Zinfandel Advocates and Producers Launches The California Zinfandel Trail

April 4, 2021 by evebushman

GRASS VALLEY, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) is announcing that it will officially launch The California Zinfandel Trail starting March 29, 2021. Zinfandel lovers and the Zinfandel-curious will now have a powerful new tool to explore wineries and plan custom itineraries. This new platform is designed to boost tourism and raise interest in wineries that produce America’s time-honored heritage wine, Zinfandel.

“Consumers and wineries alike will benefit from this fast track connection directly to Zinfandel winemakers, featuring small production artisanal wines that are available to consumers only by visiting the winery in person or virtually,” according to ZAP Executive Director, Rebecca Robinson. “So many of these wines are from historic vineyards and come with wonderful, colorful family stories that are the fabric of American agricultural heritage,” she continues.

Mindful of travel restrictions due to the COVID 19 pandemic, virtual visits and tastings have been made available, in addition to the traditional in-person winery tastings and experiences. Visitors should contact wineries in advance about their latest visiting policies and experiences.

The Zinfandel Trail website includes an easy to use interactive map of California’s Zinfandel wineries for plotting and planning itineraries to vineyards across California. Here, visitors can explore Zinfandel winery experiences by region, such as vineyard and winery tours, specialized tastings, picnicking, food service, and pet-friendly policies. In addition to winery listings are featured winery to winery routes with beautiful Zinfandel vineyard images, regional travel blogs, points of interest, and winemaker stories.

In addition to the California Zinfandel Trail mapping website, ZAP is also creating virtual tours and tastings offered for sale to those wanting to sniff, swirl, and sip while enjoying a themed tour on Zoom hosted by travel experts. The first three-part series will begin in late April with a tour of Sonoma Valley, followed in May by sessions on Women in Wine and in June, Vineyard Tours.

Virtual Tour dates:
Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Tour | Thursday, April 29, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Tim Zahner, Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
Women in Wine Zinfandel Tour | Thursday, May 27, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Lauren Mowery, Travel Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Zinfandel Vineyard Tours | Thursday, June 24, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Paul Rubio, award-winning travel journalist AFAR, Conde Nast Traveler and more

The virtual sessions will provide photographic essays, interactive discussion, and in-depth guided tastings from three wineries based on each theme – the next best thing to visiting the wineries and vineyards in person.

Visit zinfandeltrail.com to learn more about the virtual sessions and secure your spot.

“This program gives us the opportunity to expand Zinfandel’s appreciation and reach through a new platform,” explains Robinson.”

Over the last several years, ZAP has successfully reached millions of consumers to improve awareness and adoption of Zinfandel, America’s true heritage wine grape variety. “Zinfandel Stories” and “Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards” campaigns, were delivered with the aim to preserve, protect and continue to grow Zinfandel, both in the fields of California and as a wine category.

“Conditions are slowly improving for travel,” says Robinson. “We’re confident, based on our previous campaign successes, that we’ve got something special here, a unique tool that will last into the future, for when tourism rebounds.” Until then, we’ve developed what we believe are very entertaining, educational virtual sessions that will make people excited to hit The California Zinfandel Trail when they’re ready.”

About Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP)
Created for Zin lovers by Zin lovers, Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. ZAP is dedicated to advancing public knowledge and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. ZAP actively involves hundreds of wineries and thousands of enthusiasts. Together, ZAP is gaining a national and international understanding of Zinfandel as America’s grape, serving as an innovator and industry leader in the world of wine. ZAP members enjoy benefits throughout the year including access to ZAP’s Premier Winery Experience program. ZAP can be found online at Zinfandel.org, on Facebook @ZAP.org and on Twitter @thezinfandelorg, #CAZinTrail.

Funding for California’s Zinfandel Trail was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant AM190100XXXXG008. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley Association announces a full-year Wine Trail Pass

February 9, 2020 by evebushman

Santa Clara Valley – The Santa Clara Valley association that represents the winery members of the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, announced they discontinued their Spring and Fall Passport and have replaced it with a year-long Wine Trail Pass.

