Annual Conference Addresses the Changing Landscape of Wine Writing

ST. HELENA, Calif., Nov. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration is now open and fellowship applications are being accepted for the 10^th annual Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley, February 18-21, 2014. 

Seismic shifts have shaken the profession of wine writing since the symposium first convened in 2005. Staff writing and editing positions in food, wine and travel have disappeared from many newspaper and magazine mastheads, while others have stopped publishing altogether. Wine writing has become largely a freelance profession with many wine writers embracing self-employment.

Meanwhile, wine blogs have blossomed, digital publications and ebooks are on the rise, Kickstarter appeared and dozens of new voices have caught the attention of the public and the wine trade. Most importantly, the demand for more and better information about wine has grown as consumption reached an all-time high and America became the world's largest single wine market.

All of these issues have played into the planning for the 2014 symposium, which will be bigger, better and more attuned than ever to the needs of today's writers and editors, according to the symposium's executive director, Jim Gordon.

"The landscape of wine writing has changed more in the last 10 years than in the 25 years before," said Gordon, who has lived through the changes himself. He reported and edited for newspapers, managed Wine Spectator's editorial team for 12 years, joined a wine retailing website and then found himself self-employed when that startup collapsed. In 2006 Gordon became editor of Wines & Vines magazine. "More than ever, next year's symposium will be a think tank, a forum, a networking opportunity and a platform for wine writers to reinvent their careers -- not just a conference," he said.

Renowned Speakers and a Great Week in Napa Valley
The program takes place during one of the best weeks in Napa Valley for journalists, immediately prior to Premiere Napa Valley, a wine tasting and futures auction exclusively for members of the wine trade and media.

A stellar lineup of renowned writers, editors, teachers and critics will headline the 10th annual Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, including Robert M. Parker, Jr., founder of The Wine Advocate and eRobertParker.com. Journalism professor Michael Shapiro of Columbia University will speak and coach registrants for the first time. New York-based executive wine editor of Food & Wine magazine, Ray Isle, also will make his first appearance.

The New York Times' chief wine critic, Eric Asimov, will return as a featured speaker, as will novelist and Wall Street Journal wine critic Jay McInerney and author-educator Karen MacNeil. They will be joined by Sara Schneider of Sunset, Jon Bonne of the San Francisco Chronicle, freelancer Ted Loos of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Bon Appetit, Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Advocate, Alison Clare Steingold of C Magazine and Vinography founder Alder Yarrow.

Emerging leaders in wine publishing joining the 2014 faculty include "Wine Blogger of the Year" David White; editor Talia Baiocchi of the new PUNCH digital magazine; Alan Kropf, founder of Mutineer Magazine; and trending food blogger and photographer Bonjwing Lee of the Ulterior Epicure.

Register Now for Best Rate
Symposium attendance is limited to 65 professional editorial writers and editors who cover wine, wine and food, and wine and travel topics, plus 15-20 faculty members. The fee is $595 per person for registrations made now through November 30 and increases to $695 on December 1. Meadowood Napa Valley also offers a special lodging rate. Please visit the symposium website for complete details on how to register.

Registration includes plenary and breakout sessions, advanced tastings of Napa Valley wines, three breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. Two private coaching sessions on career development and/or writing expertise are available to each registrant. Faculty members attend most functions and network closely with registrants.

Wine writer Cathy Huyghe of Boston credited the most recent symposium, and particularly the help of faculty member Elin McCoy of Bloomberg News, for landing her three new writing assignments—at The Daily Beast, The Atlantic and Decanter. "I was inspired by the advice to look beyond the usual wine-industry publications as outlets for my writing," said Huyghe. "I was also inspired, as I always am when I attend, to do the kind of writing that I am most compelled to do. This strategy has worked, I'm very glad to say, both in terms of my personal satisfaction and in terms of placing stories."

Deadline for Fellowships is December 1, 2013
The symposium encourages up-and-coming but published wine writers as well as mid-career wine journalists to apply for fellowships that cover the registration fee and up to four nights lodging at Meadowood Napa Valley, a $1,940 value. To learn more, visit the symposium site for fellowship opportunities.The deadline is December 1.

About The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers
The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, founded by Meadowood Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Vintners trade association and The Culinary Institute of America, draws top wine book authors and editors, wine magazine writers and critics, newspaper wine columnists, bloggers and other editorial wine content creators to Napa Valley to speak, listen, debate, explore themes prevalent in contemporary wine writing and network with their peers for four days. A combination of lectures, panel discussions, group and individual writing sessions, wine tasting and fine dining make the symposium an unmatched career enrichment opportunity for editorial wine, wine-food, and wine-travel writers.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Chiesa
Director of Public Relations
Meadowood Napa Valley
(707) 967-1248
[email protected]

Patsy McGaughy
Napa Valley Vintners Communications Director
 (707) 968-4207
[email protected]

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