KELSEYVILLE — Lake County”s participation at several national wine trade shows proved to be a resounding success, according to representatives of the County”s administration and the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
A California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Specialty Crop Grant made it possible for the Commission to attend selected shows this year.
In January, a contingent of Lake County wine industry representatives traveled to the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento. Participation in two shows in February took the delegates to the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and Trade Show in St. Charles, Miss., billed as the third largest wine industry trade show in the United States; and to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association”s annual conference and trade show in San Marcos, Texas.
During the month of March, people worked the commission”s booth at the Eastern Winery Exposition in Lancaster, Penn. and the Wineries Unlimited Trade Show and Conference in Richmond, Va.
Sharing information about Lake County”s wine industry and the county in general, commission President Shannon Gunier and Commission board members were joined by county representatives and commission committee members at the various trade shows.
The Lake County contingent obtained information about potential winegrape buyers and businesses interested in the area. Gunier said leads are available to qualified Lake County growers by calling the commission office, 995-3421.
“We poured wine and talked to interested parties about Lake County and the grapes we grow,” Bill Brunetti, chair of the commission”s Industry Relations Committee, said. Brunetti and wife Patti attended the Pennsylvania and Virginia shows last month.
“In general, (we) tried to sell our county and our grapes,” Brunetti said. “The county”s participation was well received. I think that the new booth pretty much outdid any other at the show. The wines spoke for themselves, and the presence of county government personnel talking about the desire of Lake County to attract business was a home run.”
County Administrative Analyst Alan Flora echoed Brunetti”s sentiments about the reception of the county”s presence at the expositions. “The interest generated in Lake County as a destination, a producer of fine wines, and as a place to do business exceeded all of my expectations,” Flora said.
“The breadth of questions and comments were phenomenal. Few people were able to pass our booth by. Our booth design focused on a dramatic presentation of the scenic beauty of our county, the substantial and impressive development of our most established wineries, education about what makes our growing region so unique and full of potential, and the bold, complex and delightful wines we produce.”
Budget constraints had forced the commission to cancel participation in out-of-state industry trade shows that had proven to be instrumental in showcasing Lake County wines in past years, according to Gunier. Receipt of the CDFA Specialty Crop grant allowed the winegrape growers organization to team with the county to continue marketing work at industry shows. The grant was awarded to increase the effectiveness of the pre-existing campaign, Gunier said.
