Wine Road

Events & Marketing Committee

August 31, 2016       9:00am

Wine Road NEW office 1437 Grove Street, Healdsburg

Attendees: Beth Costa, Laura Stafford, Carla Jefferies, Nancy Beeken, Joe Foppoli, Pauline Block, Eric Markson, Bruce Thomas, Aaron Krug, Rebecca Germolus

Events

 

Wine & Food Affair – launching tickets this afternoon or tomorrow!

 

Explore Wine Road

• 1^st Saturday in May
  • Keep date to stay consistent.
  • Only one day.
• Need to keep event for Social Media presence.
• Focus on By Appt Only wineries to draw ticket sales.
  • “Behind the Scenes” “No Appointment Needed”
• Include lodgings
  • “Open House”
• Still think partnering with Sonoma County Parks is a good idea…need to see how all ties together.

 

Winter WINEland – 25^th Annual

• Lights supplied to participants…10,000 lights? 20,000 lights? – maybe, depends on theme.
• “Vintages, Varietals, Verticals” bringing the focus back to the wine.
  • Library Weekend-
    • Draw ticket buyers with something they cannot get on a normal visit to participating wineries.
  • “Enlighten Your Palate” to tie lights and library together.

 

Breakfast with the Winemakers

• Planned for WFA- 1 location, 20ppl, 3 winemakers, 1 mediator.
• WINEland and Barrel Tasting-
  • Same as this year’s WFA, much easier to manage and sell tickets.

 

Magical Mystery Tours

• Very successful, plan to do 4 in 2017 on selected Saturdays.
  • 3 tours, 1 per AVA, maybe urban
  • 1 bus, 20 ppl, $100 pp, 1 host, loose menu on ticket site,
  • Beth, Debbie & Laura to Set dates – outline, # of wineries, host, reimbursement, ticket price

 

Progressive Dinner (along lines of Magical Mystery Tour)

• “Wine Road After Dark”-Walking tour in Healdsburg
  • 1 lodging to start with reception, 4 wineries with small bites.
  • 4:30-8:00pm

 

Bloggers Conference- Nov 9-12, 2017

• 10^th Year, taking place in Sonoma County, Thursday-Sunday
• Wine Road would like to tie in events on Wed prior & Monday following:
  • Wed-Cab, Zin, Pinot “classes” based on 40^th events with AVA partners,
  • Mon-Magical Mystery Tour, 3 tours to different AVAs

 

Advertising

 

Press Trips October & November

• Omaha Nebraska –
  • Beth is so excited to me invited. Great attendees and fabulous cause to associate with the Wine Road.
  • Need gift idea for high end dinner guests 10- Clocks from barrel staves, Laura to check how many we have left from last year Press Trip.
• SF Travel in NY –
  • Need gifts for 30 press- 40^th Anniversary Blankets, Laura to check # in warehouse.

 

Current brand message

• 200 wineries, 50 lodgings, 3 valleys, 1 road – Wine Road
  • New spin for 2017?-no, everyone likes current.

 

Putting all of our eggs in 1-2 baskets –

• Should we switch focus to new target market and spread ads?

Food and Wine Magazine – yes

Sunset Magazine – yes

The Skimm – yes

Continue with Alaska Airlines – no

• Continue strong Social Media presence.

 

Festivals

• Continue – San Diego, Central Coast, Monterey, VinDiego

 

 

Next meeting scheduled September 28^th 9:00 am @ Wine Road Office