ZINO Vino Expands as Spirits & Brew is added to the Liquid Assets Forum

L-R: Bob Betz, Greg Lill, Charles Finkel, Dick Boushey, Anne-Marie Hedges, Marc Droppert, Cathi Hatch
Norm McKibben, Scott Hansen, Marty Clubb

Scott Hansen, Anne-Marie Hedges

Bob Betz, Dick Boushey

Yesterday was ZINO Society's annual high-energy and educational ZINO Vino, Spirits & Brew Liquid Assets Forum at Columbia Tower Club.  Over 200 people came together over the day and evening to share their knowledge and gain knowledge about the businesses of artisan wine, craft beer and craft spirits.

Following greetings by Steve Warner, Washington Wine Commission, Eric Radovich, Washington Beer Commission and Jason Parker, Washington Distillers' Guild, there were seven separate expert

Marty Clubb, Charles Finkel

panels comprised of 35 individual experts.


The Libations Legends panel included those who have been in the "liquid assets" business for 20 years or more: Bob Betz, Betz Family Winery, Dick Boushey, Boushey Vineyard, Marty Clubb, L'Ecole Winery, Charles Finkel, Pike Brewing Co., Scott Hansen, Bellevue Brewing Co., Anne-Marie Hedges, Hedges Family Estate, Greg Lill, DeLille Cellars, Norm McKibben, Pepper Bridge Winery moderated by Mark Droppert, Cinq Cellars and Graham and Dunn.

Matt McClung, Kendall Jones, Audrey Richards

Other panels presenting were:

• Beer & Spirits - The Other Ambrosia; a discussion about the similar and different challenges to the wine industry that craft beer and craft spirits businesses face moderated by Kendall Jones, Washington Beer Blog
• Rick Hewitt, Emerald City Beer
• Ian MacNeil, Glass Distillery
• Matt McClung, Schooner Exact Brewing
• John Robertson, Bellevue Brewing Co
• Mhairi Voelsgen, BroVo Spirits
• Eric Willard, Two Beers Brewing/Seattle
  Cider Company 

John Robertson, Dale Rasmussen, Scott Hansen

• The Last Stop Before the Glass; a discussion about the various distribution methods of getting "liquid assets" to market moderated by Cathi Hatch, ZINO Society.
• Ken Avedisian, Cordon Selections
• David LeClaire, Wine World & Spirits
• Matt Lincecum, Fremont Brewing
• Steven Sound, Sound Spirits

• Marketing the Nectar of the Gods; a discussion about some of the unusual and proven marketing methods that panelists have experienced moderated by Stephan Martinez, Trysk Print Solutions.
• Caitlin Braam, Caitlin Braam Creative
• Charles Finkel, Pike Brewing Co.
• Darlin Gray, Darlin Gray World Wide
• David LeClaire, Wine World & Spirits
• Stacy Lill, O Wines
• Mhairi Voelsgen, BroVo Spirits

• The Last Harvest - Your Exit Strategy; a discussion with three panelists who have had exits from their businesses moderated by Jesse Lyon, Davis Wright Tremaine.
• Bob Betz, Betz Family Winery
• Stacy Lill, O Wines
• Scott Hansen, Bellevue Brewing Co. 

Thomas Henick-Kling and Steve Case

• The Education of a Winemaker/Brewmaster/Distiller; a discussion about academic and experiential educational experience that influences the success of individuals in the business moderated by Cathi Hatch, ZINO Society.
• John Bigelow, JM Wines
• Nathan Kaiser, 2bar Spirits
• Thomas Henick-Kling, WSU Viticulture & Enology
• Ian MacNeil, Glass Distillery
• Matt McClung, Schooner Exact Brewing
• Jason Parker, Copperworks Distilling Co.
• Tom Schafer, aMaurice Cellars

• How to Spot Legal Opportunities Before They Drain Your Glass; a discussion about what business owners can do proactively to protect themselves from future expensive "libation litigation" as it relates to trademarks, contracts, etc.  moderated by Susan Betcher , Perkins Coie.
• Dori Brewer, Perkins Coie
• Julianne Henley, Perkins Coie
• Kristin Stone, Perkins Coie

Deni Luna and Emma Landis

The panels which were very positively received by the audience were followed by an after-party which featured tastings of wine, beer and spirits, entertainment by singer-songwriter Scarlet Parke, a barbecue and Deni Luna, a lipsologist doing lip readings.

Event sponsors included Perkins Coie, Graham and Dunn, Trysk Print Solutions, Columbia Tower Club, Davis Wright Tremaine, Washington State University Viticulture & Enology, Wine Storage Bellevue, Vintners Global Resource, and Uber.

Meg Landies, David LeClaire, Dale Rasmussen, Darlin Gray

Please see related Washington's Wine Legends blog posting from Ronald Holden of Cornichon.org blog HERE and Great Northwest Wine blog posting by Eric Degerman HERE.