Keynote Speakers

  • Elaine Chukan Brown

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Author: The Wines of California, Wine Communicator of the Year, James Beard nominated in journalism.

  • Matt Neiss

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Pioneering winegrower, winemaker for California’s only winery dedicated to producing wine from hybrid grapes - North American Press.

  • Deirdre Heekin

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Winegrower and winemaker in Vermont working exclusively with hybrid grapes. Author of An Unlikely Vineyard, and the upcoming The Vineyard of Lost Time in 2026 (her 4th book).

  • Chris Renfro

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Founder of The 280 Project, grower and winemaker working with hybrid grapes in CA, wine retailer in San Francisco.

Panelists

  • Matt Neiss

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Pioneering winegrower & winemaker for California’s only winery dedicated to producing wine from hybrid grapes - North American Press.

  • Deirdre Heekin

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Winegrower & winemaker in Vermont (La Garagista Winery) working exclusively with hybrid grapes. Author of An Unlikely Vineyard, and the upcoming The Vineyard of Lost Time in 2026 (her 4th book).

  • Chris Renfro

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Founder of The 280 Project, grower and winemaker working with hybrid grapes in CA, wine retailer in San Francisco.

  • Adam Tolmach

    PANELIST

    Replaced his estate vineyard with UC Davis resistant hybrids after losing his Syrah vines to Pierce’s Disease. Winegrower, winemaker for Ojai Vineyards.

  • Luis Diaz Garcia

    PANELIST

    Luis is an assistant professor and grape breeder at UC Davis.

  • Dario Cantú

    PANELIST

    Dario is a professor and plant biologist, working at U.C Davis.

Organizers

  • Adam Huss

    ORGANIZER & HOST

    Winemaker, producer and host of the Beyond Organic Wine podcast, and co-owner of the Wineforest Farm in NY.

  • Elodie Oliver

    ORGANIZER

    Wine educator. Logistics at Nomadic Distribution. Elodie worked harvest for NOK Vino focusing on Hybrids in New Hampshire.