Seminar Schedule

Seminars are free to attend with the purchase of a ticket to the Nashville Wine and Food Festival.

Seminar 1 - 2:00 - 2:45pm

 “Hidden Villages of Burgundy”

Hosted by Calvin Webster

This seminar explores the rising prices of renowned Burgundy villages like Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin and suggests alternatives for enjoying Burgundy wines without breaking the bank. It highlights lesser-known villages like Maranges, Saint-Aubin, Chitry, and Auxey-Duresses, which have benefitted from recent climate changes, offering affordable yet delicious options. Led by WSET Diploma holder Calvin Webster, participants will taste six Burgundy wines while discovering these emerging villages in the world's most famous wine region.

Bio: Calvin Webster, a beverage consultant and educator based in Nashville, TN, transitioned from a career as a touring bassist to immerse himself in the world of wine during an unexpected stint in Western Europe. With eight years of retail and wholesale experience and a WSET Diploma, Calvin now advises wine and spirits wholesalers and retailers while passionately mentoring future industry experts. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking with his family and leading imaginative Dungeons & Dragons games with a whimsical blend of otherworldly wine and spirits references.

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Seminar 2 - 2:00 - 2:45pm

“Fresh Faces of California - The Wines of Massican & The Languages of Yes”

Hosted by Jeff Adler

Please join Lux Wines’ Sr. Market Manager, Jeff Adler, for an afternoon of whimsy featuring two of California’s freshest and brightest stars.

Winemaker Dan Petroski founded Massican in 2009 as Napa's 'only white wine winery,' a title it retains today. Petroski makes 'Mediterranean' wines, which refers to not only their style (high-acid, floral, salty) but their ambition: to grace tables, not stock cellars.

Winemaker Randall Graham was Americas’ first ‘Rhone Ranger’ beginning with the Bonny Doon winery in 1989. Graham sought out to recognize if Rhone varietals could help bring a ‘French Sensibility’ to California winemaking style and technique. Graham continues to lead from the front with his newest project, The Language of Yes.

Bio: Jeff began his journey with Empire Distributors, Inc. in 2005, showcasing his expertise as a fine wine key-account specialist. With certifications including CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) and CSS (Certified Specialist of Spirits), Jeff's commitment to ongoing education is evident. Joining Lux Wines, the boutique division of E&J Gallo in 2018, Jeff's role has evolved to overseeing the Georgia and Tennessee markets. His dedication to education, coupled with a profound passion for food and beverage, enables him to craft memorable experiences for others.

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Seminar 3 - 3:00pm - 3:45pm 

“Cabernet Face-Off: Napa VS Sonoma”

Hosted by Alan Crawford

Take a trip with us through the Napa Valley and into Sonoma County as we compare Cabernet Sauvignons from various sub regions (AVAs) throughout the most premier vineyards in California. This journey will include an educational-experience diving into some of the most award winning and sought after sites that these regions have to offer.

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Seminar 4 - 3:00pm - 3:45pm

“Tour De France”

Hosted by Jimmy Collins

Travel the depth of French wine from Champagne to Châteauneuf du Pape. Taste and learn why France is the gold standard for the varietals you know and love. We’ll visit Champagne, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Alsace, and Rhône Valley during our journey. Viva la France!

Bio: Jimmy Collins is the Sr. Regional Manager for the mid-South & mid-Atlantic region for Frederick Wildman & Sons. Frederick Wildman & Sons has been an importer of Fine Wine from across the globe since 1933. Such prestigious producers such as Pol Roger (Champagne), Olivier Leflaive (Burgundy), Famille Hugel (Alsace), Christian Moreau (Chablis), Klein Constantia (S. Africa), Brandlin (Napa), Le Chiuse (Tuscany) & the world renown Chartreuse, are just a small portion of the award-winning wines from this respected importer.

Mr. Collins is certified wine educator with a WSET Level 3 and CSW.