Young woman is drinking a glass of wine on a wine tasting together with friends

“Introducing a full-year Wine Trail Pass is something we’ve been wanting to do for some time.” said Stacy Giannini, Director of Marketing for the association. “We started with single weekend Passports when we had 20+ wineries. When we grew to 30+, we introduced the month-long Spring and Fall Passports. Both months were successful, but expecting visitors to wine taste 3-4 wineries every weekend including a few weekdays for a full month is a bit overwhelming for any wine lover. With a full year Wine Trail Pass, you’ll now have time to plan out your visits that work for your schedule.”

Whether you’re an avid wine lover, need a gift for friends, family, a high-end client or an employee is deserving recognition, the annual Wine Trail Pass is perfect purchase. Come out and discover new wines in a wine region that is older than the more popular California regions – and just came home with 106 medals from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition including 3 awarded Best of Class!

For more details, click “take a peek” in the link below to view the Trail Pass, list of participating wineries and the region map: http://www.santaclarawines.com/wine_trail_pass.html

Here’s a run-down of how the year-long Wine Trail Pass works:

Wine taste in 34 tasting rooms any day of the week/weekend that the wineries are open
One Pass per person, one visit per Pass for three 1 oz. tastings
One full year to visit
Sold online $75 (+$4 fee) or can be in any of the participating wineries listed on santaclarawines.com
Wineries located in Saratoga, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy and Hollister
Three Trail Days (Feb 1, Aug 1, Nov 7^th) celebrated in each territory shown in Wine Trail Pass .

To learn more about the winery members of the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, visit www.santaclarawines.com.

About the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley An association representing member wineries that grow and produce wines in one of the oldest wine producing regions of California. With the first plantings at the Santa Clara Mission in 1798, the region of Santa Clara Valley represents one of the oldest growing traditions in the country. The Santa Clara Valley is home to 100 year-old wineries to long-established family operations and those that are in relatively smaller tasting rooms. On March 28, 1989, the Santa Clara Valley received AVA status; prior to this the region’s wines were typically labeled ‘Central Coast’ or ‘Santa Clara County’.

Hey Alexa! Play the “Oregon Wine Quiz!”

November 3, 2019 by evebushman

PORTLAND, Ore., /PRNewswire/ — Oregon is home to more than 760 wineries and 19 distinct growing areas, making it one of the largest wine-grape-producing states in the nation. It’s tough for even the biggest Oregon wine aficionados to know everything about Oregon wine. That’s why Travel Oregon created the new “Oregon Wine Quiz” for Alexa users to test their wine knowledge. Whether you’re a novice or a connoisseur, the quiz highlights some of the undiscovered facts about the Oregon wine landscape and tells the deeper story of Oregon wine.

Oregon is home to more than 760 wineries and 19 distinct growing areas. (Photo credit: Cotterell)

It’s estimated that by 2020, 50% of all searches will be voice searches. Currently 17% of American households have a smart speaker installed. By 2022, this number is anticipated to increase to 66%. The shift to voice search has already begun. The “Oregon Wine Quiz” is a way for Travel Oregon to integrate tourism marketing and voice search and stay ahead in the ever-changing media landscape.

“We need to keep evolving and expanding our content platforms if we’re going to remain relevant to our target audience,” said Mo Sherifdeen, Global Integrated Marketing Director at Travel Oregon. “We’re thrilled to be the first tourism agency in the country to experiment with distributing content through voice search. But more importantly, we’re excited to give wine enthusiasts another way to learn about Oregon wines before they head out to wine country this fall.”

To activate the quiz, simply ask Alexa to “play the Oregon wine quiz.” Users will then be asked a series of questions about Oregon wine. Depending on the answers, users will unlock one of four podcasts, featuring interviews and storytelling from some of Oregon’s most prominent wine industry professionals, including: Travel Southern Oregon, Abacela, Brooks Winery Troon Vineyards, Tuality Healthcare and Willamette Valley Vineyards.

The topics covered include:

Community winemaking
Oregon’s new varietal: Tempranillo
The Applegate Valley Wine Trail
Sustainable winemaking

This Alexa application was built by Portland-based agency, Sparkloft Media with content support from the Oregon Wine Board. Are you ready to take your Oregon wine knowledge to the next level? Take the quiz today. For more information, visit TravelOregon.com or Amazon.com.

About Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening the economic impacts of the state’s $12.3 billion tourism industry that employs more than 115,000 Oregonians. Visit industry.traveloregon.com to learn more.

