LAKE COUNTY >> The 2015 annual meeting of the Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) was held on Feb. 19 at Cache Creek Vineyards. More than 70 members and guests turned out to share Lake County wines and enjoy appetizers prepared by Chef Edwin Finch of Running Creek Casino.
Guests included Jim Steele, Lake County Supervisor, District 3, Olga Steele, Jill Ruzicka, Lake County Administrative Analyst responsible for destination marketing, and Tiffany Ortega, Sutter Lakeside Hospital Assistant Administrator of Allied Services.
Cache Creek Vineyards hosted the evening, welcoming Association members and providing tours of the Cache Creek facility. Guests mingled on the patio and tasting room. Tony Barthel of Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast served as DJ for the event and serenaded the crowd with music and fun throughout the evening.
Dustin Fults, LCWA Chair for 2015, took the reins for the official part of the evening and called the meeting to order. Fults and Gregory Graham, the Board Chair for 2014, commented on the success of last year and plans for the current year. Executive officers for 2015 include: Dustin Fults (Langtry Estate & Vineyard); Cielo Fox, (Brassfield Estate); Cindi Olof, (Olof Cellars) and Cheryl Lucido (Laujor Estate). Additional members include Gregory Graham (Gregory Graham Wines); Beau Moore (Moore Family Winery); Nick Buttitta (Rosa d’Oro); and Susan Feiler (Lake County Wine Studio).
Executive Director Terry Dereniuk noted that the Winery Association was supported by many sponsors in 2014. American AgCredit, AXA Equitable Agri-Finance, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Bella Vista Farming, Lake County, Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Record-Bee, Pacini Wines, and Sutter Lakeside Hospital were thanked for their support. She also recognized members who went above and beyond in 2014 including Brassfield Estate Winery, Langtry Estate and
Vineyards, Lu Baird, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, and Twin Pine Casino. Dereniuk also announced that LCWA was giving away two certificates for attendance at the future Lake County Tourism Program to two lucky people attending the meeting.
“This is a wonderful program for Lake County and will help us raise the tourist experience,” Dereniuk said. “LCWA is proud to support this program.”
Fults and Graham selected the names of the winners. Linda Glover of Cache Creek Vineyards and John Ussery of Laujor Estate were thrilled to learn that they will be among the first students for this new program.
Plans for 2015 include the annual Wine Adventure weekend May 15 through May 17, and the People’s Choice wine tasting which will be held on July 25 at Moore Family Winery. Information on upcoming events can be found on the LCWA website at www.lakecountywineries.org.
LCWA works to promote the wines of Lake County’s high elevation region.
