Annual Meeting

A picnic table set with wine, bread, flowers, and plates under a large flowering tree in a lush vineyard with rolling hills and mountains in the background.

Our Annual Meeting heralds springtime. We typically meet in April at rotating locations around the state. The meeting is a day-long conference open to anyone who is interested in grapegrowing, winemaking, and wine in Vermont. Members, associate members, hospitality, state representatives, agronomes, and others all meet together for learning and community.

We cover topics like viticulture, business, marketing, and collaboration.

See our roster of presenters and the schedule from this years meeting from April 13th.

Watch for next year’s date if you’d like to join!

2026 Annual Meeting

Presenter Terence Bradshaw, UVM

Join the University of Vermont Extension for an update on current work shaping the future of Vermont viticulture. Topics will include results from ongoing cold-climate grape variety trials (8th year for 9 varieties), and new developments in vineyard weather monitoring through the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA). These presentations will highlight how research and collaboration continue to support resilient vineyards and the evolving Vermont wine industry.

Presenter Bethany Pelletier, UVM

Get valuable updates and insights from years of studying cold climate wine grape development with a focus on biopesticides in the production of sustainable wines.

Guest Speaker Emili Ponte

Data Collection, Interpretation, Action: Key Financial Metrics for Wineries.When setting production targets or pricing levels, wineries are told to make data-driven decisions. But what’s the right data to select, and what is it saying? This conversation will identify key business metrics and suggest ways to track and then respond to this information.

Guest Speaker Jeremy Schuster, Cornell University

Join vineyard specialist Jeremy Schuster of Cornell University for a discussion on how recent weather patterns—including last season’s drought—are affecting vineyard health across the Northeast. Jeremy will explore how grapevines respond to drought and other climate extremes, what growers should watch for in the coming season, and practical vineyard management strategies to help cold-climate vineyards remain resilient in a changing climate.

Industry Panel Grape to Glass

Join Deirdre Heekin of La Garagista for a conversation about how Vermont wines can successfully reach restaurant wine lists and retail shelves. Drawing on her experience as both a winemaker and restaurateur, Deirdre will lead a discussion on building relationships with restaurant and shop buyers, communicating the story of Vermont’s cold-climate wines, and creating stronger connections between producers and the hospitality industry.

A man in a suit giving a presentation to an audience in a cafe or restaurant setting with a large screen displaying a PowerPoint slide that reads 'Boldly, evolving.' and incorporates a logo and text.
A man in a black blazer and white shirt speaking into a microphone at an indoor event with an audience. The room has green walls, shelves with decorative items, and refrigerated display cases with food. There is a decorative ceiling light fixture and some hanging pendant lights.
Several bottles of Fable wine placed on a wooden table, with a blurred background of a restaurant or bar setting.
People sitting in chairs in a room with green walls, some talking and others listening to a person speaking into a microphone. The room has large windows, potted plants, and ceiling lights.
People at a wine tasting event standing behind a wooden table with wine bottles and tasting brochures in a store with glass refrigerators and a colorful mural on the wall.
Three bottles of wine on a wooden table, with people standing in the background. The bottles are labeled Frontenac Blanc, Petite Pearl, and Marquette from Hero Vineyard.
Schedule for the Vermont Grape & Wine Council Annual Meeting on April 13, 2026, at the Common Ground Event Center in Starksboro, Vermont. The schedule includes welcome coffee and tea, various presentations on grape and wine industry topics, a lunch provided by Firefly Catering, networking, and a conclusion, ending with wine tasting and preregistration information.