Speaker History & Meeting Archive
Explore our growing archive of past meetings, featuring speakers, topics, and more.
May 2025 | Bella Union
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Panel
Host Venue – Bella Union:
Bella Union, part of the Far Niente Wine Group, hosted the meeting and showcased its elevated tasting experiences, daily social hour, and hospitality offerings. Special thanks to Hospitality Director Makena Martin Del Campo and Estate Director Joseph Wilson.Community Corner – Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga:
Steve Martin, Director of Development, highlighted the club’s impact across six locations and its role as a safe, joyful space for youth. Their August fundraiser, The Big Night, seeks wine and business partners to support their programming.Pulse of the Valley:
Compared to April 2024, April 2025 sales trends were split evenly across categories—DTC, tasting rooms, web, and visitation. Club sign-ups declined while cancellations held steady or increased. Sixty percent of attendees reported hosting in-market events, and 90 percent hosted groups of 10 or more.Guest Topic – Artificial Intelligence in Wine Hospitality:
A panel of AI innovators explored how AI is shaping wine sales, marketing, and guest experiences. Speakers included John Tan and Champa Saigal (Corkvision), Dan Chapin (Bottleshots.ai), Robert Naokes (Winespeak.ai), and David Gibson (Grape Culture).
April 2025 | Brasswood
Speaker Karen MacNeil & Social Media Panel
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
March 2025 | Goosecross Cellars
Open Forum - Strategies and Best Practices During a Market Contraction
Host Venue: Goosecross Cellars hosted by team Angelica Hernandez and Jason Velderrain
Community Corner: Our Community Corner featured Vitalant Blood Centers. Thank you Holly Clarke for telling us about the importance of donating blood and how our properties can help host drives in the future.
January 2025 | Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Open Forum - DTC Symposium
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
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.