Resilient Future Media Tour 2026
April 26 - May 1, 2026
San Francisco, Suisun Valley, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley
Welcome to California!
April 26 - May 1, 2026
San Francisco, Suisun Valley, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley
This site serves as your one-stop resource for tour details, including the itinerary and travel information. It will be updated regularly, so please check back often.
The Resilient Future five-day media tour brings together 15 leading wine communicators from 12 countries for an immersive week of learning and exploration. Guests will spend time with the winemakers, growers, and next-generation leaders shaping the future of California wine, gaining firsthand insight into climate-smart viticulture, sustainability initiatives, emerging technologies, and evolving consumer engagement.
Each stop offers hands-on access to the people and practices driving California into a more resilient future.
WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA
Arrive San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
We provide an Uber Voucher to cover your ride from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on arrival: Click here to add Uber Voucher to your Uber account
Upon arrival at SFO, follow signs to the rideshare pick up point: Details Here
Note: Airport transfer is covered via Uber voucher; however, you’re welcome to arrange alternative transportation at your own expense – including Waymo, an autonomous vehicle service now available at SFO. Learn more
Hotel check-in at 1 Hotel, 8 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Welcome Dinner at La Mar
6:00pm
Meet in the lounge adjacent to the lobby to walk to La Mar restaurant.
6:30pm | Dinner, Tasting & Discussion
On-Trend California Wines
A casual welcome dinner hosted by Kate Venugopal, Wine Institute and Elaine Chukan Brown, educator and journalist.
Elaine Chukan Brown
Writer, Speaker & Global Wine Educator
Elaine is as a writer, speaker, and global wine educator working at the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in wine. She has been Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter, and a contributor to Wine & Spirits Magazine, The Oxford Companion to Wine, The World Atlas of Wine, and Academie du Vin Library On California and On Burgundy. Currently, she reviews Napa Valley wines for Wine Enthusiast, judges the Texsom Awards, and is a board member of Wine Writer Symposium.
Monday, April 27, 2026
Depart 1 Hotel at 8:30am with luggage
Overnight at Harvest Inn in St. Helena, CA
Caymus-Suisun Winery
10:00am | Vineyard Walk, Tasting & Tour
Exploring new regional frontiers and next-generation winemaking with tastings of
Sauvignon Kretos and Cabernet Volos
Hosts
- Jenny Wagner, Winemaker at Caymus-Suisun
- Charlie Wagner, Owner and winemaker for Mer Soleil winery
Kelli White
Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley
Kelli A. White is the director of education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley. She was the senior staff writer at GuildSomm from 2017 to 2019. Her writing has also appeared in World of Fine Wine, Robb Report, Sommelier Journal, Le Pan, Vinous, and other publications. At Vinous, Kelli was a key member of the maps team & worked with Italian cartographer Alessandro Masnaghetti to map many of Napa Valley’s appellations. Her book, Napa Valley, Then & Now, was first published in 2015.
Signorello Estate
12:15pm | Tasting, Lunch, Panel Discussion with Napa Valley Vintners
Napa Valley: Investing in the Future of Wine
Moderator:
- Kelli White, Director of Education at The Wine Center at Meadowood
Panelists:
- Ray Signorello, proprietor, Signorello Estate
- Shilah Salmon, Senior Vice President, Brand Management, Luxury Brands, The Duckhorn Portfolio
- Peter Willmert, CEO, Hudson Napa Valley
- Carlton McCoy MS, CEO, Lawrence Wine Estates
- Jessica Luke Baumgartner, Director of Vineyard Operations at Cakebread Cellars
Hotel Check-In & Break
4:00pm
Harvest Inn in St. Helena, CA
Please meet in the lobby for a 5:15pm departure.
