Cuesta College to host wine exports symposium

February 12, 2012

In an effort to help the wine industry reach new international markets, the Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College will host a free wine exports symposium on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Galaxy Colony Square Theatre in Atascadero.

The symposium, which targets wine professionals in San Luis Obispo and Kern counties, and the San Joaquin Valley, will feature a comprehensive seminar covering business support services, banking and finance, logistics, as well as a market update with a video conference briefing from Hong Kong, said Israel Dominguez, director of Cuesta’s Business and Entrepreneurship Center.

Wineries interested in exporting their products will be invited to a virtual wine matchmaking event.

“We will assist in exporting wine samples to international buyers participating in the virtual wine match making event,” Dominguez said. “Attendees will have the opportunity to negotiate the sale of their wines to international buyers.”

Symposium presenters include representatives from the Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta, U.S. Department of Commerce, Export-Import Bank of the United States, USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, as well as California wine industry experts.

Attendees can register online. For more details call Domiguez at 546-3100, ext. 2255.

The Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College program, an initiative of the Economic and Workforce Development Program through the California Community Colleges, is a network of community college professionals working in strategic partnerships with businesses, industry and community organizations to identify and meet California’s economic development needs in the areas of business improvements and entrepreneurship training.