(Napa, CALIF.) – Two world-renowned consumer research experts that have studied the rapidly-growing opportunity to market wine to the Hispanic population in the United States, are set to present results of studies and projections at the 23rd Annual Wine Industry Financial Symposium set for Monday, September 22 and Tuesday, September 23 at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel in Napa, California. Registration is now open at www.WineSymposium.com.
According to Stephen Rannekleiv, Senior Beverage Analyst within the Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory sector of Rabobank International, U.S. wine consumption has continued to steadily rise over the past eight years, and while wine consumers largely fit into the older, white demographic, one of the fastest growing segments of the population is the Hispanic segment which represents a huge marketing opportunity for the wine industry.
Appearing at the Wine Industry Financial Symposium with Rannekleiv on a breakout session panel entitled “The Hispanic Wine Consumer – What does it mean to the wine industry? What do we do to make wine the beverage of choice?” will be Natalia Velikova, PhD of Texas Tech University. Dr. Velikova who holds a joint appointment between and the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute where she serves as the Associate Director, and the Department of Nutrition, Hospitality, & Retailing at Texas Tech University, conducts research in the areas of wine consumer behavior, wine marketing and wine tourism. Her award-winning research has been published in many academic journals and trade publications. Velikova has delivered numerous presentations and received several grants, including federal funding, to conduct research on wine markets and wine consumption behavior that assists in the development of the U.S. wine industry.
Launched in 1992, the Wine Industry Financial Symposium is the premier event in regard to the financial, investment, economic and business issues of the wine industry. Close to 50 speakers will present information, share ideas and discuss some of the hottest wine business topics.
The 2014 Wine Industry Financial Symposium event sponsors include: American Ag Credit; Bacchus Capital Management; Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Bank of the West; Benchmark Consulting; BMO Harris Bank; Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc. (BPM) Accountants and Consultants; Carle, Mackie, Power & Ross LLP Attorneys; CoBank; Farm Credit West; H&A Financing; Manatt; MetLife Agricultural Investments; Moss Adams, LLP Certified Public Accountants / Business Consultants; Prudential Agricultural Investments; Rabobank International & Rabobank, N.A.; Umpqua Bank; UnionBank; Walsh Vineyards Management; Wells Fargo Bank; Zepponi and Company; American Vineyard Magazine; Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine; Wine Business Monthly and Wines & Vines (now including Practical Winery & Vineyard). The complete program, as well as registration, is available online at www.WineSymposium.com.
About the Wine Industry Symposium Group
The founders of the Wine Industry Symposium Group met in early 1992 with the hope that by forming a new industry conference, they would create an open exchange of thoughts and ideas concerning financial aspects of the California wine industry. The Wine Industry Financial Symposium was born. A couple of years later, in 1994, the group started a similar program, the Central Coast Insights Program, to fit the needs of that region. A year later, the Vineyard Economics Seminar was created for grape growers. Because of consistent globalization and consolidation in the wine business, the Wine Industry Symposium Group continues to operate with the mission of providing a critical platform for important communication and dialogue between the multiple facets of the wine business and the lending community. For more information visit www.winesymposium.com or call (707) 255-9222. Like the Wine Symposium Group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WineSymposiumGroup and follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wine_symposium.
