

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.
NEW in 2026:
After each session speakers, moderators and panelists will be ushered to the Travertine Ballroom for additional Q&A and networking following their session. This is a great opportunity to have some one-on-one time with the experts!
2026 Event Agenda
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Monday
January 12
12pm: Exhibitor Setup
3pm: Early bird check-in
4pm-5:30pm: Sustainability in Texas Wine 'One Block Challenge' Info and Action Workshop - hosted by Colleen Myles, Texas State University
6pm: 12th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception - BYOW
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Conf.app Symposium App
Symposium AppThe Symposium will be using the Conf.app platform again to help you navigate the event. The app will include all session details, speaker info, sponsor and exhibitor contacts and more.
Download now to get your account set up, and plan out your schedule.
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Tuesday
January 13
9am: Welcome
9:30am: Opening Keynote Speaker
10:30am: Exhibitor Break
11am: 2 Breakout Sessions & 1 Tasting Session
12pm: Lunch & Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards
1:30pm: 3 Breakout Sessions
2:30pm: Exhibitor Break
3pm: 2 Breakout Sessions & 1 Tasting Session
4pm: Partner Receptions
6pm: Winemaker Dinner (separate ticket)
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Wednesday
January 14
8am: Breakfast Tacos & Networking
9am: 3 Breakout Sessions
10am: Exhibitor Break
10:30am: 2 Breakout Sessions & 1 Tasting Session
11:30am: Lunch & Hill Country Wine Industry Awards
1pm: 3 Breakout Sessions
2pm: Exhibitor Break
2:30pm: 2 Breakout Sessions & 1 Tasting Session
3:45pm: Closing Panel
2026 Educational Sessions Agenda
Working Session Info
Below are the session and confirmed speaker outlines for 2026. Details will be dropped in the rows below once date/time is confirmed for each one with the official title and session description from the presenter(s).
- Keynote - James Tidwell
- Tasting 1 - Top Texas Award Winning Wines, Blind Tasting - Bryan Chagoly & Panel
- Tasting 2 - Hill Country Wines - Mike Nelson & Panel
- Tasting 3 - High Plains Wines - Brad Buckalew & Panel
- Tasting 4 - Mourvedre
- Closing Panel - Wine Down & Spill the Tea: Insider Talks & Trends - Shelly Wilfong, Jennifer Beckmann, Chris Brundrett, Roxanne Myers, John Rivenburgh, Katy Jane Seaton, Ron Yates
- Business: Trends in the Industry - Chris Hillin, Derek Stutz, Philip Hawkins, Miguel Lecuona
- Business: Texas Rising, Hospitality - Amber Saidler, Beth Valley, John Cedillo, Nichole Bendele
- Business: Social & Economic Sustainability - Colleen Myles
- Business: Wine Clubs - Valerie Elkins, Kristen Nelson, Gina Stone, Cathy Martell
- Business: Business Operations Budget - Livia Schorlemer
- Business: Marketing Machine - Chris Brundrett
- Business: Marketing - TBA
- Winery: Texas Rising, Sparkling - Barbara Lecuona, Elisa Jones
- Winery: Closures - Blake DeBerry
- Winery - Sustainability in the Winery - TBA
- Winery: Inventory Management - Tate Gregory, David Newitt, Tyler Wolz, Chase Jones
- Winery: Fermentation Management - Meredith Reed, Janet Miertschin, Remi Immler, Jackie van Sant Downes
- Vineyard: Texas Rising, Grape Quality - Tate Gregory, Mike Nelson, Tyler Buddemeyer, John Rivenburgh
- Vineyard: Hill Country Varieties - Kelsey Kramer, Bill Blackmon, Jackie Mancuso, Lydia Nida, Doug Lewis
- Vineyard: Heat Resistance - Thomas Paveglio
- Vineyard: Irrigation Project Update - Michael Cook
- Vineyard: Case Study - Andy Timmons
Tuesday, January 13 Details
*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 Awarded Texas Wines - Moderator: Bryan Chagoly, Sandy Road Vineyards/Top Texas Wines, Panel: TBA - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F
- 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: Closures - Blake DeBerry, Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery- Limestone Ballroom
12pm:
- Lunch sponsored by Berlin Packaging
- Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Awards
1:30pm: Breakout Sessions
- Business: Texas Wine Rising, Hospitality - 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
- 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: Mourvedre - Moderator TBA, Panel TBA - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F
- Business: Marketing, Jessica Dupuy - Texas Monthly/Journalist - Main Ballroom
- 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)
Wednesday, January 15 Details
*NOTES: session times/dates may be adjusted pending speaker schedules, session descriptions coming soon
8am: Breakfast Tacos & Networking
9am: Breakout Sessions
- Business: Wine Club - Moderator: Valerie Elkins - William Chris Wine Company, Panel: Kristen Nelson - Ab Astris Winery, Gina Ross - Calais Winery - Main Ballroom
- 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: Irrigation Project Update - Michael Cook, Texas A&M - Limestone Ballroom
- Tasting: High Plains AVA Wines - Moderator: Brad Buckalew, Lost Draw Wines, Panel: TBA - The Tasting Room in Ballroom F
11:30am:
- Lunch
- Hill Country Wine Industry Awards
1pm: Breakout Sessions
- Business: Marketing Story - Chris Brundrett, William Chris Wine Company & Jessica Dupuy, Texas Monthly/Journalist - Main Ballroom
- Winery: Fermentation Management - 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
- 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
- Business: Sustainability Social & Economic - Colleen Myles, Texas State University - Main Ballroom
- 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
Speaker Bios
CLICK HERE to see Speaker Bios
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2026 Winter Winemakers Dinner - Tuesday, January 13
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 Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery, Elisa Christopher Wines, Pedernales Cellars, Ab Astris Winery, Becker Vineyards and Turtle Creek Vineyard/Slate Theory Winery
Menu coming soon!
Tuesday, January 13
Horseshoe Bay Resort, Yacht Club
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 Conf.app and go to 2025 Hill Country Wine Symposium to get the Symposium agenda and more at your fingertips throughout the whole event.
Thank You 2026 Sponsors

2026 Exhibitors
- ATP Group
- Berlin Packaging
- BevZero
- Bouchard Cooperages
- Cadus-Ana
- Capital Farm Credit
- FOSS
- Gussmer Enterprises
- Inland Desert Nursery
- Lafitte Cork & Capsule
- Quality Stainless Tanks
- Scott Laboratories
- Trysk Print Services
- WinStar Insurance Group
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, 2025. 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 14
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, 2025
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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12th Annual Symposium Welcome Reception
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Tradeshow
Please Note: Registration for the 2025 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
Photographer
To be announced -
Symposium Committee Chairs
John Rivenburgh & Amber SaidlerWine Coordinator
To be announced -
On-site Staff
To be announced