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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
$425.00
Regular price
Sale price
$425.00
2025 Hill Country Wine Symposium

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?

Contact Us

2025 Event Agenda

  • Monday

    January 13

    12pm: Exhibitor Setup

    3pm: Early bird check-in

    6pm: 11th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception - BYOW

  • Sched Symposium App

    New 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.

    Symposium App
  • 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 Lab Reception, Cedar Ballroom

    4pm-6pm: Texas Wine Growers Reception

    6pm: Winemaker Dinner (separate ticket)

  • 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

Confirmed Sessions as of 6/17/24

Detailed session topics, Speaker info & Agenda coming soon

Keynote

  • Dr Becker - Vintage Roots
  • TBA - Modern Growth

Business

  • Direct to Consumer Shipping - Free the Grapes
  • TABC Update
  • Compliance Expert
  • Authenticity - James Tidwell
  • Neoprohibitionism - Amy Gross
  • Wine Clubs - Austin Pitzer
  • Secret Shopper Session - WISE Academy
  • Marketing to Media - Jennifer McInnis

Tastings

  • Viognier - David Kuhlken +3 winemakers
  • Cabernet Sauvignon - Jon Leahy +3 winemakers
  • Picpoul Blanc - Bob Young +3 winemakers
  • Teroldego - John Rivenburgh +3 winemakers

Vineyard

  • Operational costs - Jackie Mancuso
  • Growers to Winemakers - Julie Kuhlken, Farmhouse Vineyards, Parr Vineyard, Newsom Vineyards, Bingham Family Vineyards

Winery

  • Maureen Qualia
  • Verjus presentation - Andreea Botezatu

Please note we have reached out and are waiting confirmation from 6 other speakers. They will be added as they confirm.

Tuesday, January 14

Session topics & Speaker info coming soon

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 & Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards & Non-Profit Spotlight

1:30pm: Breakout Sessions

- BUSINESS: Canabis, market evolution (speaker TBA) - 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

6pm: Winemaker Dinner (separate ticket)

Wednesday, January 15

Session topics & Speaker info coming soon

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, Nobelman 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 & Hill Country Industry Awards & Non-Profit Spotlight

1pm: Breakout Sessions

- BUSINESS: Compliance (TBA) - 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: Revealing Texas Hill Country Mystery Shopping Results - Jennifer Warrington, WISE Academy - Ballroom F

In this session, WISE will present the results of recent mystery shopping activities conducted at Texas Hill Country wineries. This analysis will include a comparison against best practices and an evaluation of current and past trends. We will explore growth opportunities for the Next Generation of Texas Wine based on these trends and provide a comparative analysis with similar wine regions. Attendees will gain insights and actionable ideas to enhance their wineries and the region as a whole, equipping them with tools to drive improvement and success.

3:30pm: Exhibitor Break

4pm: Closing Keynote: Modern Growth - Morgen McLaughlin, Willamette Valley Wines - Main Ballroom

Speaker Bios

CLICK HERE to see Speaker Bios

  • 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.

Non-Profit Spotlight

Learn more about these Texas Wine Industry Non-Profits at lunch each day during the Symposium.

Non-Profit Spotlight

Learn more about these Texas Wine Industry Non-Profits at lunch each day during the Symposium.

Non-Profit Spotlight

Learn more about these Texas Wine Industry Non-Profits at lunch each day during the Symposium.

Non-Profit Spotlight

Learn more about these Texas Wine Industry Non-Profits at lunch each day during the Symposium.

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.

Check it out Here

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
  • Stolze
  • Tarpon Blue Insurance
  • The Vintners Vault
  • Trysk Print Solutions
  • Uncork Texas Wines
  • WinStar Insurance Group
  • WISE Academy
  • Veritiv
Sponsor & Exhibitor Registration

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

  • Early Bird Registration

    Registration Launch - August 15

    Member* $275

    Non Member $375

  • Symposium Registration

    August 16 - November 30

    Member* $325

    Non-Member $425

  • Symposium Late Registration

    December 1 - January 15

    Member* $375

    Non-Member $475

  • *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

  • 2 days of educational sessions

    (not including Winemaker Dinner)

  • Lunch on

    Tuesday & Wednesday

  • 11th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception

  • 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

  • Executive Director & Sponsorships
    January Wiese

    Event Coordinator, Social Media
    Reagan Ramsey

  • Comms. Coordinator & Exhibitors
    Kate LaFleur


    Photographers
    Karen & Bill Peary

  • Symposium Committee Chairs
    John Rivenburgh & Patrick Connelly

    Silent Auction Coordinator - TBA

  • Wine Coordinator
    Amie Nemec


    On-site Staff - TBA