Robert Mondavi Winery
5:30pm | To Kalon Vineyard Tour and Dinner
Redefining a new chapter for an iconic winery
Hosts
- Kurtis Ogasawara, Director of Winemaking
- Blake Wood, Director Vineyard Operations
- Edwin Robles, Executive Chef
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Depart Harvest Inn at 8:00am with luggage
Overnight at H2 Hotel in Healdsburg, CA
Grgich Hills | American Canyon Vineyard
8:45am | Vineyard Walk & Tasting
Biodiversity & Regenerative Farming
Hosts
- Violet Grgich, President and CEO, Grgich Hills Estate
- Ivo Jeramaz, Vice-President of Vineyards and Production and Winemaker
Contact: Maja Jeramaz, Maja@grgich.com
Donum Estate Winery
10:45am | Tasting and Tour
A Regenerative Landscape — Vineyards, Farm & Art
Hosts
- Angelica de Vere-Mabray, CEO, Donum Estate
- Tony Chapman, Senior Director of Winegrowing, Donum Estate
- Anne Vignaud, Head of Brand & Communications, Donum Estate
Benziger Winery
12:45pm | Lunch & Walk-Around Tasting
Sustainability Leadership with Green Medal Recipients
Hosts
- Chris Benziger, vintner, Benziger Family Winery
- Allison Jordan, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)
Guest Wineries
- Laura Barrett, winemaker, Clif Family Winery
- Remi Cohen, CEO, Domaine Carneros Winery
- Agustin Santi, vineyard manager, CHANDON
- Brooke Shenk, winemaker, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
- Hailey Trefethen, president, Trefethen Family Vineyards
- Caroline Merrell, senior director, sustainable winemaking, Jackson Family Wines
Check-In Hotel
4:15 - 5:45pm | H2 Hotel
Please meet in lobby at 5:45pm to depart for dinner.
DaVero Farms & Winery | Avivo Wines
6:00pm | Dinner
Climate-smart Varietals and Carbon Sequestration
Hosts
- Ridgely Evers, Founder & Owner
- Colleen McGlynn, Founder & Owner
Roedererestate.com
Roederer Estate
9:30am | Tour & Winemaker Panel Tasting
Sparkling Wines of Anderson Valley
Co-hosted by Roederer Estate, Scharffenberger Cellars and Lichen Estate.
Hosts
- Arnaud Weyrich, SVP & Winemaker, Roederer Estate
- Jeffrey Jindra, Winemaker, Scharffenberger Cellars
- Doug Stewart, Propietor & Winegrower, Lichen Estate
- Courtney DeGraff, Executive Director, Anderson Valley Wines Association
More information about Anderson Valley may be found here.
View the Anderson Valley documentary here.
GoldenEye Tasting in the Redwoods
11:45pm | Tasting & Discussion
A Sense of Place Among Towering Redwood Trees
Hosts
- Kristen McMahan, Winemaker, GoldenEye Winery
- Alexis Eich, Hospitality and Retail Sales Manager, GoldenEye Winery
- Courtney DeGraff, Executive Director, Anderson Valley Wines Association
Penny Royal Farm
1:00pm | Vineyard Exploration, Tasting & Lunch
The Role of Agritourism in Wine
Co-hosted by Penny Royal Farm and Navarro Vineyards.
Hosts
- Sarah Cahn Bennett, Pennyroyal Farm, Owner & Winemaker, and Navarro Vineyards & Winery, Co-Owner
- Jim Klein, Navarro Vineyards & Winery, Winemaker
- Erika McKenzie-Chapter, Pennyroyal Farm, Head Cheesemaker & Dairy Herd Manager
- Sophia Bates, Pennyroyal Farm, Head Gardener & Grazing Herd Manager
- Courtney DeGraff, Executive Director, Anderson Valley Wines Association
Bonterra Organic Estates | McNab Ranch
4:15pm | Vineyard Tour & Dinner
Sustainability at Scale and Certification Tapestry
Hosts
- Rodrigo Maturana, President of Sales & Marketing
- Beatrix Scolari, Sustainability Manager
- Olan Cox, Director of Hospitality & Executive Chef
- Elizabeth Archer, Community Relations Manager
Iron Horse Vineyards
9:00am | Vineyard Tour and Tasting
Exploring social impact and community initiatives
Hosts
- Joy Sterling, Partner and CEO
- Tom DeFanti, Professor Emeritus
More information about the connectivity testbed here. Additional background on the creek restoration here and here.
