- “The UC Davis Wines Executive Program offers a superb overview of all
facets of the industry from viticulture to legal issues. The instructors
are clearly experts in their field and passionate about their topic.
Perhaps more valuable than the excellent technical material presented is
that my industry network dramatically expanded. I have stayed in touch
with industry colleagues from three different continents, have directly
leveraged contacts at UC Davis, communicate with people in wine
publishing, and have begun relationships with various suppliers all from
meeting people during the program. Bottom-line, I highly recommend the
course.”
--James Gause, Vice President, Mission Bell Winery, Constellation Wines US
- "The UC Davis Wine Executive Program is a high caliber
program offering insight into the breadth and depth of
the wine industry, including current issues facing the industry and
the latest trends. The professors offered real life experiences and
practical ideas that encouraged me to think about my work in a new
way. There were plenty of networking opportunities where I could
exchange ideas with other industry professionals. I came away
energized, with a new, broader perspective of the wine industry that I
could take back and apply immediately."
--Gordon Palmateer, Director of Sales & Marketing,
Jordon Vineyard & Winery
- "After reporting on the wine industry for more than 25
years, I can't recall four more valuable days than I spent
at the UC Davis Wine Executive Program. It's an invaluable
course for both would-be winery entrepreneurs and
experienced wine professionals who need a broader
understanding of their business."
--Jim Gordon, Editor, Wines & Vines
magazine
- "The UC Davis Wine Executive Program is top notch. The
instructors are experts in their fields and the diversity of
attendees makes for a great program. As someone returning to
the wine business after seven years, it was an ideal way to
re-engage myself in the industry."
--Robert Fowles, Director of Finance & Administration, Opus One Winery LLC
- "The UC Davis Wine Executive Program instructors are
first-rate. They are leaders in their fields who offer a
provocative and contemporary curriculum. I continue to
pursue the concepts and apply the skills I learned, and find
that my contributions to all areas of winery operations have
been enhanced.”
--Greg Ralston, Managing Director, Chateau Montelena Winery
- "The UC Davis Wine Executive Program provides a vehicle
for knowledge growth through total immersion and “gloves
off” discussions among a wide array of industry
professionals."
--Lance Spears President & CEO Seguin Moreau Napa
Cooperage, Inc.
- “The UC Davis Wine Executive Program pulls together a
comprehensive agenda covering a broad spectrum of timely
topics. The presentations and discussions about current
events and challenges in the industry are engaging and
informative, and the networking opportunities are equally as
valuable. I highly recommend it to professionals involved in
the wine industry.”
--Peggy Kutchera, Corporate Banking
Officer, Comerica Bank
- “When I attended the UC Davis Wine Executive Program, I
not only came away with valuable insights applicable to our
niche as a very small producer of premium, allocated
Cabernet, I gained a thorough understanding and broader
perspective of the marketing strategies of wineries of all
sizes. I returned to the Napa Valley with heightened
confidence in the effectiveness of our approach.”
--Burges Smith, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Araujo Estate Wines
- “The professors and presentations are excellent.
As a relative newcomer to the industry, the program allowed
me to accelerate my understanding of enology, viticulture
and legal issues relating to the wine business.”
--Richard Mahoney, Chief Financial Officer, The Wine
Group
- “The structure of the UC Davis Wine Executive Program is
a breath of fresh air. It successfully bridges the gap
between the production process and the business management
process, which is very critical given that we are moving
from a cottage industry to a professionally managed beverage
industry.”
--Mason Ainsworth, General Manager, Jordan Vineyard and Winery
- “The UC Davis Wine Executive Program is a provocative
blend of viticulture, winemaking and finance combined with
thought-provoking conversations and ideas about how to
manage the three disciplines in the future.”
--Michael Silacci, Winemaker,
Opus One Winery
- “I was impressed with the structure of the seminars. The
curriculum was mixed very well and the faculty kept the
course fresh by going from winemaking cost accounting right
into sales and marketing issues and then grape-growing
topics.”
--Erle Martin, President, Niebaum~Coppola
Estate Winery, Napa
- “The program is well-organized and the three days we
spent were definitely productive. I met many people involved
in the wine industry at different levels – those with
financial backgrounds like myself, vineyard managers and
others on the production and retail sides, even real estate.
The course was very user-friendly. I really enjoyed myself
and had fun.”
--Aldo Ballarin, Controller, Far Niente Winery, Oakville
- “I was impressed with the breadth of the curriculum and
the variety of topics covered during the three days. The
faculty was first-rate and I was quite impressed with the
number of and quality of people I got to meet – truly some
of the key executives of the wine industry. I’ve kept up
relationships with many of them.”
--Ken Lee, Vice President-Sales, J Lohr
Winery
- “I recently started a boutique wine company with
production of only 570 cases. I took the Wine Executive
Program with the specific purpose of using the course to
make a decision as to whether I want to go deeper with this
venture. I found the course very useful in providing both a
broad overview, and some specifics of the operation of
vineyards and a winery both at a small-scale and a
large-scale operation. The instructors are knowledgeable and
enthusiastic. I’d recommend the course to any one who is
contemplating getting into the business.”
--Bruce Conzelman, Founder, Harmonique Wine
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