynote Speaker
10:30am: Exhibitor Break
11am: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
12pm: Lunch & Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards
1:30pm: Breakout Sessions
2:30pm: Exhibitor Break
3pm: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
4pm: Exhibitor Break
4pm-6pm: Scott Laboratories Reception, Cedar Ballroom
4pm-6pm: Texas Wine Growers Reception, Travertine Ballroom
6pm: Winemaker Dinner (separate ticket)
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Wednesday
January 15
8am: Breakfast Tacos & Networking
9am: Breakout Sessions
10am: Exhibitor Break
10:30am: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
11:30am: Lunch & Hill Country Industry Awards
1pm: Breakout Sessions
2pm: Exhibitor Break
2:30pm: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
3:30pm: Exhibitor Break
4pm: Closing Keynote Speaker
2025 Educational Sessions Agenda
Tuesday, January 14
9am: Welcome - Main Ballroom
9:30am: Opening Keynote: Vintage Growth - sponsored by Moss Adams - Dr Richard Becker, Becker Vineyards - Main Ballroom
10:30am: Exhibitor Break
11am: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
- BUSINESS: Amy Gross, Women For WineSense - Neoprohibitionism - Main Ballroom
- TASTING: Viognier, David Kuhlken & Panel - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- VINEYARD: Jackie Mancuso, Atlas Vineyard Management - Operational and development costs of a vineyard - sponsored by Texas Tech University - Ballroom F
12pm: Lunch sponsored by Berlin Packaging & Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards & Non-Profit Spotlight
1:30pm: Breakout Sessions
- BUSINESS: Navigating Demographic Changes - Susan DeMatei, WineGlass Marketing - Main Ballroom
- WINERY: Enhancing Winery Operations (speaker TBA) - sponsored by Texas Tech University - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- VINEYARD: From Tending Vines to Selling Wines - Making the transition from being a grapegrower to making and selling wine is a huge journey that has been undertaken by several prominent growers in Texas. This panel will weigh in on the good, bad, and ugly of deciding to open a winery based on one’s experience in viticulture. Please join us for a conversation with Katy Jane Seaton, Nolan Newsom, Rob Parr, and Akhil Reddy moderated by Dr. Julie Kuhlken.
Moderator - Julie Kuhlken, Pedernales Cellars. Panel - Nolan Newsom - Newsom Vineyard, Katy Jane Seaton - Farmhouse Vineyard, Robb Parr - Parr Vineyard & Akhil Reddy - Reddy Vineyards.
Ballroom F
2:30pm: Exhibitor Break
3pm: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
- BUSINESS: Jennifer McInnis, San Antonio Magazine - Media & Marketing: targeting lifestyle magazines as a wine producer - Main Ballroom
- TASTING: Cabernet Sauvignon, Jon Leahy & Panel - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- VINEYARD: Grower/Winemaker Panel (TBA) - sponsored by Texas Wine Growers - Ballroom F
4pm: Exhibitor Break
4pm-6pm: Scott Lab Reception, Cedar Ballroom
4pm-6pm: Texas Wine Growers Reception, Travertine Ballroom
6pm: Winemaker Dinner (separate ticket)
Wednesday, January 15
8am: Breakfast Tacos & Networking
9am: Breakout Sessions
- BUSINESS: TABC Update sponsored by Texas Wine Growers - Main Ballroom
- WINERY: Maureen Qualia, Texas Tech University - Phenolics - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- BUSINESS: Austin Pitzer, Noblemen Wines - Wine Clubs: what's next, allocation programs, evolving beyond the wine club - Ballroom F
10am: Exhibitor Break
10:30am: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
- BUSINESS: Free the Grapes, Thea Schlendorf - History of winery to consumer direct shipping, What is Free The Grapes?, State of the States and What You Can Do - Main Ballroom
- TASTING: Picpoul Blanc, Bob Young & Panel - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- BUSINESS: Sammy Lam, Wanderlust Wine Co - Wine Marketing: best practices in harnessing social media for driving traffic - Ballroom F
11:30am: Lunch sponsored by Comerica Bank & Hill Country Industry Awards & Non-Profit Spotlight
1pm: Breakout Sessions
- BUSINESS: Distribution from a Winery Point of View - Panel - Main Ballroom
-WINERY: Andreea Botezatu, Texas A&M University - Verjus - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- BUSINESS: Beyond Basic Training – How to Empower Your Staff and Create a Work Environment That Employees Take Pride In - Daniel Kushnir, Ironstone Vineyards - Ballroom F
Trying to hire and retain staff that are knowledgeable, personable and versatile at the average industry pay rate is a TR Manager’s equivalent to trying to squeeze water from a stone. But there are ways to hire and keep quality employees without having to pay outside of your budget. This topic focuses on how to empower your staff in a way that they take pride in their position and enjoy coming into work, rather than just punching in to punch out.
