Wine Industry Report

SACRAMENTO, CA, January 27, 2006 – A record-breaking 10,200 wine and grape industry professionals filled the Sacramento Convention Center this week to hear and see the latest industry developments at the 12th annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.

The three-day symposium, held January 24-26, saw a 7 percent increase in attendance over last year. Featuring an international lineup of speakers with a trade show that highlighted the latest equipment and services, the event attracted wine and grape industry professionals from around the world.
“We had the heaviest traffic we’ve ever witnessed on the trade show floors,” said American Society for Enology and Viticulture Executive Director Lyndie Boulton, whose organization is a co-host of the Symposium.
“Interest in understanding the global wine market is keen, and globalization and its challenges were recurring topics during the Unified Symposium,” said Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, which also co-hosts the Unified Symposium. “However, overall there’s a strong sense of optimism that the American grape and wine community is well positioned for success.”
Now in its 12th year, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium continues to be developed and refined each year with the joint input of growers, vintners and allied industry members. With informative seminars and nearly 500 vendors displaying their products and services, it is the largest wine and grape trade show anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.
In 2007, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium will again be held at the Sacramento Convention Center, January 23-27. For additional information, go to www.unifiedsymposium.org.