With the 2026 Ohio Grape and Wine Conference taking place February 15-17 at the Embassy Suites – Dublin/Columbus, we thought this would be the perfect time to highlight the hard work happening behind the scenes. We caught up with the OSU Grape and Wine team to chat about their involvement in this major event, what motivates them, and their advice for students.
The conference isn't just an event, it’s a massive collaborative effort. The OSU grape and wine team, along with the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC) and The Ohio Wine Producers Association (OWPA), co-organize the event each year.
While the logistics are vast, the HCS footprint is undeniable. The team is responsible for developing the technical agenda for viticulture and enology, selecting workshop themes, and inviting featured speakers who bring world-class expertise to Ohio.
Read below for the inside scoop from Lisa Dunlap and Dr. Maria Smith...
Could you tell us a bit about how the team is involved with the Ohio Grape and Wine Conference?
Lisa Dunlap: OSU Enology and Viticulture Extension co-organize the annual conference along with OGIC (Ohio Grapes Industries Committee).
Maria Smith: The OSU grape and wine team, along with the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC) and The Ohio Wine Producers Association (OWPA), co-organize the event each year. OSU develops the technical agenda for viticulture and enology, selects conference workshop themes, and invites featured speakers. We coordinate the OSU conference booth and staff the event with assistance from our program technicians and OSU Extension Educators. Lisa and I cooperate with OGIC and the hotel chef to create a custom wine and dinner pairing featuring Ohio Quality Wine award winners from each year’s Ohio Wine Competition. Lisa manages wines for the Sunday wine reception and Tuesday wine lunch featuring Gold and Double Gold winning wines from the Ohio Wine Competition.
What’s one thing about the Ohio Grape and Wine Conference that everyone should aim to experience at least once?
Lisa Dunlap: The Banquet meal. We showcase wines paired with wonderful courses. Each wine selected for each course is an Ohio Quality Wine winner from a previous Ohio Wine Competition. The grapes were grown in Ohio, and the wine was also made in Ohio. It’s a great way to experience the best of the best Ohio wines.
Maria Smith: The banquet is definitely a unique highlight of the event. However, I think everyone should really experience the hospitality suite following the conclusion of each evening. That is where the most fun and networking happens every year.
What are you most looking forward to at the Ohio Grape and Wine Conference?
Lisa Dunlap: The guest speakers. We have some really intelligent and exciting guest speakers this year. I’m so looking forward to learning from each of them.
Maria Smith: I cherish the opportunity to see our entire industry together in one location sharing their wines and expertise. I also always look forward to hosting our conference vendors and featured speakers, who bring in a wealth of knowledge to share with attendees.
What personally motivates you to show up to work each day?
Lisa Dunlap: The industry. I LOVE the people in the Ohio wine and grape industry. They make me want to do a better job every day. The quality of Ohio wines is improving every year, and I’m really proud to be a part of it.
Maria Smith: We are incredibly fortunate to be able to develop close professional and personal relationships with our stakeholders. We are in frequent communication with many of our stakeholders, and that builds real empathy when it comes to wanting them to succeed each season. Seeing their dedication in the vineyard and winery is inspiring and motivates me to show up every day to work just as hard as them.
For a current student what advice would you give them if they want to follow in your footsteps?
Lisa Dunlap: Start studying grapes. A quality wine cannot be made without the understanding of where the fruit comes from. Improving the quality of the grapes improves the quality of the wine. Fermentation science is also a fun area to explore. There are so many winemaking techniques out there and learning about how each method effects the wines is so important. I’m continuously learning new methods every day.
Maria Smith: Work hard, be kind.
Closing Thoughts
Lisa Dunlap: I was involved in the Ohio Wine Industry during my graduate school years and then took some time off and went into food and beverage manufacturing for a few years. I am so glad to be back in the wine industry, and have been welcomed back with open arms. It truly feels like family.
Maria Smith: Ohio wines are diverse and world class. We encourage you to try them all (responsibly)!
Stay tuned for the post conference digest!