SPEAKERS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
CONFERENCE | Understanding Consumer Perceptions of Climate Change
Nathalie Spielman, Marketing Professor
Biography
Originally from Montréal, Dr. Spielmann has been Professor of Marketing at NEOMA Business School, located in Reims, France since 2009. She is the creator and director of the innovative MSc Wine & Gastronomy program at the school and teaches at the Masters, MBA, and Executive MBA levels.
Dr. Spielmann’s main research foci are traceability and sustainability. Specifically, she unravels how consumers perceive products that claim an origin as well as looking at how firms that produce these types of products interact. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Spielmann has published over 50 articles in top-tier journals on these and other topics such as advertising, sensory marketing, branding, and consumer psychology.
In tandem to her research, Dr. Spielmann provides consulting services for territories and brands looking to harness the power of terroir, consumer psychology, and collective strategies. She also presents her research at invited talks around the world to winemakers, chefs, and tourism professionals.
Being an impact-driven researcher, Dr. Spielmann also engages in entrepreneurial ventures. The latest being a Champagne bar-shop in the heart of the Mountain of Reims. Finally, passionate about wine, she is currently a Master of Wine candidate, holds the WSET Diploma, is a French Wine Scholar and an Italian Wine Ambassador, and a certified Sherry educator.
PANEL | Buying Power – The Role of Wine Buyers in a Changing Climate
Ines Castillo, Assistant Director of Strategy and Merchandising, SAQ
Biography
Ines Castillo is a seasoned merchandising and strategy professional with over 18 years of experience at the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). Currently serving as Assistant Director of Strategy and Merchandising, she is responsible for developing merchandising strategies that improve product visibility, optimize assortment, and enrich the customer journey. Her approach ensures that strategic decisions are both data-driven and customer-focused, consistently aligned with the SAQ’s long-term vision.
In recent years, Ines has worked closely with suppliers and various teams at the SAQ to implement strategies aimed at reducing the overall carbon footprint of alcoholic beverages.
Michele Manelli, Equalitas Vice President and Salcheto Founder and CEO
Biography
Michele Manelli was born in Sassuolo (northern Italy, close to Modena), raised in Paris and is living in Tuscany since more than twenty years. As a vintner in Montepulciano, he founded and developed Salcheto, a wine producing operation, as a model of sustainable efficiency, firmly convinced that businesses in general are the key actors for a new social progress.
Over the last decade he has been directly engaged in promoting projects of research, development and wine value-chain lobbying oriented to sustainability, such as the “Charter of Montepulciano for the Wine Carbon Footprint” (2010) or the “Forum for Wine Sustainability (2013-2015), for which he acted as co-founder and author of the “2014 Report on Sustainability” (www.vinossotenibile.org). His engagement pursued with a significant contribution the founding of Equalitas in 2016 of which he is now Vice President. Equalitas is a company controlled by the Italian Federation of Wine Consortiums (FederDoc), which was born to promote sustainable business models along the wine industry and diffuse its culture in the wine world markets.
Marcus Ihre, Sustainability manager at Systembolaget, Sweden
Biography
Marcus Ihre has a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the early 1990:s, complemented by post studies in International Marketing and Trade. After university he has been working for various private and public organizations, with focus on sustainability from the start. Among other things he has been involved in research of substitutes to freons, ecolabelling, plastic collection and recycling, development of international sustainability standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 26000. At Systembolaget Marcus focuses on the environmental impact and performance in the supply chain, from the farm level to the shops.
PANEL | No to Greenwashing – Building Real Sustainability in Wine
Alessio Planeta, CEO at Planeta
Biography
Class of 1966, after completing his studies in agricultural sciences, in the 1990s Alessio Planeta devoted himself to delving into the history of Sicily and its viticulture with the goal of carrying on the extraordinary work begun by his uncle Diego Planeta and opening the doors of international development to Sicilian wines.
In 1991 he assumed the role of managing director and technical manager of the Planeta Farms and in 1995 he brought the first labels to the market: the Chardonnay - a wine that was by then an identity wine and had won many awards - opened the doors of the world to the newly established family brand and to the non-native grape varieties of Sicily, beginning a diversification that is a hallmark of the group.
From 2000 to 2009 Alessio Planeta assumed the role of President of the Terre Sicane Wine Route and Vice-President of the Regional Association of Wine Routes, while since 2008 he has been a director and vice-president of the National Syndicate of Mosti, Table Wines, V.Q.P.R.D. non-special, of Federvini.
In June 2011 he was appointed board member of Assovini Sicilia and in April 2012 he was awarded the title of aggregate Academician of the Georgofili Academy. From 2017 to 2020, Alessio served as president of Assovini Sicilia and is currently a board member of the Consorzio Doc Sicilia
Today Alessio Planeta manages a production of more than 2.4 million bottles a year to which he has added the cultivation of olive, almond and chickpea trees according to an entrepreneurial philosophy oriented toward sustainability, based on a deep knowledge of cultivation techniques and the enhancement of biodiversity. Alongside he sustains various cultural activities and high-profile hospitality projects related to wine tourism, aimed at conveying the positive values that animate the winery and accompanying visitors to the complex Planeta world.
In 2023 Alessio won the prestigious "Winemaker of the Year" title of the Wine Star Award, bringing Italy to the top of the list after sixteen years. The award was recognized by Wine Enthusiast - a North American wine magazine that annually nominates the most influential members of the wine, spirits and beverage industry.
