Category Archives: ST. HELENA, Calif.

Karen MacNeil to Keynote 2026 UC Davis / Harvard ‘Vine to Mind’ Symposium, Joined by Christine Wente and Michael Mondavi

Co-founder of COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine to anchor a conversation among three of America's leading voices in wine culture

ST. HELENA, Calif., May 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Karen MacNeil, wine authority, author of “The Wine Bible,” and co-founder of COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine, will deliver the opening keynote at the 2026 Vine to Mind Symposium, a joint initiative of the University of California, Davis and Harvard University, taking place May 19–20 on the UC Davis campus.

Photo caption: Karen MacNeil, author of “The Wine Bible,” and co-founder of COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine.

MacNeil will be joined by Christine Wente and Michael Mondavi, two figures whose family names have shaped the American wine story for generations. Together, the three will speak to the cultural standing of California wine today, and to the work of sustaining wine’s place in American life for the next generation.

That work is the animating purpose behind Come Together A Community for Wine, which MacNeil co-founded in 2024 with Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET, of Charles Communications Associates and Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners. In response to mounting headwinds facing the global wine industry, Come Together has built two of the largest pro-wine consumer campaigns in the United States: Share & Pair Sundays, now in its second year and running May 3 through June 28, and Come Over October, returning for the third year this fall.

“Wine is at a critical juncture in American culture, and we must rise to meet the challenges,” said MacNeil. “The Vine to Mind Symposium gives us—scientists and industry leaders alike–an opportunity to come together to explore a modern and practical approach to wine over the coming decades. Coming together on behalf of wine’s future underscores wine’s historic role as the beverage that has brought people together for 8000 years.”

The Vine to Mind Symposium convenes data scientists, scholars, and industry leaders to examine how data-driven insight and AI can advance viticulture, enology, and wine communications. Additional speakers include Orley Ashenfelter, Eric Asimov, Jing Cao, Felicity Carter, Joe Czerwinski, Xiao-Li Meng, Madeline Puckette, Liz Thach, Jason Wise, and Ben Montpetit. Sessions will be held at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, with a post-symposium visit to Napa Valley on May 21.

ABOUT THE VINE TO MIND SYMPOSIUM

The 2026 Vine to Mind Symposium is organized by the Harvard Data Science Initiative in partnership with the Agricultural and Resource Economics department and the Viticulture and Enology department at the University of California, Davis. The symposium brings together wine industry leaders and academics to explore the intersection of wine, wine communications, data science, and artificial intelligence, and how data-driven insights and AI can advance viticulture, enology, and the broader wine ecosystem. This year’s gathering also marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, widely considered the blind tasting that forever changed the cultural landscape for the California wine industry. The 2026 symposium will be held on the UC Davis campus May 19–20, 2026, with a post-symposium visit to Napa Valley on May 21. For topics, speakers, and past highlights, visit: https://www.vinetomind.org/.

About COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine

COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine is a dynamic community for wine enthusiasts dedicated to fostering connections, education, and appreciation within the wine world. Through innovative campaigns and community-driven initiatives, the organization brings together industry professionals, passionate consumers, and wine lovers of all backgrounds to celebrate wine’s unique ability to create meaningful human connections. Founded by noted wine writer and author Karen MacNeil, along with leading wine industry marketers Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners and Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET of Charles Communications Associates, the mission-driven company shares the story of wine’s historic and contemporary role as a beverage that uniquely brings people together. Learn more: https://www.cometogetherforwine.com/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET kcharles@charlescomm.com 415-701-WINE (9463)

Regan Carlin rcarlin@colangelopr.com 978-460-3921

NEWS SOURCE: COME TOGETHER - A Community for Wine Inc.

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (COME TOGETHER - A Community for Wine Inc.), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/karen-macneil-to-keynote-2026-uc-davis-harvard-vine-to-mind-symposium-joined-by-christine-wente-and-michael-mondavi/

‘COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine’ Announces Second Annual ‘Come Over October’ Campaign

Building on Record-Breaking 2024 Success, Initiative Prepares to Expand Wine Community Connections Nationwide - and Internationally

ST. HELENA, Calif., July 24, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine today announced that planning is underway for its highly anticipated second annual “Come Over October” campaign, building on the extraordinary success of 2024’s inaugural initiative. The community-driven wine platform continues to demonstrate the power of authentic connection through wine appreciation, preparing to expand its reach and impact even further this fall.

