California Agave Symposium 2025: The Biggest and Best Yet
The California Agave Symposium 2025, held on April 10th at UC Davis, was our most ambitious and well-attended gathering to date. With growers, distillers, researchers, and industry leaders from across the state and beyond, this year’s event built on past successes and showcased just how quickly California’s agave movement is growing.
A Day of Learning and Connection
The Symposium kicked off with opening remarks from Stuart Woolf, Chairman of the California Agave Council, and Professor Jason Bond, Associate Dean for Agricultural Sciences at UC Davis. Throughout the day, Executive Director Alec Wasson served as the host, guiding attendees through the program and keeping the energy high.
Keynote & Research Insights
The keynote, “Agave’s Next Chapter,” was delivered by Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin, co-founders of Tequila Matchmaker, who shared insights into industry trends and the global spirits market. This was followed by UC Davis’ own Professor Ron Runnebaum, presenting the latest findings from his team’s research on agave cultivation and processing.
Tackling Challenges and Exploring Opportunities
A highlight of the morning was a session on plant health and disease management, led by Dr. June Simpson with Steve Vierra, helping attendees better understand the unique challenges of growing agave in California.
After lunch, participants dove into “Going to Market,” a panel featuring Eli Kestenbaum, Julien Calella, and John Young, who shared strategies on distribution, branding, and scaling in the beverage alcohol industry.
Breakout Sessions: Diving Deeper
The afternoon breakout sessions gave attendees the chance to explore specialized topics, including:
Distillers Panel with leaders like Gian Pablo Nelson, Henry Tarmy, and Jason Senior, offering practical advice for aspiring and established distillers.
Agave Varieties, Challenges, and Diseases with Dr. June Simpson and Ane Díaz, a hands-on discussion about agronomic hurdles and solutions.
Exploring Agave’s Many Uses with Dr. Srabani Das, Ian Bryant, Nate Headrick, and Ane Díaz, highlighting agave’s potential in fiber, biofuels, feed, nectar, and more.
Growers Panel featuring Jack Woolf, Edgar Cervantes, and Laurie Goldberg, sharing lessons learned from cultivating agave at scale in California.
Regenerative Agave with Rodrigo Mestas, who presented groundbreaking work on regenerative practices in Mexico that produced the world’s first certified regenerative tequila.
California Agave Commission Discussions with Louie Brown, Taylor Triffo, and Stuart Woolf, where attendees weighed in on the future structure and funding of the industry.
UC Davis Agave Research Deep Dive with Ron Runnebaum, Paula Guzman-Delgado, and Brad Hanson, covering genomics, virus profiling, weed management, and sustainability.
California Agave Reception at Mulvaney’s B&L
Following the Symposium, guests gathered at Mulvaney’s B&L in Sacramento for the California Agave Reception. Attendees had the chance to sample California agave spirits from Venus Spirits, Ventura Spirits, Shelter Distilling, and Jano Spirits, while enjoying farm-to-fork dishes crafted by renowned chef Patrick Mulvaney.
The evening also featured special presentations honoring key champions of the industry. Ernesto Delgado, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Craig Reynolds were each recognized for their leadership and dedication in advancing and promoting the California agave movement.
Wrapping Up
The day concluded with renewed momentum and a strengthened sense of community. From UC Davis research to farmer and distiller insights, and from market strategies to a celebratory evening reception, the 2025 Symposium reinforced its place as the premier gathering for California agave.
👉 Why it matters: The 2025 Symposium wasn’t just the largest yet—it was also the most forward-looking, blending science, market insights, and community voices to chart a clear course for California’s agave industry.
