KELSEYVILLE — Touring & Tasting readers are going to see and learn about the allure of Lake County”s “vinotourism” as information about the wineries and winemakers grace the cover and inside pages of this summer”s edition of the magazine.
Through the partnership work of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, the County of Lake, the Lake County Winery Association and area wineries, Touring & Tasting magazine”s summer/fall 2012 issue will feature Lake County in a four-page article package and front cover photo with a prominent cover line, commission President Shannon Gunier announced Wednesday.
The magazine edition will be available June 12. Gunier received word Friday that Touring & Tasting selected the Lake County cover for national distribution of 50,000 copies, which will be distributed to all subscribers, wine club members, bookstores, retail establishments and more than 150 four- and five-star hotels from Temecula to Walla Walla, Wash.
A major portion will go into hotels in San Francisco and Napa and Sonoma counties. More than 5,000 copies will be distributed to Lake County outlets including hotels, wineries, visitor centers, trade shows and industry partners.
Another 3,000 copies will be distributed to consumers and wine industry attendees at key trade shows.
Touring & Tasting photographer Rudy Moreno spent time capturing Lake County vineyard shots earlier this week. Pear growers Pat and Michelle Scully served as models for the photo shoot and use of the vehicle in the photo was made possible by Tim Wynacht of Kathy Fowler Chevrolet, Gunier said.
Representatives of the project”s collaborative entities are thrilled about the possibility of attracting more people to Lake County via the marketing campaign.
“Touring & Tasting is a well-respected media outlet that reaches many of those consumers we want to target: people who are passionate about wine, have an adventurous spirit, and love to travel,” Debra Sommerfield, deputy chief administrative officer for the County of Lake”s Economic Development, said. “Lake County”s high-quality wines, rural character, scenic beauty and charming small towns make it an appealing travel destination for the magazine”s readers.”
Sommerfield said the county is pleased to be working with the Lake County Winegrape Commission and Lake County Winery Association on the project. “It is this innate alignment of wine and travel that makes this project a natural one for collaboration,” Sommerfield said.
For information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission, visit the website at www.lakecountywinegrape.org or call 707-995-3421. For Lake County Winery Association information, visit its website at www.wineryassociation.com.