Image caption: Karen MacNeil and Winemaker Alecia Moore (stage name Pink).

2024 CAMPAIGN ACHIEVES UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS

The inaugural Come Over October campaign delivered remarkable results across all metrics, reaching an estimated 1.7 billion unique visitor impressions (UVMs) and engaging over 10 million people through diverse channels. The campaign generated significant momentum with 4 million social media impressions through patron and friend networks, reached 1 million consumers through in-store traffic across 900+ retail locations including Total Wine and Kroger, and achieved 3 million advertising impressions through features in Wine Enthusiast, Tasting Panel Magazine, SOMM Journal, VinePair, Wine Folly, and other leading publications.

SPRING SUCCESS BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR FALL

Following the success of Come Over October 2024, COME TOGETHER’s 2025 Share & Pair Sundays spring campaign achieved additional milestones, generating over 122 million unique visitor impressions from 300+ media articles, reaching 4.5 million consumers through in-store activations across 500+ retail locations in 43 designated market areas, and creating 89,000+ social media impressions.

TEN WAYS TO COME OVER OCTOBER

The 2025 campaign will feature ten curated suggestions for bringing people together through wine, including:
Game Day gatherings with wine and snacks
Best Friend nights centered around cooking dinner together
Neighborhood Potlucks that build community connections,
Leaves Changing Color celebrations with white, red and rosé tastings after autumn walks
At-home wine tasting parties for old and new friends
Wine Book Club gatherings that combine reading with regional wine exploration
Renewed Sunday Supper traditions
End of October costume parties featuring bewitching wines
TGIF Wine and Cheese gatherings after work
Love Your Local Winery visits to support the wineries in all 50 states.

ALECIA MOORE (STAGE NAME PINK) HIGHLIGHTS WINE’S HUMAN CONNECTION

The campaign will feature a video from a recent exclusive interview with winemaker Alecia Moore, (stage name Pink), who eloquently articulates wine’s power to foster meaningful human connection. “When you open a bottle of wine, you open a conversation,” Moore shared. “You get to learn where someone is from, what their favorite childhood memories might be, what their favorite scent is and why, when they had their first heartbreak. We bond over these stories.”

Moore’s perspective resonates particularly strongly in today’s increasingly digital world: “The more and more that we disconnect through devices and tuning out, the more we will see that our souls will be hungry for connection.” She emphasizes wine’s unique role in fostering authentic relationships, noting that “Wine is a very human experience. We need to inject more humanity back in the world.”

See Alecia’s recent interview with Karen MacNeil here (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV_rTnx8to4

INDUSTRY LEADERS CHAMPION COMMUNITY CONNECTION

The campaign’s founders continue to champion the initiative’s core mission of building authentic wine communities.

“The inspiration for these campaigns comes from a simple but powerful belief: wine is meant to bring people together,” said Karen MacNeil, acclaimed wine author and co-founder of COME TOGETHER. “When we create spaces for authentic connection around wine, we’re not just sharing bottles – we’re connecting communities, cultures, and perspectives. That’s the true spirit driving everything we do.”

Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners emphasized the broad industry support driving the initiative’s success: “The level of industry support we’ve witnessed has been truly remarkable. From small family wineries to major industry players, everyone understands that fostering genuine community with wine drinkers benefits us all. This isn’t just about marketing; it’s about strengthening the entire wine ecosystem through community-building and authentic connections.”

Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET of Charles Communications Associates, highlighted the campaign’s unprecedented reach and resonance: “What we’re seeing is unprecedented reach and resonance across all segments of the wine world. We’re narrowing the gap between industry insiders and passionate consumers in ways that create lasting value for everyone involved. The response from trade professionals has been overwhelming, but equally exciting is how these initiatives are connecting with everyday wine enthusiasts through everything from intimate winery experiences to major retail activations.”

