Co-chairs named for 2020 Unified

Nichola Hall, staff scientist at Scott Laboratories, and R. Keith Striegler, grower outreach specialist at E. & J. Gallo Winery, have been named co-chairs for the 2020 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Program Development Committee.

The co-chairs were selected by the Unified Symposium's LLC Managing Committee, which represents the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, which have co-hosted the Unified Symposium for 25 years.

Assisting Hall and Striegler in developing the 2020 program for the Unified Symposium will be nearly 30 other leaders from the wine and grape sectors, who will work to find applicable and timely topics in winemaking, grape-growing, business and marketing while pursuing appropriate speakers for the Unified Symposium program sessions.

Hall currently serves as technical consultant for all areas of enology with a focus on fermentation management, microbial nutrition, wine microbiology and analysis, and winery hygiene at Scott Laboratories.

Striegler serves as a grower outreach specialist with E. & J. Gallo Winery. He previously served as the outreach coordinator with the National Clean Plant Network.

In 2020, the Unified Symposium will be at Cal Expo, a temporary host site, due to the Sacramento Convention Center's large-scale renovation, which will close it starting this summer. With the symposium set for Feb. 4-6, 2020, Cal Expo will provide an alternative to the Convention Center with ample space, parking and facilities for a conference of the symposium's size.

The Unified Symposium also hosts the largest trade show of its kind, with nearly 700 vendors displaying their products and services.