Linda Glover ticks off the weekend’s lineup of wines, steel drum bands, tie-dye clothing and island food and comes to one conclusion.
“It’s going to get pretty crazy,” said the Cache Creek Vineyards tasting room manager.
After a social this evening at Marymount California University, Lakeside Campus, the 2015 Lake County Wine Adventure shifts into gear on Saturday for two days of spirited sampling. Already the Lake County Winery Association has sold 920 advanced tickets for the event, up from 526 last year, when close to 1,200 people toured area wineries.
The 11th annual event begins when participating tasting rooms open their doors at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket holders venture at their leisure from stop to stop, tasting wines, eating dishes prepared especially for the event, listening to live music and more.
Six Sigma Ranch & Winery adopted a fiesta theme for the weekend, pairing wines with albondigas while a guitar duo keeps the beat. At Brassfield Estate Winery, artist Carolyn Marchetti will be featured. Cache Creek opted for a “Reggae and Rose” party, showcasing their new Rose of Cabernet.
Around the lake, other wineries are finishing up their preparations.
“People like the energy — it’s a party,” said Jan Spitzka, marketing and tasting room manager at Brassfield Estate. “At the end we are exhausted.”
Tasting rooms call in their entire staff to help with the event. Those without kitchens hire caterers. The Wine Adventure is a significant undertaking. But in past years from 800 to over 1,000 people visit some of the locations. Although Terry Dereniuk, executive director of the Lake County Winery Association, which organizes the event, reports that 80 percent of pre-sale tickets have gone to repeat customers in the past, tasting room managers estimate that 40 to 50 percent of the guests passing through their facilities are newcomers.
The exposure is important.
“When the volume increases, the chances increase,” said Emily Buttitta, sales associate at Rosa d’Oro Vineyards in Kelseyville.
For participating wineries, the event is ultimately about wine sales. Cache Creek plans to feature a Cabernet, a Petite Syrah, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay in addition to their Rose. Buttitta expects to pour plenty of the winery’s Primitivo. Brassfield offers four of their wines, including Eruption and Serenity Reserve. At Six Sigma, the will pair a 2011 Tempranillo with the Mexican meatballs.
Most will host events at their vineyards, from small operations like Noggle to destinations such as Gregory Graham, Shannon Ridge and Langtry. However, Fore Family and Sol Rouge will be poured at Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake. Cougar’s Leap is sending bottles of their wine to Laujor Estate, near Kit’s Corner. Mt. Konocti Winery outside Kelseyville also hosts Bullion Creek and Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast in Nice serves as the temporary tasting room for Red Lava and Smiling Dogs Ranch.
Although many of the wineries put cases on sale for the event, the focus is on future business.
“The great thing is a huge pool of people come in,” observed Jacquelyn Farrington, director of hospitality at Six Sigma. “This is our biggest weekend for wine club sign ups.”
But the Wine Adventure is also a primary fundraiser for the Lake County Winery Association, an organization dedicated to marketing local wines. Guests purchase either a two day or a Sunday only passport, allowing them to sample at will. Last year the event was successful enough to account for 40 percent of the association’s operating budget.
Another group benefits, as well. A charity raffle supports Lake County Relay for Life, with the winner picking up an instant wine collection of local bottles.
In 2014 and in previous years, the event took place toward the end of July. The association moved the dates forward because of the summer heat.
“After last year it became really clear — it was so hot, and that has an impact on people buying wine,” Deruniuk said.
“Sometimes when change happens, people need to warm up to it,” Buttitta noted. Like her, most in the tasting rooms agreed with the move.
“When you’re pouring red wine and it’s over 100 degrees, it’s hard to appreciate it,” Farrington pointed out. “I’m pumped up about the weather this year.”
However, Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill in Kelseyville, one of the larger labels in the county, had to bow out. They had already scheduled a charity event — Denim and Diamonds — for Saturday. In all, 26 wineries are taking part this time around, down from 29 in 2014.
“Ideally everyone would participate,” Deruniuk acknowledged. “But I understand there are conflicts.”