FALL PLANS

The Come Together team is planning on hosting press conferences this fall in New York City and Washington DC. In a nod to the international reach of this movement, this year, the country of Canada, through Wine Growers Canada, will be executing a countrywide Come Over October program.

CONTINUED INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Come Over October 2025 extends gratitude to its sponsors, whose support has been essential to the campaigns’ success. Foundational sponsors include: Freixenet Mionetto, J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jackson Family Wines and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Benefactors include CMB Family of Wines, Constellation Brands, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, The Wine Group and Total Wine & More and wine.com. Sponsors include Boisset Collection, Crimson Wine Group, Far Niente Wine Estates, Napa Valley Vintners, Peju Napa Valley, Ponzi Vineyards, Rodney Strong, Wilson Daniels and WineAmerica. Media sponsors include: The Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Tasting Panel, Somm Journal, Wine Business Monthly, VinePair, The Vintner Project, and Wine Industry Network.

For more information on how to become a supporter or advocate visit here: https://www.cometogetherforwine.com/support-the-movement/

ABOUT COME TOGETHER — A COMMUNITY FOR WINE

COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine is a dynamic community for wine enthusiasts dedicated to fostering connections, education, and appreciation within the wine world. Through innovative campaigns and community-driven initiatives, the organization brings together industry professionals, passionate consumers, and wine lovers of all backgrounds to celebrate wine’s unique ability to create meaningful human connections. Founded by noted wine writer and author Karen MacNeil, along with leading wine industry marketers Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners and Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET of Charles Communications Associates, the mission-driven company shares the story of wine’s historic and contemporary role as a beverage that uniquely brings people together.

For more information about Come Over October, visit https://www.comeoveroctober.com/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Gino Colangelo
gcolangelo@colangelopr.com
646-403-0146

Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET
kcharles@charlescomm.com
415-701-WINE (9463)

MULTIMEDIA:

IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/25-0724-s2p-karen-alecia-300dpi.jpg

Image caption: Karen MacNeil and Winemaker Alecia Moore (stage name Pink).

NEWS SOURCE: COME TOGETHER - A Community for Wine Inc.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/come-together-a-community-for-wine-announces-second-annual-come-over-october-campaign/

‘COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine’ Concludes Successful ‘Share & Pair Sundays’ Spring Campaign: Announces Second Annual ‘Come Over October’ Initiative

Community-driven wine platform builds consumer global awareness and industry support

HELENA, Calif., June 5, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — COME TOGETHER – A Community for Wine, a mission-driven company focused on wine advocacy, today announced the successful conclusion of its inaugural Share & Pair Sundays spring campaign while announcing plans for its highly anticipated second annual “Come Over October” campaign this fall. Through both initiatives, the organization, founded by three wine industry leaders, has demonstrated the power of community-driven advocacy to reach consumers with positive messages about wine.

Image caption: COME TOGETHER – A Community for Wine.

SPRING SUCCESS SETS STAGE FOR FALL GROWTH

The Share & Pair Sundays campaign achieved remarkable success throughout the spring season, generating over 122 million unique visitor impressions from 300+ media articles, reaching 4.5 million consumers through in-store activations across 500+ retail locations in 43 designated market areas, and creating 89,000+ social media impressions. The campaign brought together wine lovers nationwide, creating meaningful connections and shared experiences around wine appreciation through diverse activations ranging from winery events to retail partnerships. Building on this momentum, COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine is preparing to launch its second annual Come Over October campaign, which promises to expand the community’s reach and impact even further.

“The inspiration for these campaigns comes from a simple but powerful belief: wine is meant to bring people together,” said Karen MacNeil, reflecting on the campaign’s origins. “When we create spaces for authentic connection around wine, we’re not just sharing bottles – we’re connecting communities, cultures, and perspectives. That’s the true spirit driving everything we do.”

INDUSTRY SUPPORT FUELS COMMUNITY GROWTH

The campaigns have garnered significant support from across the wine industry, with sponsors and partners recognizing the value of community-centered initiatives. Notable participants included premier wineries such as Far Niente, PEJU Winery, and J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, retail partners such as Gary’s Wine & Marketplace and Kroger through Constellation Brands, and regional wine organizations including Paso Robles Wine Country and Texas Fine Wine among many others. This broad coalition has been instrumental in the organization’s ability to raise awareness on a global scale.

