Speaker History & Meeting Archive
Explore our growing archive of past meetings, featuring speakers, topics, and more.
April 2025 | Brasswood | Speaker Karen MacNeil & Social Media Panel
Top Takeaways
Host Venue: Brasswood hosted the meeting, showcasing its full-service winery, tasting experiences, and new boutique, with thanks to GM and co-founder Marcus Marquez.
Community Corner: Heather Luna shared ways to support Share the Care and Hands Across the Valley through upcoming events and wine donations that benefit the elderly and food insecure.
Guest Speaker – Karen MacNeil: Karen MacNeil emphasized the importance of storytelling in wine, introduced her initiatives Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays, and encouraged members to share wine’s cultural value in an increasingly skeptical world.
Pulse of the Valley: Sales trends were mixed, with moderate growth in DTC, stable average order value, and a noticeable dip in visitation, especially for walk-in guests.
Social Media Panel: Panelists shared practical strategies for authentic engagement, platform-specific content, AI as a supportive tool, and building content libraries using internal team contributions. Panelitsts: Ed Feuchuk, GM and Dir. of Marketing, Farm Collective;
Michelle Dondero, Dir. of Marketing, Brasswood;
Janell Harris, Creative Director, Antinori properties
January 2025 | Joseph Phelps Vineyards | Open Forum
Top Takeaways
Host Venue: Joseph Phelps Vineyards, hosted by Patti Sevigny, shared its evolution from cattle ranch to luxury estate now offering curated tasting experiences.
Community Corner: Patrick Volner encouraged meaningful giving to L.A. fire relief efforts, highlighting trusted nonprofits and personal ways to contribute.
DTC Symposium: Members discussed key takeaways from the DTC Symposium, including AI tools, compliance updates, and the importance of authentic messaging.
Guest Behavior Trends: Wineries reported more large, last-minute group visits, prompting a conversation about flexibility and varied tasting experiences.
Wine Club Models: The group explored shifts from traditional wine clubs to more accessible subscription models aligned with current consumer behavior.3
November 2025 | Crocker & Starr | Open Forum
Top Takeaways
October 2024 | Cuvaison Winery | Topic: State of the Industry
Top Takeaways
Host Venue: Cuvaison welcomed members to their estate in celebration of their 55th anniversary, showcasing their new elevated tasting space, the Boathouse.
Community Corner: COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) shared their work in disaster response and encouraged members to support through donations or emergency volunteering.
Industry Outlook: Rob McMillan of SVB discussed challenges facing the Napa wine industry, including oversupply, shifting consumer behavior, and the need for pricing and production adjustments.
Consumer Trends: DTC sales are down, particularly for Cabernet, with increased demand for white wines driven by younger, lower-volume consumers and shifting preferences.
Strategic Takeaways: Wineries were encouraged to collaborate, host more off-site events, and consider tiered product strategies instead of discounting premium wines.
About our Speaker
Rob McMillan is the founder of Silicon Valley Bank’s Wine Division and a leading authority on the U.S. wine industry, known for his annual State of the Wine Industry Report and deep insights into market trends.