Lancaster, Pa.—An increase in both attendance and the number of exhibitors marked the second annual Eastern Winery Exposition held March 6-8 in Lancaster. Paid attendance was 1,063 (up from 934 in 2012), and the number of exhibitors increased from 135 to 174. Total participation in the event was 1,498 people.

The seminars, planned by conference manager Richard Leahy, offered 22 sessions divided into four main tracks: enology, viticulture, newcomers, and money/management/marketing. As in 2012, the sessions were designed to be relevant to the eastern industry, and most of the 37 speakers were from the East. Some typical, well-received sessions were “Avoiding Oxidation in Small Wineries,” presented by Virginia consultant Thomas Payette; “Vine Size, Vine Capacity, Crop Load & Vine Balance,” by Dr. Alan Lakso from Cornell University, and two sessions about “Social Media for Wine Marketing” with presentations by Missouri wine consultant Patty Held and Laurie Forster, “the wine coach” from Easton, Md., who also performed at the Celebration Dinner on March 6.

A highlight in the “New Technologies in the Vineyard & Winery” session was a talk by Richard Carey about recent research and his own experiments with the Haygrove High Tunnel related to quality wine grape products and their potential added value. (See “Beating Mother Nature at Her Own Game” in the March 2013 issue.)

In addition to the main conference, there were two workshops for which an additional fee was charged. Hard cider has been the fastest growing segment of the alcoholic beverage industry for the past 20 years, and 85 people signed up for the “Hard Cider Workshop” that covered such topics as preferred apple varieties, styles of cider and processing and stabilization. Ice cider, which originated in Quebec about 30 years ago, also was included.

The second workshop at additional cost was a full-day “New Grower Workshop,” which was conducted by Dr. Joseph Fiola from the University of Maryland and Mark Chien from Penn State. Approximately 45 people attended their presentation.

At the March 6 Industry Celebration Dinner, the Eastern Winery Exposition presented its lifetime achievement award to Douglas P. Moorhead of Presque Isle Wine Cellars in North East, Pa. He was honored for his role in getting the first farm winery legislation passed in the East in 1968, Pennsylvania’s Limited Winery Act, and also for his contributions to the industry for more than 50 years.

Wines & Vines sponsors the Eastern Winery Exposition, which this year was supported by 18 state and regional associations. Exposition show manager Bob Mignarri has announced that next year’s Eastern Winery Exposition is scheduled for March 4-5, 2014, at the same location, the Lancaster County Convention Center.