Wine industry conference emphasises education

When vintners and viticulturalists gather in Blenheim for WinePro 2026, a conference and trade show in two weeks’ time, expect a mood as complex as the flavour profile of Marlborough’s signature varietal.

The industry, locally and beyond, is experiencing a form of “vibrant acidity” associated with sauvignon blanc. Some sectors are flourishing; others feel the bite of economic contraction. Question marks abound.

Against that backdrop, wine professionals will seek answers for success from WinePro’s assemblage of presenters and exhibitors. Wine Marlborough developed the programme portion of the event which the area previously hosted in April 2024.

“There are lots of different audiences in the wine community,” noted Marcus Pickens, general manager at Wine Marlborough. “There are parts of the industry looking ahead positively and parts of the industry looking at real uncertainty.

“A grape grower might be thinking, ‘Gosh, where is this industry headed? I love being part of it, but have I got a future in it?’ There are probably some wine companies thinking, ‘How do I make more margin? Where is my financial return going to come from if I’m selling wine into a different market?’

“It’s too simple to think there’s one message that people are going to leave with,” he continued. “But hopefully those industry experts will speak to people, and people attending the sessions will walk out with a plan of their own action and a bit of clarity on the direction of the wine industry.”

Among the sessions, perhaps none hits the mark as directly as Dealing with the Now – focused on the current climate. Another pertinent panel, especially for wineries: Getting to Market vs. Getting Bought.

“I’ve witnessed that any time you get the wine industry participants together, there’s an energy in the room,” Marcus relayed. “Anyone who goes along will probably feel buoyed by the sharing of everyone’s individual situations.

“That does help people, to understand that if they’re in tough times, they’ll realise they’re not the only ones – and if things are going well for them, they might gives those who are less fortunate at the moment some hope.”

WinePro 2026
Where: Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000
When: 23-25 June
Registration: winepro.co.nz