“The level of industry support we’ve witnessed has been truly remarkable,” noted Gino Colangelo, speaking to the broad coalition backing the initiatives. “From small family wineries to major industry players, everyone understands that fostering genuine wine communities with wine drinkers benefits us all. This isn’t just about marketing; it’s about strengthening the entire wine ecosystem through community and authentic connections.”

DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS ACROSS MULTIPLE CHANNELS

The Share & Pair Sundays campaign’s success was evident across diverse activation channels. Wineries like Peju Vineyards created dynamic 10-week culinary experiences featuring global flavors, while Far Niente Wine Estates aligned the campaign with their signature “Il Dolce Far Niente” philosophy. Retail partners achieved significant results, with Constellation Brands and Kroger delivering over 4.4 million impressions and receiving nearly $12,000 in bonus media value. Regional wine organizations including Paso Robles Wine Country and Texas Fine Wine amplified the message through podcasts and social media, while cultural collaborations with nationally notable figures such as Italian chef and PBS personality, Lidia Bastianich brought additional depth and authenticity to the campaign.

“What we’re seeing is unprecedented reach and resonance across all segments of the wine world,” explained Kimberly Noelle Charles, highlighting the campaigns’ broad appeal. “From over 122 million media impressions to 4.5 million in-store consumer touchpoints, we’re narrowing the gap between industry insiders and passionate consumers in ways that create lasting value for everyone involved. The response from trade professionals has been overwhelming, but equally exciting is how these initiatives are connecting with everyday wine enthusiasts through everything from intimate winery experiences to major retail activations.”

FALL PLANS INCLUDE HIGH-PROFILE EVENTS

COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine, has ambitious plans for the fall season, including a second Congressional Wine Caucus tasting, building on the success of previous legislative engagement efforts. The organization will also host press conferences in both New York City and Washington, D.C., to highlight the growing influence of community-driven wine advocacy.

These events underscore the organization’s commitment to elevating wine’s role in cultural and policy discussions while maintaining its grassroots community focus.

SPONSOR RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT

Come Together extends gratitude to its 2025 sponsors, whose support has been essential to the campaigns’ success. Foundational sponsors included: Freixenet Mionetto, J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jackson Family Wines and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Benefactors included: Constellation Brands, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, The Wine Group and Total Wine & More. Sponsors included: Crimson Wine Group, Far Niente Wine Estates, the Napa Valley Vintners, Peju Napa Valley and Ponzi Vineyards. Media sponsors included: The Wine Enthusiast, Tasting Panel, Somm Journal, Wine Business Monthly, VinePair and Wine Industry Network.

A complete listing of supporters can be found here: https://www.cometogetherforwine.com/patrons/.

For more information on continued support, please visit here: https://www.cometogetherforwine.com/support-the-movement/.

The combination of financial support and industry partnerships has enabled the organization to pursue its mission of building meaningful wine communities while raising significant awareness among consumers for wine culture and appreciation.

About COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For further information please contact either Gino Colangelo gcolangelo@colangelopr.com 646-403-0146 or Kimberly Noelle Charles kcharles@charlescomm.com 415-701-WINE [9463]

NEWS SOURCE: COME TOGETHER - A Community for Wine Inc.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/come-together-a-community-for-wine-concludes-successful-share-pair-sundays-spring-campaign-announces-second-annual-come-over-october-initiative/

COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine Inc. Launches ‘Share & Pair Sundays’ Campaign

Spring Campaign Celebrates the Union of Wine and Food, Building on Success of Come Over October

ST. HELENA, Calif., Feb. 10, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Following the tremendous success of the inaugural ‘Come Over October’ campaign, which reached over 1.7 billion media impressions and garnered coverage in major outlets including Forbes, NPR, and The Washington Post, COME TOGETHER—A Community for Wine Inc. announces the launch of Share & Pair Sundays, a Spring-to-Summer campaign celebrating the delicious marriage of wine and food. The new campaign also reinforces wine’s unique ability to bring people together, so successfully communicated in the Come Over October campaign.

