FORESTVILLE, N.Y. (August 11, 2008) – The first annual America’s Grape Country Wine Festival, held this past weekend at the Chautauqua County Fair Grounds, was a great success for local wineries and crafters. Over 1,500 people attended the event through the course of the two-day event, many of them from outside Chautauqua County.
The AGC Wine Festival had 24 wineries on display, with nine of them located in the area. There were also several farmer’s market vendors and 23 local crafters at the venue as well. One of the goals for the festival, aside from promoting the wine and grape industry in the area, was to promote tourism in the county. Tourism is one of our top industries in Chautauqua County.
“When people visit Chautauqua County for a wine festival and have the greatest time they ever had, it gives them a reason to come back,” said Edwin Rodriguez, Marketing and Promotions Director for Merritt Estate Winery. “And they do come back. Except next time they bring some friends. When we bring them back, they spend money. When they spend money, our entire county benefits,” said Rodriguez. The 21 wineries along the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail average 35,000 visits per year. Those numbers reflect an estimated $17 million in sales.
“Chautauqua County has a variety of small towns with small craft shops. The area is very artistic in nature and that was reflected very well at the festival,” said Shawnna Emley, Events Coordinator for Merritt Estate Winery. “We are looking forward to seeing new crafts and new ideas at next year’s festival,” said Emley. Many of the crafters at the wine festival exchanged services with the wineries and will begin selling their products in the winery gift shops. “This was somewhat of a networking opportunity for the wineries and crafters. We hope that more revenue can be generated in the long run for each business that participated with America’s Grape Country Wine Festival,” said Emley.
Merritt Estate Winery has already released the date for next year’s festival. “August 15 and 16 will be the dates for 2009,” said William T. Merritt, President of Merritt Estate Winery. “We have already begun making arrangements for next year. We want the wine festival to be bigger and better than the year before. We are constantly trying to find ways to outdo ourselves.”
For sponsor, vendor, advertising and volunteer opportunities at the 2009 America’s Grape Country Wine Festival, visit www.AGCWineFestival.com or call 1-800-965-4834.
The Chautauqua-Lake Erie wine region is the largest grape growing region of New York State. The grapes and wines produced in this region rival the quality of premium vintages throughout the world.