Visit Temecula Valley Celebrates California Wine Month Temecula Style

August 18, 2019 by evebushman

TEMECULA VALLEY, Calif. (PRWEB) – Celebrate California Wine Month Temecula-style this September in a month-long toast to the region’s bounty. Wine tasting with a choice of nearly 50 wineries is made easy with a Sip Sip Stay package. Wineries throughout the region will be celebrating with wine stomps, wine pairing dinners, Shakespeare in the Vines, live music, and more. The month will culminate with its popular annual CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase.

Sip Sip Stay Package
The Sip Sip Stay package is designed for visitors booking at least a two-night stay and wish to do wine tasting. A two-night stay will earn one SIP Passport, a $48 value. Visitors booking a September three night stay will receive two SIP Passports, a $96 value. The stay must be Sunday through Thursday during September 1-30, 2019, excluding holidays and available while supply lasts, restrictions apply. Passports valid Mon-Fri

The SIP Passport provides an opportunity to taste award-winning wines produced in Temecula Valley Wine Country while avoiding the weekend crowds. The ticket holder chooses when and which five wineries to visit out of more than 25 participating wineries. Each location includes a standard wine tasting. In addition to a wine tasting, guests can take advantage of special offers only available as passport holders.

CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase
CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase, September 28, 2019, will bring wineries and local restaurants together at Monte De Oro Winery for attendees to taste some of the best the region has to offer. More than 35 wineries will be featuring their latest and greatest varieties, while patrons mix and mingle with winemakers, vineyard owners, chefs, and new friends as they enjoy live entertainment and artisan food bites from over 15 local restaurants.

Places to Taste
Visitors to the region can take advantage of three unique wine trails to help plan their wine-tasting experience, each offering a unique set of vineyards and wineries for discovery and tastings. From the time-tested traditions and ease-of-access of the Rancho California Wine Trail to Calle Contento Wine Trail’s “off-the-beaten-path” experience to De Portola Wine Trail’s, equestrian country showcasing wine styles from around the world, there is a wine trail for every Temecula Valley visitor.

Some of the region’s oldest and most well-known wineries can be found on the Rancho California Wine Trail. This is the most well-known, therefore busiest trail. For an “off the beaten path” wine tasting experience, visitors won’t want to miss the Calle Contento Wine Trail. Located just off Rancho California Road, this wine trail boasts sweeping views of vineyards throughout the trail’s meandering path. Just south of Rancho California Road, the De Portola Wine Trail wanders through an equestrian region, nestled against the foothills of Temecula Valley.

Things To Do
September is an ideal time to visit Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, with its wine grapes heavy on the vines waiting for harvest, clear blue skies, and a calendar full of events and activities in wine country, as well as other attractions only minutes away. Find out everything there is to see and do in the region at VisitTemeculaValley.com or call to request a free Visitor Guide at 888-363-2852.

About Visit Temecula Valley
Laid back, picturesque Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country welcomes nearly three million visitors each year. It is a year-round vacation destination, located 60 minutes from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Springs; 90 minutes from Los Angeles.

Temecula Valley Wine Country is widely recognized for its scenic vineyards, award-winning wines, and experiential wineries. The popular boutique destination includes the Temecula Valley A.V.A. (American Viticulture Area) as well as historic Old Town Temecula, and Pechanga Resort Casino. It also was named as a 2019 Wine Enthusiast 10 Best Wine Travel Destination.
Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors. The Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula. For visitor information and assistance, please call (888) 363-2852 or go to VisitTemeculaValley.com.

Finger Lakes Named Top Wine Region by USA Today

September 29, 2018 by evebushman

GENEVA, N.Y.– The Finger Lakes Wine Alliance (FLWA) is proud to announce that the Finger Lakes wine region has been named the “Best Wine Region” by voters in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2018 Contest. Regions were selected by a panel of wine industry experts with the Finger Lakes topping a list of 20 regions including the Willamette Valley, Santa Barbara County, and Walla, Walla Valley.