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Seminar 5 - 4:00pm - 4:45pm

“How to Drink Australian”

Hosted by Jonathan Ross & Jane Lopes

Experience a curated tasting journey delving into the vibrant world of Australian wines, showcasing why we deem it to be the epitome of value and excitement in today's wine landscape.

Bio: Jane Lopes & Jonathan Ross are Nashville-based wine importers, authors, and sommeliers. Between them, they've worked everywhere from New York's Eleven Madison Park, Nashville's The Catbird Seat, Chicago's The Violet Hour, and Australia's Attica and Rockpool: Australia's most celebrated restaurants. Lopes and Ross were featured on Esquire network's 2015 television series Uncorked, which follows six New York City sommeliers in pursuit of the Master Sommelier title (which they've each since attained in 2017/2018). In 2020, the duo co-founded their own Australian wine imports company, Legend. and their award-winning book, How to Drink Australian published in September 2023. Today, they tour the country educating the industry and hosting wine events with Jonathan also serving as the Wine Director for The Twelve Thirty Club.

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Seminar 6 - 4:00pm - 4:45pm

“The of Rias Baixas and the Future of Albarino”

Hosted by Diego Rios & Nicholas Gulledge

Dive into the history of Rías Baixas and the Future of Albariño with Diego Ríos, Head Winemaker at Granbazán.

Giego Rios Bio: Originally from Chile, Diego decided to take an unorthodox path after studying enology at university by doing an internship at a German winery instead of joining other classmates in California or Australia. But he was fascinated by high-quality German Riesling, a wine that makes one’s mouth water with its high acidity, delights one’s nose with complex aromas and easily ages gracefully for 50 years and beyond. He ended up leaving after his first year in Germany to gain more experience in the US by working at a top winery in Oregon and then returning to Chile to work for a top winery there. However, the siren song of German Riesling had him return to work for a well-known producer in the Mosel wine region in Germany for several years.

Nicholas Gulledge Bio: Nicholas Gulledge has spent most of his professional career in the wine business, first as a buyer and educator with Total Wine, then 10 years in wholesale distribution sales & management at Republic-National Distribution Company (GA), before just recently starting his new role as the Southeast Regional Manager for Europvin, the import company responsible for bringing all these awesome wines from "Granbazan'' to Nashville. He has a degree in Economics and Public Administration & Urban Planning from Georgia State University, along with the following industry certifications : WSET Diploma, Certified Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Wine, Certified Specialist of Spirits, and Cicerone.

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Seminar Session 7 -7:00pm - 7:45pm

“Renegade Lemonade Lemon Wine, Where Have You Been All My Life?”

Hosted by Brady Reiter

Renegade Lemonade was established during Covid in the Dallas, GA basement of Brady & Alexandra (“Alex”) Reiter. Renegade Lemonade is the first and only wine made from 100% lemons, no grapes! Our mission is to elevate and celebrate the lemon. Renegade Lemonade is light, crisp and refreshing with an exquisite balance of tart and sweet. Whether sipped on its own or used as a base for creative cocktails, it adds a touch of sophistication to any celebration. Renegade Lemonade was self-distributed in Georgia in early 2023, and now is distributed in eight states and growing. We launched in Tennessee this year and are excited to share the lemon love with all of you.

Bio: Brady Reiter (Founder) managed a gourmet restaurant out of college and trained as a Chef before spending the last 20+ years as a cloud computing and cybersecurity expert. Alex was a College Professor teaching Public Speaking and Communication courses for 15+ years at Georgia Highlands College. They live in Dallas, GA with their four daughters, two cats and two dogs. One of the dogs, Renegade, was the inspiration for the Renegade Lemonade name.

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Seminar Session 8- 8:00pm - 8:45pm

“Changing the Narrative with High Rise Cannabis Seltzers”

Hosted by Chris Cohen & Matt Skinner

High-Rise Cannabis Seltzers: Hear our story, our mission, and the future of High-Rise Beverage. We open up the conversation around the status of mainstream consumption, wellness, and answer the question of Delta 9 THC Beverages - 'How Is This Legal?' Let's explore the future of consumption.