The Old Vine Conference no. 4
'Old vines: why now is their time'
11th October 2022

The Old Vine Conference returns on 11th October 2022, with a blended in-person and live streamed event at The Foundry, London.

Join us to hear from an inspiring line-up of old vine pioneers, thought leaders, academics, environmentalists, winemakers, viticulturalists, and commercial & marketing specialists. Come away with invaluable insight on the subject of old vines from around the world and a renewed understanding of why now is the time for old vines and their wines.

The conference will start at 10.30 (UK) with an opening address from Jancis Robinson MW. The conference will draw to a close by 17.30. Those attending in-person will be able to taste an eclectic and inspiring line-up of old vine wines from producers and regions addressed at the conference in a self-pour tasting and to stay and network with our growing global community of like-minded old vine supporters until 19.00.

The Old Vine Conference 2022 will explore 3 core themes and address “Old Vines: why now is their time”:

Our strongest story

How old vine heritage is the most powerful, unifying, marketing narrative we have.
The heritage embodied in old vine wine reflects the most impactful and exciting trends: trends such as biodiversity and sustainability, regenerative agriculture, conscious capitalism, and artisanal luxury.

Our richest resource and secret weapon

Arks of genetic diversity and our teachers in “Planting to grow old”, old vines hold the future of wine.
Diversity is resilience. Forgotten vine varieties recuperated from old vineyards have been vital to winemakers seeking to restore freshness in warming regions. And “heritage cuttings”, taken from highly adapted old vines, are being used to plant new vineyards that will thrive into their healthy old age.

An emerging premium category

Collectives in South Africa, Australia and Chile have shown how old vines can power transformative premiumisation. Their success shows us what we need to do to create a global old vine category. Certification brings trust and credibility to the category, and we are getting there.

OUTLINE PROGRAM: (subject to minor changes, all times are UK)

10.00              Conference opens

10.30-10.40   Welcome from the Founders of the OVC
                          Sarah Abbott MW, Alun Griffiths MW, Leo Austin

10:40-10:50   Opening address: Why old vines matter        
                           Jancis Robinson MW, JR.com International              

10:50-11:35    IWSC Foundation grant: saving old vines in Turkey              
                         Umay Çeviker, Gözdem Gürbüzatik, Levon Bağış, Heritage Vines of Turkey, Turkey

11:40-12:10    Making it real: buyers on the opportunities & challenges for an old vine wine category                
                         Paul Shinnie, Alliance Wine, UK
                         Ray O'Connor MW, Naked Wines, UK
                         Freddie Cobb, Vagabond, UK

12:15-12:30    Old vines in the Hunter Valley
                         Nick Cooper & Adrian Sparks of Mount Pleasant      

12.35 - 13.15  Old vines and a lighter touch: how heritage vineyards shape winemaking philosophy 
                         Lucas Lowi & colleagues, Bodega Numanthia & Anna Harris-Noble, OVC Regional Ambassador for Spain

13:15-13:45    Lunch break
                        Networking  & walk around wine tasting (in-person only)

13.50 - 14.05  Why our co-operative champions old vines
                          Tessa Donnadieu, and colleagues from Vinchio Vaglio, with Sarah Abbott MW

14:10-14:20   Franc de Pied: ungrafted old vines                
                          José Vouillamoz, Francs de Pied         

14:25-15:00   Marketing Old Vines: from vineyard to shop shelf, the task at hand
                         Andre Morgenthal, The Old Vine Project South Africa, South Africa
Derek Mossman Knapp, Garage Wine Co. / Vigno, Chile        
        
15.15-15.30   Break - Networking  & walk around wine tasting (in-person only)

15:15-16:00    Do old vines equal sustainable viticulture
                         Domenico Veronese, Villa Bogdano, Italy                 

16:00-16:45   Heritage vineyards, wine quality, and premiumisation
                          Michael Eddy, Senior Director of Winemaking, Louis M Martini, California with Sarah Abbott MW   

16:45-17:00  The value in old vines
                        Giles Cooke MW, Alliance Wine with Sarah Abbott MW           

17:00-17:10  Introducing Uncondemned: saving old vines in Portugal
                        Roman Gonital, A Portuguese Story   

17.10-17.20   Old vines and old wines in the Mosel
                        Dr Enno Lippold

17:20-17:30   Round up session & progress so far from The Old Vine Conference team      

[Online conference closes]

17.30 -19.00   Walk around tasting of old vine wines from around the world (in-person only)

19.00                  Event ends