“We were thrilled to be nominated and would like to thank everyone who voted for the Finger Lakes region in the contest” stated Tracey Dello Stritto, Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance. “To top this list of excellent wine regions is an honor. We would also like to recognize the local wineries, restaurants and hotels who received nominations in many other categories. These nominations show the depth of our region. Our committed growers, talented winemakers and passionate hospitality personnel have shared their excitement for the region for decades so receiving the ‘best wine region’ accolade is very rewarding.”

With its glacier-sculpted landscapes, ideal microclimates and gifted winegrowers, the Finger Lakes region is home to over 130 wineries that produce exceptional cool-climate wines and world class Rieslings.

About Finger Lakes Wine Alliance

Founded in 2004, Finger Lakes Wine Alliance is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to increase the visibility and reputation of the Finger Lakes region, its wines and wineries. The alliance is comprised of 38 members and 15 affiliated businesses and vendors, and it is guided by a board of directors comprised of principals representing all four wine trails and non-wine trail wineries of the Finger Lakes. With its glacier-sculpted landscapes, ideal microclimates and gifted winegrowers, the Finger Lakes region is home to over 100 wineries that produce exceptional cool-climate wines and world-class Rieslings. For more information, visit www.fingerlakeswinealliance.com, call 315.791.2359 or connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Napa County Agricultural Preserve Celebrates 50th Anniversary

May 6, 2018 by evebushman

Napa, CA – The United States gained its first Agricultural Preserve fifty years ago on April 9th. Life without the Napa County Agricultural Preserve is unimaginable to most members of the Napa community, especially when comparing it to similar areas in California that are now sprawling with buildings and urban development. A celebratory Board of Supervisors meeting took place Tuesday, April 10th to honor the anniversary, and included speakers such as land preservationist icon Warren Winiarski and long-time Napa County Assessor John Tuteur.

From website.

To Hugh Davies, Jack L. Davies Ag Fund Board Chair and President of Schramsberg Vineyards, the 50th anniversary of the Ag Preserve not only marks a half-century of ag protections, but also serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance. “We are thankful for the work done by a prior generation to establish protections for Napa County’s agricultural lands,” states Hugh. “My father, Jack Davies, was one of the leaders of that earlier effort, and we are highly motivated to maintain this commitment to land preservation for future generations.”

One of the exciting new projects that just passed completion is the installation of a new kiosk on the Vine Trail in Napa. The JLD Ag Fund has partnered with the Vine Trail to create the kiosk, which displays the history of the Ag Preserve to visitors and residents traveling down the path.

In addition to the kiosk, many other efforts have been made to raise public awareness about the Ag Preserve, including the following:

The launch of a new website: www.napaagpreserve.org

A series of short films documenting personal testimonies from three generations of locals describing the economic, cultural and environmental importance of the Ag Preserve to the County

Special auction lot at Auction Napa Valley including a day of tasting with friends in the Ag Preserve and up to 300 magnums from wineries around the Napa Valley

Newly printed informative brochures to be placed on display in local businesses around Napa County

The following projects are nearing completion with plans to wrap up this May:

Four new highway signs Highway 29 and Silverado will welcome visitors as they enter the Ag Preserve

Winery kits to be passed out to wineries within the boundaries of the Ag Preserve, including maps, coasters and informative brochures

Partnership with the Napa Valley Museum, which includes a temporary exhibit and an educational trunk lesson that can be taken around to schools
Additional programs and activities are planned for 2018 and will be announced as more information becomes available. Those interested in finding out more about the Napa Ag Preserve and the activities planned around the 50th anniversary are encouraged to visit the Napa Ag Preserve Calendar.

About the Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund:
In 2003, recognizing a mutual commitment to preserving the agricultural lands and heritage that are fundamental to Napa County’s rural character, the Jack L. Davies Fund, the Napa Valley Foundation and the Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund united to create The Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund. Guided by a volunteer board of directors, the JLD Ag Fund operates under the premise that only an educated electorate can protect the integrity of the land, and is dedicated to a mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting agricultural land in Napa County. More information about the Jack L. Davies Ag Fund and the Napa Ag Preserve are available at JLDAgFund.org.

Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival

May 2, 2018 by evebushman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Expanding to six days this year, the 2018 Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival presented by Mercedes Benz of Charlottesville will return to Charlottesville to celebrate the best of wines in the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Virginia beginning Monday, May 7 through Saturday, May 12. Events will take place at the Jefferson Theater, multiple area wineries and restaurants, and Sprint Pavilion.

