Events

Global Old Vine Conference to Be Held in California for the First Time

USA

This autumn, winemakers, researchers, and wine enthusiasts from around the world will gather in California to celebrate the enduring magic of old vines. The initiative comes from Sarah Abbott MW – a British wine expert, marketer, and judge of the Wine Travel Awards (2022-2023).

In 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown, London-based wine marketer Sarah Abbott sought a project that could inspire and unite the global wine community. The result was The Old Vine Conference (OVC) – an international platform dedicated to honoring and preserving the world’s heritage vineyards.

The Old Vine Conference

“Old vines are a lens through which we see everything that is most beautiful in wine. They are a kind of ark that carries the sustainable future of viticulture,” says Abbott. “Our focus is on practicality – how to make old vines economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and commercially relevant.”

Together with her colleagues Leo Austin and Alan Griffiths MW, Abbott organized the first online OVC event, which brought together growers, winemakers, and researchers from across the globe. Following its success, the initiative evolved into a non-profit organization with a mission “to draw global attention, raise awareness, and stimulate commercial interest in old vines.”

From 31st October to 4th November 2025, The Old Vine Conference will be held in person for the first time – across Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Lodi, California.

To highlight California’s vital role in preserving viticultural heritage, OVC is partnering with the California Wine Institute, ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers), the Historic Vineyard Society, the Lodi Winegrape Commission, and leading producers throughout the state.

“This conference brings California’s old vines – especially Zinfandel – to the global stage. We’re proud to unite the state’s old-vine community and connect our heritage with the worldwide movement for preservation,” notes Rebecca Robinson, Executive Director of ZAP.

The conference program, titled “Meeting of Minds,” will cover a wide range of topics – from the commercial value of old-vine wines and regenerative viticulture to marketing strategies, clonal diversity, and interregional collaboration.

Among the speakers are leading figures in global wine: Jancis Robinson (delivering the keynote alongside Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards), Rosa Kruger (The Old Vine Project, South Africa), Dr. Laura Catena (Catena Zapata, Argentina), Michelle Bouffard (Tasting Climate Change), José Ignacio Gracia López (D.O. Campo de Borja), and others. Representing California will be legends such as Joel Peterson, Violet Grgich, Mark Vernon, Karen DeGolia, and Stuart Spencer.

“This is not just a series of lectures, but a working conference – a place where a shared vision for the future is built,” explains Sarah Abbott.

Participants can expect an engaging program of vineyard tours, tastings, panel discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions designed to foster genuine dialogue and exchange. The event will conclude with communal lunches, where attendees will share their own wines, connect with peers, and lay the groundwork for new international collaborations.

“Our goal is to break down barriers — because the future of old vines depends on collaboration,” concludes Sarah Abbott MW.

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Source: wineindustryadvisor.com (Alexandra Russell), oldvines.org

Photo: wineindustryadvisor.com, oldvines.org, instagram.com/ouroldvines