Speakers & Moderators
Our roster is actively expanding — new voices and leaders will be added as they join.
Julian Alston
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics & Director, Robert Mondavi Institute Center for Wine Economics, UC Davis
Kym Anderson
Professor Emeritus of Economics, Adelaide University
Orley Ashenfelter
Joseph Doogla Green 1895 Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Princeton
Eric Asimov
Chief Wine Critic, The New York Times
Felicity Carter
Founder, Drinks Insider
Joe Czerwinski
Reviewer, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Julien Delarue
Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis
Luis Diaz-Garcia
Assistant Professor of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis
Katerina Axelsson
CEO and Founder, Tastry
Julian Braithwaite
Chief Executive, International Alliance for Responsible Drinking
Tom Burchfield
Head of Market Intelligence, Live-Ex
Jing Cao
Professor of Statistics, Southern Methodist University
Christine Diepenbrock
Associate Professor in Plant Sciences, UC Davis
Robin Goldstein
Deputy Director, Robert Mondavi Institute Center for Wine Economics; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis
Wanda Mann
East Coast Editor, The SOMM Journal
Andrew McElrone
Research Plant Physiologist & Adjunct Professor, USDA-ARS & UC Davis
Jules Perry
CEO, WIne-Searcher
Francesca Dominici
Director, Harvard Data Science Initiative
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Cathy Huyghes
CEO and Co-Founder, Enolytics
Kimberlee Marinelli
Assistant Winemaker & Agroecologist, Opus One Winery
Xiao-Li Meng
Editor-in-Chief, Harvard Data Science Review
Dan Petroski
Winemaker, Massican Winery
Ashley DuBois Leonard
Founder and CEO, InnoVint
Xin Liu
Professor of Computer Science, UC Davis
Michael Mondavi
Co-Founder, Michael Mondavi Family Estate
Alexandre Pouget
Professor in Neuroscience, University of Geneva
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Mason Earles
Assoc. Professor of Viticulture and Enology, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis & CTO and Co-Founder, Scout
André Hueston Mack
Owner & Winemaker, Maison Noir Wines
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Philippe Masset
Assoc. Professor of Finance, EHL Hospitality Business School
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Jill J. McCluskey
Regents Professor & Director of the School of Economics, Washington State University
Ben Montpetit
Marvin Sands Department Chair, and Richard E. Kunde Endowed Chair in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis
Madeline Puckette
Co-founder, Wine FOlly
Ed Feuchuk
General Manager, Tank Garage Winery
Karen MacNeil
President and CEO, Karen MacNeil & Company
Sam Paddock
CFO, Next Gen Learning
Clive Pursehouse
North American Editor, Decanter Magazine
Ron Runnebaum
Assoc. Professor in Viticulture & Enology and Chemical Engineering, UC Davis
Audrey Russek, PhD
Curator, Food, and Wine, UC Davis
Brent Sams
Research Scientist, GALLO Viticulture
Dr. Vincent Segura
INRAE Researcher in Quantitative Genetics, AGAP Institute
Albert Strever
Associate Professor, Stellenbosch University
Dan Sumner
Frank H. Buck Jr. Distinguished Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis, & Director, Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
Dr. Liz Thach, MW
President, Wine Market Council
Natalie Wang
Editor, Vino Joy News
Christine Wente
Chair of the Board, Wente Family Estates
Jason Wise
Chief Creative Officer, SOMM TV
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Program Overview
An overview of the 2026 symposium, presenting preliminary session titles, with additional speakers and sessions added as the program continues to take shape.
🍇 Registration & Morning Coffee, 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM International Center
🍇 Pre-Symposium Tutorial, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM International Center
🍇 Judgment of Davis Part I, Ticketed Event, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Sensory Theater, Robert Mondavi Institute
🍇 Judgment of Davis Part II, Ticketed Event, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Sensory Theater, Robert Mondavi Institute
🍇 Opening Reception, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Courtyard, Robert Mondavi Institute
Symposium Sponsors
We welcome organizations interested in supporting the Vine to Mind 2026 symposium and advancing dialogue across the global wine ecosystem. Partnership opportunities are available for those looking to participate in and support this interdisciplinary event. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact melissa_knell@harvard.edu.