Tickets are on sale now and will be available at monticellowinetrailfestival.com and the Charlottesville’s Visitor Center on the downtown mall. Patrons will again have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of events available with optional VIP upgrades.

The Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival, an established spring tradition in Charlottesville, is a partnership between the Monticello Wine Trail, Sprint Pavilion and the Jefferson Theater, with presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Charlottesville. The Monticello Wine Trail is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality grapes and wine produced in the Monticello AVA. Dynamic winemakers, who are creating a unique wine region that features wines with an authentic expression of place, shape the region. The high quality of these wines is often recognized with success in national and international wine competitions.

“The Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival is a great opportunity to experience a wide variety of what the Monticello AVA has to offer. It’s a chance to find your new favorite winery or wine, and our chance to share what we’ve been working on”, MWT President George Hodson.

Participating Vineyards and Wineries

The 2018 Monticello Wine Trail Festival will feature 26 participating regional wineries and vineyards, including: Barboursville Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Burnley Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery, Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Delfosse Vineyards & Winery, Early Mountain Vineyards, First Colony Winery, Flying Fox Vineyard, Gabriele Rausse Winery, Glass House Winery, Grace Estate Winery, Horton Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Kilaurwen Winery, King Family Vineyards, Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery, Lovingston Winery, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Reynard Florence Vineyard, Stinson Vineyards, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Trump Winery, Veritas Vineyard & Winery and Wisdom Oak Winery.

2018 Schedule of Events & Ticket Information

Monday, May 7: Monticello Cup Awards
The Jefferson Theater
6-10 p.m. | Tickets are $49
An exciting event for the wine enthusiast, taste award-winning wines from the 2018 Monticello Cup Wine Competition alongside the wine growers and winemakers who made them. The night ends with the competition results for the Top 6 wines and winner of the prestigious Monticello Cup for the overall highest scoring wine.
Tuesday, May 8 – Thursday, May 10: Winemaker Dinners
A series of collaborative dinners between local restaurants and wineries.
For event details and locations, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com. Reservations are required for each dinner. Contact participating wineries.
Friday, May 11: The 3rd Annual Monticello AVA Sparkling Brunch*
Afton Mountain Vineyards – Pavilion
10 a.m.-Noon | Tickets are $55 (*Patrons must purchase a ticket for the Saturday May 12 Grand Tasting event in order to purchase a ticket for the Sparkling Brunch)
The 3rd Annual Monticello AVA Sparkling Brunch will be held at the Afton Mountain Vineyards’ pavilion and feature sparkling wines from five area wineries all perfectly paired with a farm to table inspired menu.
Friday, May 11: The 2nd Annual Rosé Lunch*
Blenheim Vineyards
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Tickets are $45 (*Patrons must purchase a ticket for the Saturday May 12 Grand Tasting event in order to purchase a ticket for the Rosé Lunch)
The Monticello AVA Rosé Lunch will move to Blenheim Vineyards this year and begin with a sparkling rosé toast! Next, four rosés will be paired with their own small plate making up a summery four-course lunch.
Friday, May 11: Winery Tours and Tastings
For event details and locations, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com. These events will have limited tickets available depending on location. Please contact participating winery for more information.
Saturday, May 12: The Grand Tasting
Sprint Pavilion
1:30-5:30 p.m. (VIP ticket holders gain early entry at 12:30 p.m.)
Tickets (ages 12 and under are Free):
General Admission: $29 through April 15, $35 after April 15, $40 at gate
General Admission Designated Driver or Under 21: $10
VIP: $80
VIP Designated Driver or Under 21: $25
Tasting event at Sprint Pavilion featuring more than 25 local wineries and live entertainment. An exclusive VIP ticket is available and offers catered food and an opportunity for sampling exclusive wines from each winery.
Wine tastings will be limited to one flight of tastings per winery with the purchase of your ticket. Extra wine can be purchased by the glass or bottle.

Complete schedule of all events, information and menus available at

monticellowinetrailfestival.com.

For more information on the Monticello Wine Trail Festival, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com, and follow on: Facebook.com/TasteOfMonticelloWineTrailFestival, and Twitter@TasteMonticello.

