The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers

The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers A place to speak, listen, debate, explore themes prevalent in contemporary wine writing and network w

This concludes our 2026 Wine Writers' Symposium. Congratulations to our fellows and thank you to our speakers! Cheers to...
03/02/2026

This concludes our 2026 Wine Writers' Symposium. Congratulations to our fellows and thank you to our speakers! Cheers to a successful program that created lifelong connections ❤️

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Whether our fellows arrived leaning more “left brain” or “right brain,” toward art or toward science, last week revealed...
03/02/2026

Whether our fellows arrived leaning more “left brain” or “right brain,” toward art or toward science, last week revealed that a truly connected community intersects both.

Writing can be solitary. Much of the craft happens quietly in the margins of daily life. But last week, we gathered to learn from one another, ask hard questions, introduce ideas, take notes, and challenge each other thoughtfully.

Connection restores purpose. And in gathering writers across disciplines, styles, and perspectives, we strengthen the collective voice of wine storytelling.

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John Brecher's phenomenal closing keynote answered the question our program asked: If wine were only art or only science...
02/28/2026

John Brecher's phenomenal closing keynote answered the question our program asked: If wine were only art or only science, what would be lost?

He left us with much to consider as the program concluded:
-Wine is the narrative device.
-There is an art to writing and science to listening, and you have to do both.
-Seeing the story that has not been seen will always be art.
-If you're going to write, your first charge is to tell the truth.
-Truth will change the conversation.

Thank you for an incredible finale, ❤️

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The Science and Art of Natural CorksThe Symposium's president, Kelli White, interviewed one of this year's sponsors, Pat...
02/28/2026

The Science and Art of Natural Corks

The Symposium's president, Kelli White, interviewed one of this year's sponsors, Patrick Spencer of the Natural Cork Council, on the long culture of Portuguese oak tree cultivation, natural cork's environmental advantages, and recent scientific advances.

Thank you, !

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As fellows and speakers prepared to return to their day-to-day, this interactive panel reflected on key lessons from the...
02/28/2026

As fellows and speakers prepared to return to their day-to-day, this interactive panel reflected on key lessons from the Symposium by asking themselves “what’s next?”

Samantha Cole-Johnson, Jessica Dupuy, Clive Pursehouse, moderated by Wanda Mann

Our final day of the Symposium revisited the prompt that fellows were given for their applications: if wine were only ar...
02/28/2026

Our final day of the Symposium revisited the prompt that fellows were given for their applications: if wine were only art or only science, what would be lost?

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Our casual farewell dinner took place at a Napa Valley icon - Gott's Roadside. No visit to the valley is complete withou...
02/27/2026

Our casual farewell dinner took place at a Napa Valley icon - Gott's Roadside. No visit to the valley is complete without a Gotts burger (or other classic fare), so we had to share this gem with everyone at the Symposium alongside vintners showcasing some of the less common varieties of Napa Valley.

Using the idyllic Continuum estate as a backdrop, congenial expert Professor Alex Maltman delivered a mini-masterclass o...
02/27/2026

Using the idyllic Continuum estate as a backdrop, congenial expert Professor Alex Maltman delivered a mini-masterclass on the science and ways in which rocks, soils, and vines interact. The elements of our outdoor afternoon only further emphasized the processes explained, and we would brave them again to learn more. Maltman's delivery of this complex topic was itself a valuable example of translating technical information for a non-technical audience.

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Writers' Workshop - Pitching the TechnicalBuilding off of the earlier panel, this hands-on workshop guided writers turni...
02/26/2026

Writers' Workshop - Pitching the Technical
Building off of the earlier panel, this hands-on workshop guided writers turning technical knowledge into strong, targeted story pitches. Through a pitch exercise, fellows practiced shaping ideas for different audiences, tailoring pitches to specific audiences and publications, and clarifying why they are the right voice to tell the story.

Facilitated by Stacy Briscoe, Mary-Frances Heck, and Stacy Ladenburger

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Technical knowledge is only powerful if it’s understood. This panel discussed how to translate complex concepts for diff...
02/26/2026

Technical knowledge is only powerful if it’s understood. This panel discussed how to translate complex concepts for different audiences by underlining when depth matters, how to simplify without losing integrity, and how to make technical details useful, resonant, and engaging on the page.

Thoughts from the session:
- Technical writing means there is a "right" answer.
- If you already think you have the answer or you're making an assumption, try to argue the other side or work to disprove yourself -- at the least, your piece will be enriched.
- Anecdotes and beliefs (no matter how widespread) are not data.
- You will get it wrong occasionally. Be willing to write a retraction.
- Have the humility to ask another expert if you've got it right.

Alex Maltman, Stacy Ladenburger, Samantha Cole-Johnson, moderated by Alder Yarrow

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Fellows of the Symposium often ask about the pathways to book publishing. This in-focus session highlighted the nuances ...
02/26/2026

Fellows of the Symposium often ask about the pathways to book publishing. This in-focus session highlighted the nuances of collaborative book publishing--diving into how co-authors balance voice and vision, manage shared creative processes, and advocate for themselves while navigating the practical realities of publishing a finished project as a party of two.

Jessica Dupuy and Osayi Endolyn, moderated by Maryam Ahmed

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Wine And... Wine doesn’t always need to be the headline to strengthen a story. Panelists explored how writers can positi...
02/25/2026

Wine And...
Wine doesn’t always need to be the headline to strengthen a story. Panelists explored how writers can position wine as a meaningful secondary lens intersecting with travel, culture, lifestyle, politics, and place to develop compelling, pitchable stories that resonate with a particular audience.

Jessica Dupuy, Zach Dundas, Mary-Frances Heck, moderated by Clive Pursehouse

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