PASO ROBLES, CA – The San Luis Obispo County wine industry annually comes together to honor members of the local wine community. These awards recognize dedication, stewardship, innovation and leadership demonstrated in the San Luis Obispo County wine community. The 2019 San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Awards go to – Winegrape Grower of the Year, Paul Hoover, Still Waters Vineyards; Winemaker of the Year, Justin Smith, Saxum Vineyards; and Wine Industry Person of the Year (posthumously), Scott Welcher, Opolo Vineyards.
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance in partnership with the San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association, the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area, The Vineyard Team, and past award recipients worked together to identify the 2019 winners. The honorees are evaluated on their leadership and accomplishments in California’s third largest wine region, San Luis Obispo County.
“Each year the San Luis Obispo County wine community looks forward to the Mid-State Fair as a time we can recognize the leadership, hard work, and dedication of those who have helped bring worldwide recognition for our region’s wines,” said Joel Peterson, Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “We are excited to celebrate these passionate individuals with their friends, family, and colleagues, and honor the mark they’ve left on our wine community with their quest for quality in the vineyard and winery.”
The San Luis Obispo County Wine Community celebrated this year’s award winners at a special event on July 19 at the California Mid-State Fair within the Mission Square.
Links to bios:
Winegrape Grower of the Year – Paul Hoover, Still Waters Vineyards
Winemaker of the Year — Justin Smith, Saxum Vineyards
Wine Industry Person of the Year (posthumously) – Scott Welcher, Opolo Vineyards
ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. Social – #pasowine, @pasorobleswine (Twitter and Facebook), @Pasowine (Instagram)