May is Michigan Wine Month

March 19, 2018 by evebushman

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (PRWEB) – In celebration of Michigan Wine Month, vino lovers are invited to enjoy Traverse City Uncorked throughout the entire month of May. The festivities include complimentary wine tastings, discounted lodging packages, winery events and sipping souvenirs for participants.

Traverse City Uncorked is a month-long promotion of the premier grape-growing region in Northwest Michigan. The region’s two peninsulas, Leelanau and Old Mission, are both designated as American Viticultural Areas (AVA) with diverse microclimates uniquely suited for a variety of wine grapes. Together, the 35 wineries throughout the peninsulas make up Traverse Wine Coast. Among their internationally acclaimed varietals are Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.

Traverse City Tourism, the region’s official Destination Marketing Organization, partners with Traverse Wine Coast for 31 days of celebration. Trevor Tkach, President and CEO of Traverse City Tourism, says the wineries are key in making Traverse City a pretty great place. “We have a fantastic wine region that stands out among other regions across the country, not only for the high-quality wines we are producing here, but also for everything else that goes with it – a beautiful region, one of the top foodie towns and our outdoor recreation.”

Participants of Traverse City Uncorked will also enjoy the regional marks of spring, namely the millions of cherry blossoms that make Traverse City the Cherry Capital of the World (you can celebrate the 2018 National Cherry Festival June 30 – July 7). Culinary enthusiasts and foragers will enjoy May’s wild morels and leeks, plus the downtown restaurants that daily harvest and transform their seasonal finds.

Special events throughout Traverse City Uncorked include Spring Sip & Savor on Leelanau Peninsula (May 5-6) as well as Blossom Day on Old Mission Peninsula (May 19), both offering food and wine tastings at the wineries. Small Plates, a progressive dinner with Leelanau winemakers, takes place along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail (May 31), while Sips n’ Giggles offers a live comedy show pairing (May 19). For a complete list of Traverse City Uncorked events and lodging packages, pour a glass and visit traversecityuncorked.com. Clink!

East Tennessee’s Newest Tourism Trail Offers Wine and Ciders Mixed with Adventure

November 12, 2017 by evebushman

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, Tenn. (PRWEB) – A brand new wine and cider trail has opened this fall in Nine Lakes Wine Country of East Tennessee, skirting along 100 miles of the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Where nature and wine entwine, Foothills Wine & Cider Trail features fun and adventure along the way. Visitors can take a walk on America’s longest swinging bridge or soar down the highest zip line in the Smokies at Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park, home of Wyile Cider Barn. Or experience the peaceful side of the Smokies as you visit Tuckaleechee Caverns or travel the Cherohala Skyway Scenic Byway. You may want to schedule a couple of days for this great wine and cider trail.

“Just in time to view the beautiful fall leaves, enjoy a trip on the brand new Foothills Wine & Cider Trail. It offers an unmatched view of the Great Smoky Mountains, adventure fun in Sevierville, and of course, delicious Tennessee wines and ciders,” said James R. Riddle, president of the Appalachian Region Wine Producers, which established the trail.

Four wineries and one cider mill have joined together for the cooperative tourism attraction. Participants who visit all five establishments will receive a commemorative wine trail glass, and be entered to win quarterly prizes.

To kick off its opening, Foothills Wine & Cider Trail is offering a Wine Adventure Giveaway, a package of prizes that involve area attractions as well as the trail. The package includes two zip-line passes to Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park, near Wyile Cider Barn in Sevierville, two splash passes from River Rat Rafting Company, which runs whitewater rafting in Hartford near the Pigeon River Winery, and a tubing venue near Cades Cove Winery in Townsend, a $50 Gift Certificate to Flap Jacks, near Mill Bridge Winery in Pigeon Forge, and two passes to The Lost Sea, an underground cavern near Tsali Notch Vineyard in Madisonville, TN.

Read more about the giveaway at http://www.FoothillsWineandCiderTrail.com.

“These gifts are really designed to get folks out on Foothills Wine & Cider Trail, and to give them a taste of all that East Tennessee offers for vacations. This is a wonderful place for friends and family to get away, enjoy all the natural beauty of East Tennessee, but also taste some award-winning wines and ciders,” said J.D. Dalton, manager of Tsali Notch Vineyard.

