LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) announced that Touring & Tasting Magazine will be the media sponsor for the 2015 Lake County Wine Awards Competition.

“Having Touring & Tasting as our media sponsor is a fabulous honor for Lake County. Their support strongly bolsters our efforts to continue to get the word out about Lake County’s award winning wines,” said LCWA Director Terry Dereniuk.

The Lake County Wine Awards Competition is the exclusive regional competition showcasing Lake County wines and winegrapes.

Wines eligible for entry must contain at least 75 percent Lake County winegrapes and have a Lake County appellation on the label.

“We’re delighted to continue to expand our relationship with Lake County. Having been there many times, I wholeheartedly believe Lake County is a remarkable wine country destination and many of the wines from here are amongst the best in the country from a value and quality perspective,” said Dan Fox, managing partner of Touring & Tasting Marketing and Media.

Touring & Tasting Marketing and Media is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has become the leading force in the wine tourism industry.

In addition to producing the national, biannual publication Touring & Tasting magazine and www.TouringandTasting.com , the company offers innovative, multi-tiered marketing and promotional programs to wine country businesses.

Touring & Tasting is the leader in promoting wine tourism as an industry through partnership events such as the Wine Tourism Conference, the Wine Bloggers Conference, California Wine Festivals and numerous other wine industry events.

The 2015 Competition will be held on June 10 and 11 at Langtry Estate in Middletown under the direction of Bob Fraser.

Fraser is retired head of the Santa Rosa Junior College Wine Studies Program, owner of www.winejudging.com and Jago Bay Vineyards in Lake County. Fraser and his son Scott also produce the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

The public will have an opportunity to taste the winners and vote for their favorite Lake County wine at the People’s Choice wine tasting on July 25 at Moore Family Winery in Kelseyville. For additional details, visit www.lakecowineawards.org .

Judges for the 2015 competition include: Bob Ecker, freelance writer and photographer, Napa; Tom Simoneau, KSRO Wine Guy, and owner of Simoneau Vineyards, Healdsburg; Christopher Sawyer, wine writer and “sommelier to the stars,” Petaluma; Mike Dunne, contributing wine columnist, Sacramento Bee; Martha Dunne, author, “Wait, What Do You Mean?”, Asperger's Tell & Show, Sacramento; Ken Landis, chef and owner of Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn, Half Moon Bay; Sue Straight, DTC wine coach, Wine Wench Productions; John Buechsenstein, wine educator/sensory evaluator, The Culinary Institute of America and UC Davis, Davis; Rick Fraga, wine education / hospitality at Martinelli Winery, Windsor; and Carl Brandhorst, president of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, Fairfax, Va., will round out the judging roster.

LCWA works to promote the wines of Lake County’s high elevation region. Membership is open to wineries, winegrape growers, and individuals or businesses interested in promoting the Lake County wine industry.

For more information about upcoming events, sponsorship or membership opportunities, call 707 357-5237 or visit www.lakecountywineries.org .