Image caption: Share & Pair Sundays.

Running from March 23 through May 25, 2025, Share & Pair Sundays will encourage wine and food enthusiasts to gather weekly, fostering connections through shared culinary experiences. The campaign will span ten consecutive Sundays, beginning with the first Sunday of Spring.

“The resounding success of Come Over October demonstrated the wine community’s eagerness to create meaningful connections,” says Karen MacNeil, co-founder of COME TOGETHER. “Share & Pair Sundays extends this mission by celebrating how wine and food bring people together across cultures and traditions.”

The campaign will feature creative activations across multiple channels:

– Retail partnerships featuring in-store promotions and curated wine and food pairings

– Restaurant and hotel collaborations offering special Sunday wine dinner promotions

– Winery-hosted wine and food tastings

– Digital content including food pairing suggestions in DTC wine shipments

– Social media engagement featuring celebrity chefs, sports figures, and food influencers

– A vigorous Instagram Live campaign hosted by Karen MacNeil

A key focus of Share & Pair Sundays is broadening wine’s appeal through its association with diverse cultural foodways. The campaign will actively engage Hispanic, Asian, and Black communities, encouraging the sharing of traditional dishes paired with various wines.

The initiative has already garnered support from major industry players who recognize the importance of connecting wine with food culture. The campaign will be activated through multiple channels including print, digital, radio, and television media, with strong support from both the wine and hospitality industries.

“The Come Over October campaign demonstrated the power of unified messaging, reaching over 4 million people through social media and establishing presence in close to 1,000 retail stores,” notes Kimberly Noelle Charles, co-founder. “We’re excited to build on this momentum with Share & Pair Sundays, which celebrates the universal language of food and wine while fostering meaningful connections.”

A dedicated website, ShareandPairSundays.com, has launched and will evolve as the campaign unfolds, featuring pairing suggestions from leading chefs and wine professionals, along with resources for both consumers and trade partners.

The campaign has already received significant support from key industry players across various contribution tiers. Foundational Partners include Freixenet-Mionetto, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, and Jackson Family Wines. Benefactors include The Wine Group, Ponzi Vineyards, Crimson Wine Group and Peju Napa Valley. Champions of the initiative include M.S. Walker and Gary’s Wine & Marketplace, while Contributors include Tomorrow Cellars, Silicon Valley Bank, Dalla Terra, and Tor Napa Valley.

The campaign continues to welcome participation from all segments of the wine and food industries, from importers and wholesalers to restaurants and gourmet shops, winery associations and artisan producers. Interested parties can contribute through financial support, in-kind contributions, or by helping amplify the campaign’s message.

For more information about Share & Pair Sundays or to get involved, please visit https://shareandpairsundays.com/ or contact Project Manager Barbara Fitzgerald at barbara@cometogetherforwine.com.

For media queries, please reach out to Kimberly Noelle Charles kcharles@charlescomm.com or Gino Colangelo gcolangelo@colangelopr.com.

About COME TOGETHER—A Community for Wine Inc.

COME TOGETHER—A Community for Wine Inc. is a mission-driven company established in 2024 by wine journalist Karen MacNeil and communications specialists Kimberly Noelle Charles and Gino Colangelo. The company creates campaigns celebrating wine’s role in fostering community and connection. To learn more, visit https://www.cometogetherforwine.com/about-us/.

NEWS SOURCE: COME TOGETHER - A Community for Wine Inc.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/come-together-a-community-for-wine-inc-launches-share-pair-sundays-campaign/

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Category Archives: ST. HELENA, Calif.

Karen MacNeil to Keynote 2026 UC Davis / Harvard ‘Vine to Mind’ Symposium, Joined by Christine Wente and Michael Mondavi

‘COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine’ Announces Second Annual ‘Come Over October’ Campaign

‘COME TOGETHER — A Community for Wine’ Concludes Successful ‘Share & Pair Sundays’ Spring Campaign: Announces Second Annual ‘Come Over October’ Initiative

COME TOGETHER A Community for Wine Inc. Launches ‘Share & Pair Sundays’ Campaign