This trail features some of Tennessee’s most awarded wines. Tsali Notch Vineyard’s Hiwassee wine, a dry Muscadine varietal, has won more awards than any other Tennessee wine, including gold and silver medals from the San Francisco Chronicle’s Wine Competition.

The Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association’s mission is to grow the wine industry in East Tennessee. The association was the recipient of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Value Added Producer Grant in 2016. The association has established two wine trails, hosted the first Nine Lakes Wine Festival in May 2017, and has begun the process of establishing East Tennessee’s first American Viticultural Area (AVA).

An AVA is an official grape growing region designated by the US government, and would help establish an identity for Tennessee wines. For more information about Tennessee wines, visit http://www.ninelakeswinecountry.com

Vintage Eve Circa May 2013: “It’s Just Wine” Said the Client to the Consultant

May 2, 2017 by evebushman

When my associate/partner/friend Michael Perlis successfully got me to agree to take on consulting clients (yes it took awhile) my only concern was that I didn’t want to do any less wine writing. So, instead, after every pitch we made was accepted, I gave up some of my non-wine writing gigs.

I knew that I had to give up something I didn’t need to do in order to do something that would be more profitable. Now the challenge would be, could we get our own clients to see things this way too?

It was obvious to us that anyone who wanted to hire a consultant needed some help. A client would tell us what they want accomplish, we would do a study of their business, and then come back with our proposal.

Some clients said yes to everything; they were not on the edge of losing their businesses, and we were only there to market a well-conceived plan. This has been the case with the wine fests we have assisted in marketing.

However, other businesses, such as wineries and restaurants, called us in for help that required them to give up something to do something new. Much like I did.

And we could also see that those companies, like a marriage on the verge of a break-up, waited a long time before calling in a counselor. And their immediate reaction to our proposals, well, they were like a knee jerk kick to our stomachs.

Our proposals (which is a timeline of changes we wanted to make before bringing in new customers) are made to help insure that a new customer would return. These clients had a habit of just checking off the items at the end of the proposal.

This is a very shortsighted way of “Give me the reward now and it’s enough.” And, if I can go back to the marriage counselor scenario: One visit with a counselor is going to straighten out years of a miss-managed marriage?

We think not. There is a difference in marketing and consulting; and the consulting has to come before the marketing. If that’s not what you are looking for, you are not looking for us.

If your model isn’t working – listen to what we are trying to do to change it. Whether it’s training a restaurant staff on wine service or changing a hard-sell approach in a winery, this is why you hire us to consult, then market.

Which brings me to the title of this column. One client, exasperated with me as I quoted negative Yelp reviews, wine pricing, management techniques and basic branding said, “It’s just wine.”

That three-word sentence really got me thinking.

If your business is wine know this: There are reasons, beyond common business logic, why people drink wine. We can’t even go total screw cap because of the “romance” of popping a cork. Wine drinkers are not like beer drinkers; give us a nice crystal glass to taste from. Don’t hold my bottle of wine between your thighs as you retrieve the cork. Don’t open my bottle of wine behind the counter. Don’t serve yourself a sample of my wine unless I offer it to you.

And from there I’d add more: Don’t pitch me anything if I didn’t ask for it. If I said yes to a taste, that’s a taste. Wait for me to ask for more. No one wants to dine in a restaurant or taste at a wine bar where the staff has an agenda. If I wanted to buy a timeshare I wouldn’t sit in for the 90-minute or more sales pitch, I’d just buy it.

Play nice, don’t bad mouth other wineries or restaurants. Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties have done a lot to market their wine trails. Each winery is vested in return business and having each winery look good. And wine people like to “shop” at more than one winery when out for a day of tasting – these trails get that, and so should you if you want to see growth.

Michael, when I told him about this conversation said, “Our new slogan is IAATW. It’s All About The Wine.”

We aren’t selling cars. We are selling wine. Take a lesson from Clos Pepe winemaker Wes Hagen, “The perfect meal is 33 percent wine, 33 percent food and 33 percent company. I’d rather drink shitty wine with this group than the best wine in the world with a bunch of d—-.”

Yes, I could go on, but you’d have to pay us. And we don’t work with d—- either.