North Bay Business Journal

NAPA — From a farmer of thousands of North Coast acres of winegrapes to producers of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wine brands to a broker of industry mergers and acquisitions, the speaker lineup for the Business Journal’s Impact Napa conference later this month includes major figures in Napa County’s wine industry.

The Napa Valley faces three paths towards its economic future, options that Beacon Economics Founding Principal Chris Thornberg said should have a common starting point for policy makers: early planning and clear vision to build on the strength that wine and tourism have brought to the region.

Homebuilder-turned-vintner Bart Araujo and his wife, Daphne, purchased the acclaimed 39-acre Eisele Vineyard just east of Calistoga in 1990.

Mr. Araujo will be a panelist at the Impact Napa 2012 conference the morning of Aug. 30. He spoke with the Business Journal about the challenges and opportunities facing a high-end, small-production Napa Valley winery.

Since starting his quest for the ultimate Napa Valley expression of a Bordeaux wine blend in the early 1980s, Jayson Pahlmeyer has provided a stage for several rising winemaker stars, such as Randy Dunn and Helen Turley.

Mr. Pahlmeyer will be a panelist at the Impact Napa 2012 conference the morning of Aug. 30. He and winery President Brian Hilliard spoke with the Business Journal about the tough business climate in the past three years and opportunities for increasing demand from the next generation of fine-wine lovers.

Real estate and corporate attorney Mario Zepponi started Zepponi & Company as a wine industry mergers and acquisitions consulting practice.

Mr. Zepponi will be part of a panel discussion at the Impact Napa 2012 conference the morning of Aug. 30. He spoke with the Business Journal about the rapidly changing landscape for wine M & A.

Andy Beckstoffer was trained as an engineer, but he’s been training North Coast vines to produce world-class wines for four decades. He acquired what is now Beckstoffer Vineyards in 1973.

Mr. Beckstoffer will be a panelist at the Impact Napa 2012 conference the morning of Aug. 30. He spoke with the Business Journal about how the 2012 crop has been faring, whether or not the North Coast has a shortage of winegrapes and the impact of any crimp in supply on grape and wine prices.

NAPA — From a farmer of thousands of North Coast acres of winegrapes to producers of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wine brands to a broker of industry mergers and acquisitions, the speaker lineup for the Business Journal’s Impact Napa conference later this month includes major figures in Napa County’s wine industry.

2012 Impact Napa Conference will be held Thursday, Aug. 30 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. Registration ends on Friday, Aug. 24.