Maryland Wine & Grape Industry Annual Meeting

The Maryland Wine & Grape Industry Annual Meeting is held each year in late winter. The 2013 meeting was held February 15 & 16. This event offers a wealth of business and technical information for those with existing vineyards and/or wineries as well as those who are considering establishing a vineyard or winery. Speakers include many well-known industry leaders from across the mid-Atlantic region covering both the practical science and the business aspects of running a vineyard or winery. To better accommodate the steadily increasing numbers of grape growers and wineries in the state, the meeting offers split sessions. Sessions focus on issues pertaining to vineyard management, winery operations, winemaking techniques, and new vineyard establishment. The New Growers sessions feature sessions on vineyard economics, funding sources, site selection, and pest management, among others. The Viticulture sessions focus on soil testing, nutrient management, leaf pulling, Integrated Pest Management strategies, and more. Winery sessions discuss topics such as tank and barrel management, fining and finishing methods, branding, winery trails, and planning / zoning issues, to name a few.