2pm: Exhibitor Break
2:30pm: Breakout Sessions & Tasting Session
- BUSINESS: James Tidwell, TEXSOM - Authenticity, a sense of place, how Texas wine is represented in restaurants and with Sommeliers - Main Ballroom
- TASTING: Teroldego, John Rivenburgh & Panel - The Tasting Room in Limestone
- BUSINESS: Maximizing Sales: Turning Fewer Visitors into Greater Revenue - Jennifer Warrington, WISE Academy - Ballroom F
In this session, WISE will reveal insights from recent Texas Hill Country mystery shopping, focusing on how wineries can maximize sales from existing visitors in times of reduced traffic. By comparing current practices and trends with other regions facing similar challenges, we’ll highlight strategies to boost revenue and optimize visitor engagement both in and beyond the tasting room. Attendees will walk away with practical tools and actionable ideas to enhance their sales performance, ensuring they thrive even during slower periods by maximizing each visitor interaction.
3:30pm: Exhibitor Break
4pm: Closing Keynote: Modern Growth - Morgen McLaughlin, Willamette Valley Wines - Main Ballroom
Speaker Bios
CLICK HERE to see Speaker Bios
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2025 Winter Winemakers Dinner - Tuesday, January 14
On Tuesday evening of the Symposium, enjoy a perfectly paired dinner with wines from all seven THCW Board Members. Guests will be seated with an owner, winemaker or special representative from Hye Meadow Winery, Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery, Pedernales Cellars, Kerrville Hills Winery, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, Becker Vineyards and Ab Astris Winery.
Menu coming soon!
Tuesday, January 14
Horseshoe Bay Resort, location TBD
Check-in and Welcome Tastes at 6:30pm
Dinner at 7pm
Limited to 150 guests
Dress - Casual Elegant
- Individual ticket: $160/person includes dinner and wines
Do not drink and drive, designated drivers encouraged. Ride share services may be limited in Horseshoe Bay area, please plan accordingly.
No refunds after December 23.
Texas Hill Country Wine Scholarships & Industry Awards
As part of the Symposium, we have curated special presentations during the two lunch breaks. These will include the 2024 Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards and THCW Industry Awards.
The THCW Industry Awards will honor 3 industry members with the Tall Texan Lifetime Achievement Award, Gilstrap Innovator Award and Wine Industry Person of the Year Award. Recipients are nominated by THCW Members and selected by the THCW Board of Directors.
The Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship awards celebrate the achievements of Texas students pursuing fields related to the wine industry and THCW Industry Awards, honoring those who do so much for Texas wine. To date, we have awarded over $90K in scholarships, empowering the next generation of wine industry professionals across the state. Learn more about the THCW Scholarship Fund.
Symposium Event App
Download the Sched app to get the Symposium agenda, venue app, exhibitor table map, along with speaker, sponsor, attendee profiles to connect and network.
Thank You 2025 Sponsors
2025 Exhibitors
- Allen Wine Group
- Barrel Builders
- Berlin Packaging
- Bracero Group
- Butterworth Inc
- C&C Sales & Marketing
- Cadus
- Casa Cristal Nursery
- Comerica Bank
- Commerce 7
- Euro-Machines Inc
- G3 Enterprises
- Gusmer Enterprises
- Independent Stave Co
- Inland Desert Nursery
- JC Younger
- Knights Grapevine Nursery
- Lafitte Cork and Capsule
- Nadalie USA
- Novavine
- O-I Packaging
- Olavin
- Portocork
- Producer Supply Co
- Scott Laboratories
- Stölzle Lausitz
- Tarpon Blue Insurance
- The Vintners Vault
- Trysk Print Solutions
- Uncork Texas Wines
- WinStar Insurance Group
- WISE Academy
- Veritiv
Need Lodging?
Enjoy a stay at Horseshoe Bay Resort - Texas’ premier AAA four-diamond lake and golf resort featuring 72 holes of award-winning Robert Trent Jones golf, full-service marina, spa, tennis and waterfront dining on the shores of Lake LBJ.
A group room rate has be set up for this event - use links below to book
Please note rates expire December 20, 2024. Book early to guarantee your discount.
Registration Details
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Early Bird Registration
Registration Launch - August 15
Member* $275
Non Member $375
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Symposium Registration
August 16 - November 30
Member* $325
Non-Member $425
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Symposium Late Registration
December 1 - January 15
Member* $375
Non-Member $475
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*Member Registration
THCW Members - Winery, Affiliate, Associate & Growers - receive a discounted registration rate. You will be sent a discount code, if you need assistance, email us info@texashillcountrywineries.org
Please use the ADD A NOTE TO YOUR ORDER box in the Cart to enter the business name for your registration and all other names for additional attendee registrations on the same order.
No refunds available after December 15, 2024.
MEDIA - contact us for media rate
Registration Includes
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2 days of educational sessions
(not including Winemaker Dinner)
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Lunch on
Tuesday & Wednesday
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11th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception
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Tradeshow
Please Note: Registration for the 2024 THCW Symposium does NOT include registration for the Winter Winemaker Dinner. This is a separate event and therefore tickets should be purchased separately above.
Event Staff
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Executive Director & Sponsorships
January WieseEvent Coordinator, Social Media
Reagan Ramsey -
Comms. Coordinator & Exhibitors
Kate LaFleur
Photographers
Karen & Bill Peary -
Symposium Committee Chairs
John Rivenburgh & Patrick ConnellySilent Auction Coordinator - TBA
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Wine Coordinator
Amie Nemec
On-site Staff - TBA