In 2024, Alessio Planeta and his winery also received the title of "Wine Family of the Year" at the Meininger Awards Excellence in Wine & Spirit and ranked third among the most "admired" Italian wineries, after Antinori and Gaja, according to "The World's Most Admired Wine Brands" ranking, placing 30th internationally
Felicity Carter, Founder of Drinks Insider & Editorial Director, Areni Global
Biography
Based in Europe, Felicity Carter is the founder of Drinks Insider podcast, newsletter and consultancy, delivering analysis and insight on the drinks business. She’s also Editorial Director of Areni Global, the fine wine think tank headquartered in London, and a guest lecturer in Storytelling at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town. Previously, she was founding Executive Editor of The Drop at Pix, editorial consultant for Liv-ex, and Editor in Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, which she built into the world’s premier business publication, with subscribers in 38 countries. Her work has appeared in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers in Australia, and in The Guardian US, among many others. She has given keynotes on global trends, wine tourism and the anti-alcohol lobby in New York, Verona, London, Hong Kong and at many other conferences. Felicity has judged wine competitions in Germany, Georgia, Portugal, France and Luxembourg. She was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly and won the 67 Pall Mall Global Communicators Award for Audio in 2025.
Sandro Bottega
Biography
Coming soon
PANEL | Financial Sustainability – Securing the Future of Wine
Etienne Neethling PhD, Teacher-Researcher in Viticulture and Oenology at Groupe École Supérieure d’Agriculture d’Angers
Biography
Originally from South Africa where he studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Stellenbosch, Etienne Neethling came to France in 2008 to complete his masters and doctoral studies. He is today a lecturer-researcher at the Ecole Supérieure des Agricultures in Angers, developing research work on adapting the wine sector to climate change. He is the head of the Master of Science in Vine, Wine and Terroir Management and an OIV expert within the SUSTAIN group. His presentation will focus on sustaining local wine identity in an evolving global climate, where varietal innovation is a critical question in building the resilience of the wine sector.
Anne Bousquet, Co-Owner Domaine Bousquet, Argentina and Origins Organic Imports, USA
Biography
Anne Bousquet grew up in a winegrowing family in Southwest France. Breaking with three generations of winemaking tradition, Bousquet opted to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics instead. A successful career as an economist specializing in the paper packaging industry ensued. Anne, her husband Labid Al Ameri accompanied by their daughter Eva moved from Brussels to tiny Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina in 2009 to manage Domaine Bousquet, the winery they co-founded with her father Jean in the late 1990s. In 25 years, Domaine Bousquet has morphed from a pioneer’s dream in virgin territory into a thriving concern with 190 full-time employees and wines sold in more than 60 countries. Domaine Bousquet today is the #1 organic and regenerative winery in Argentina. Anne and Labid are now based in Miami, to focus on developing their most important market, the U.S., and have set up their own import company. Today Anne splits her time between running Origin Organic Imports in Miami and Domaine Bousquet in the Uco Valley in Argentina.
Séverine Pinte, Executive Winemaker/Viticulturist and Managing Partner at Le Vieux Pin and LaStella wineries in BC’s Okanagan Valley
Biography
Séverine Pinte is the Executive Winemaker/Viticulturist and Managing Partner of two boutique wineries in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley: Le Vieux Pin and LaStella. With a deep commitment to sustainability, she also serves as Chair of the Sustainable Winegrowing BC (SWBC) program. Since 2021, both wineries and their 90 acres of estate vineyards have been certified by SWBC.
Séverine’s passion for crafting premium BC wines has earned her international recognition. In 2023, she was knighted into the prestigious Order of Agricultural Merit by the French government—an honour with a 140-year legacy. In 2024, Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) recognized her leadership and vision with its Leadership Excellence Award.
PANEL | Shaping the Narrative – The Role of Communicators in Sustainable Wine
Felicity Carter, Founder of Drinks Insider & Editorial Director, Areni Global
Biography
Based in Europe, Felicity Carter is the founder of Drinks Insider podcast, newsletter and consultancy, delivering analysis and insight on the drinks business. She’s also Editorial Director of Areni Global, the fine wine think tank headquartered in London, and a guest lecturer in Storytelling at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town.
Previously, she was founding Executive Editor of The Drop at Pix, editorial consultant for Liv-ex, and Editor in Chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, which she built into the world’s premier business publication, with subscribers in 38 countries. Her work has appeared in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers in Australia, and in The Guardian US, among many others.
She has given keynotes on global trends, wine tourism and the anti-alcohol lobby in New York, Verona, London, Hong Kong and at many other conferences. Felicity has judged wine competitions in Germany, Georgia, Portugal, France and Luxembourg. She was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly and won the 67 Pall Mall Global Communicators Award for Audio in 2025.
Véronique Rivest, 2nd Best Sommelier of the World 2013, Sommelier & Owner of Soif Bar à Vin and La Petite Soif
Biography
Véronique Rivest is one of the most respected sommeliers in Canada and abroad. Best Sommelier of Canada from 2006 to 2014, Best Sommelier of the Americas in 2012, she became the first woman in history to make a podium at the Best Sommelier of the World competition by taking 2nd place in 2013.
Véronique is also a talented communicator who excels in the art of sharing her passion. A sought- after speaker and trainer, she is also wine writer for La Presse, one of Quebec’s leading newspapers, official sommelier for Air Canada, and owner of two restaurants in Gatineau, Québec: Soif Bar à Vin and La Petite Soif.
PANEL | The Hidden Side of Wine – Making the Supply Chain Sustainable
SAQ (speaker tba)
Biography
Coming soon