Dutton Ranch
11:00am | Vineyard Walk, Lunch, Tasting & Discussion
Panel Discussion: Legacy & Leadership: The Next Generation of Ag
Hosts
- Joe Dutton, Secretary-Treasurer and Co-owner, Dutton Ranch
- Kylie Dutton, Vice President of Winemaking & Production at Dutton Estate Winery
- Steve Dutton, President and Co-owner, Dutton Ranch
- Jordan Dutton, Winery Relations and Human Resources Assistant at Dutton Ranch
Moderated by Karissa Kruse, Chief Executive Officer at Sonoma County Winegrowers
Reservoir Farms
1:00pm | Technology Demonstration, Discussion and Tasting
Inside Reservoir Farms Sonoma, the world’s first on-farm incubator for vineyard ag-tech, robotics and agricultural automation.
Hosts
- Jennifer Dieckmann, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer at Sonoma County Winegrowers
- Danny Bernstein, CEO Reservoir Farms
Panel Discussion: Sustainability In Action with Pilot Farmers
Panelists
- Bret Munselle, Munselle Vineyards
- Tyler Klick, Redwood Empire Vineyard Management
- Dan Ivaldi and Armon Azevedo, Wilbur Ellis
- Dana Revallo, Agrology
Ram's Gate Winery
4:00pm | Tour and Dinner
Agroforestry, Regenerative Organic Case Study, Closing reflections
Hosts
– Joe Nielsen, General Manager & Winemaker, Ram’s Gate
– Amanda Gorter, Director of Winemaking, Central Coast, Robert Hall
– Alyssa Hamilton, Sustainability Manager
– Kryss Speegle MW, Executive Vice President Winegrowing at O’Neill Vintners
The tour is concluded!
Check-out at your leisure prior to 12:00pm. Uber vouchers will be provided for transfer to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
What to wear
Afternoons and evenings can be cool and windy, especially in coastal areas. Bring a jacket or sweater with you at all times.
- Casual, jeans ok. Please dress for vineyard & winery visits with sturdy footwear – closed toe shoes
- Winery Dinners: Smart casual (Tip: Avoid wearing heels)
What to bring
- Passport / ID for hotel check-ins
- Credit card for incidentals / personal use when you check in
- Electronic chargers, adapters, back-up battery packs
- Curiosity, positive attitude & questions!
Tips
- Join the tour WhatsApp Group for helpful reminders.
- Traveling in a group is even more pleasant if we do not have to wait for anyone. We kindly ask everyone to be on time.
What is covered in your stay
- Hotel stays, group transportation, transportation from SFO to hotel and from hotel to SFO
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
What is not covered
- Personal incidental expenses – spa services, mini-bar, room service, etc.
- Additional hotel room nights and transportation outside of the pre-arranged group tour.
- Travel Insurance – we recommend you take out travel insurance, as Wine Institute does not provide this for you.
Airport transportation
- We are happy to provide Uber Vouchers to cover your transportation from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) upon arrival, as well as your departure airport transfer in San Francisco to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). These have been shared via e-mail.
- TRAVEL ISSUES: If your flight is canceled or delayed, or if any other logistical constraints arise, please contact your California Wines representative directly or Ceci De La Montanya (cdelamontanya@wineinstitute.org)
Wine, Dine & Tag!
While you’re enjoying the tour, don’t forget to connect with us on social media! Share your photos and tag us to join the conversation. Use hashtags: #WinesonaMission #CaliforniaWines.
Facebook & Instagram: @california.wines
Hint: Don’t forget to tag winery accounts AND your regional California Wines accounts to amplify your voice.
@california.wines.canada
@californiawines.mx
@california.wines.uk.india
@californiawineseurope
@california.wines.kr
@calwinesjp
Tour WhatsApp Group
Join to get helpful updates & reminders throughout the week. Share photos with fellow travelers and send song requests to the bus DJ while you're in California. Stay in touch with your fellow travelers and share your articles beyond.
Meet your fellow travelers
Learn more about the wine communicators from around the globe who will accompany you throughout the week. Please see the guestlist linked below.
Level Up Your
California Wine Knowledge
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