KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Gathering to celebrate and acknowledge the growing success of wines from Lake County, the board of the Lake County Winery Association recently hosted a gathering for their members at Moore Family Winery to thank the many winery owners and supporters.

“The industry here is growing, the economy is slowly improving, and we're good to go,” said Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) board chair Clay Shannon, who operates two tasting rooms in Lake County – Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Vigilance Winery & Vineyards.

“We're seeing more new faces in our tasting room,” said LCWA vice-chair Gregory Graham, owner and winemaker of Gregory Graham Wines, “and they're making the trip to be here,” noting that many new visitors are from the surrounding regions – but also from out of state.

After welcoming everyone, Shannon introduced Monica Rosenthal, executive director for the LCWA, who gave an overview of the ongoing efforts by LCWA to promote the wine industry in Lake County.

Through a partnership with the county of Lake Marketing and Economic Development Program and numerous property owners throughout the county, LCWA has installed directional signs around the county to orient visitors to the many tasting rooms located in Lake County.

New signs ready for installation for several new Lake County wine tasting rooms were on display at the event.

Rosenthal highlighted the new marketing tools including the roll-up maps, LCWA umbrella and bistro set, and the attractive winery brochures and wine maps.  

She also reported that LCWA is active in the recently approved Lake County Marketing Tourism Plan, which will leverage the marketing work the LCWA is pursuing.

“All of us can put funds together for a bigger splash,” Rosenthal explained, “instead of each of us going it alone.”

She then spoke about the upcoming ad in Touring & Tasting magazine that will feature Lake County and LCWA members and is the direct result of partnering with the County’s Tourism committee and the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

Shannon Gunier, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission (LCWC), gave an update on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant they received to market Lake county fruit around the country and in California.

After participation in successful wine events in Texas, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the next series of events the LCWC will participate in are consumer shows like the “Wines with Altitude” event schedule for Sept. 8 on Treasure Island at The Winery SF.

“We're doing more, such as last years successful event on Treasure Island,” said Nick Buttitta, “which was a big step, in addition to the Wine Adventure weekend always held on the last weekend of July and People’s Choice the first Saturday in November. We are going to continue to do more to promote Lake County.”

LCWA Chair Clay Shannon introduced the other board members of LCWA including vice-chair Gregory Graham, owner/winemaker of Gregory Graham wines; treasurer and secretary Adawn Wood, co-owner of Shed Horn Cellars; Steve Tylicki, general manager and viticulturist for Steele Wines; and Nick Buttitta, owner and winemaker of Rosa d'Oro Vineyards.

Shannon then encouraged all members in attendance to participate on LCWA committees as the marketing and events sponsored by LCWA continue to increase.

Membership in the Lake County Winery Association is open to all – wineries, tasting rooms, restaurants, hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, resorts, art galleries, gift shops, olive oil producers, individuals, associations and more – with many membership levels.

The LCWA Celebrate Five event was hosted by Moore Family Winery, catered by Ciao Thyme Catering, and wines were provided by Lake County Wineries.  

LCWA thanked the guests in attendance, especially the LCWA partners and sponsors.  

For more information on becoming a member of LCWA or other events, visit www.lakecountywineries.org .