Day 2: Symposium 2021 – Honing Your Craft
8:00 Pacific | Luminary Address
Jancis Robinson MW
9:00-10:30 Pacific | Panel: The Editorial Board
This panel will dive into what editors want, expounding on pitching and the editorial process, as well as speaking to the critical role the editor plays when it comes to the landscape of wine communication. Moderated by Mary-Frances Heck (Senior Food Editor, Food & Wine), the discussion will feature perspectives from various types of publications, with insights from Kristen Bieler (SevenFifty Daily), Susan Kostrzewa (Wine Enthusiast), and Julia Coney (Vine Pair).
10:45-11:30 Pacific | Activation: Pitching a Piece
This interactive session will demonstrate the pitch process. Past Symposium Fellows Adam Lechmere (Club Oenologique) and Jess Lander (The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook) will present pitches in real time, led by editors Amy Wislocki (Decanter) and Maggie Hoffman (Epicurious).
11:45-1:15 Pacific | Panel: The Art of the Written Word
This discussion will invite three renowned writers to select favorite works by their fellow panelists and critically examine the quality of the writing. Panelists will be Dorothy Gaiter (The Grape Collective), Eric Asimov (The New York Times), and Karen MacNeil (WineSpeed). Moderated by Kelli A. White (The Learning Center at Meadowood Estate).
1:15-1:30 Pacific | Tapping Resources: Libraries, Librarians, and the UC Davis Wine Writers Collection
This brief conversation between Kelli A. White and Jullianne Baillou, Warren Winiarski Fellow at the UC Davis Library, will touch upon the vital role that libraries can play in the life of a writer. Jullianne will present highlights from both Special Collections and the Wine Writers Collection, citing Steven Spurrier’s papers as an example. They will then offer a toast to his memory, honoring his many contributions to the world of wine.
