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by Dick Penna, meeting chairperson and chairperson of the Governor's Wine & Grape Advisory Commission Mark your calendars for Saturday February 28, 2009! That is the day for the 2009 Maryland Wine and Grape Industry Annual Meeting, which is being sponsored by the Maryland Grape Growers Association and Maryland Wineries Association in cooperation with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. The meeting promises to offer educational sessions for new and experienced growers, new and experienced wine makers, and new and experienced winery owners.As always, the meeting will provide the opportunity to see friends, chat with fellow growers, wine makers, and winery owners, and taste some of Maryland’s great wines. The wine and grape industry in Maryland is growing rapidly, and this meeting is the one time when the entire industry gathers to learn, plan, and communicate. The keynote session will focus on the relationships between the grower and wine maker. Stephen Mudd, grower from New York and Brad Knapp, wine maker from Pennsylvania will discuss their respective views of this relationship from their unique perspectives. The session will provide opportunities for audience participation and comments. As in the past, the meeting will provide space for three concurrent sessions. Beginning at 10:30 AM, the Grower Track will feature a discussion of the vineyard management company. Such an entity is being developed in Kent County, Maryland, and Jack Steinmetz, Director of Kent County Economic Development and Stephen Mudd of Mudd Vineyards in New York and manager of a vineyard management company there will present the advantages of such entities. The Winery Track will provide a session on the business of beginning a winery. Kenneth Prager, CPA will present important financial information that critical in beginning a winery operation. If you have questions about the business aspects of starting a winery, Ken Prager will provide information to help in selecting the proper legal business entity, the advantages of each, and accounting and record keeping requirements. A new track this year will be the Home Wine Maker Track. This session will be moderated by Kevin Kelehand and Paul Dongarra, two expert home wine makers who will introduce new and experienced home wine makers to the excitement of making your own wine at home. The afternoon Grower Track will feature a discussion of managing pesticide resistance by Dr. Anne DeMarsay. Dr. Tony Wolf of Virginia Tech will present his research on the impact of training systems of grape and wine quality. The Winery Track will present sessions by Dr. Richard Carey of Vitis Wine Cellars in Lancaster, PA on identifying and correcting flaws in wine and managing tannins in red wines. Another new track will be the Maryland Wines Track. Here Dr. Joseph Fiola and the University of Maryland Extension will present wines from grapes grown if various parts of the state (north/west and south/east). We need more information on which grapes produce the best wines in Maryland’s various regions, and Joe will help to answer these questions. Next, the meeting will feature a tasting of commercial Maryland wines for a variety of wineries located in different parts of the state. This will be a continuation of the discussion of what grapes produce the best wines in various areas of the state. Finally, the meeting will end with a wine reception featuring Maryland’s finest wines. Unlike last year, we will not have a separate dinner. Also the cost of the wine reception will be included in the registration fee.
Lunch will provide opportunities for renewing acquaintances, discussing local problems, meeting new growers and wine makers, and networking. All attendees are invited to bring some of their finest vintages to share for both the lunch and the wine reception, bragging rights encouraged. Moderation is always strongly recommended. Social – Enjoy
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