For Immediate Release
Rhonda Motil
MCVGA
831-375-9400
Monterey's Wine Country Passport Weekend is a Success
Wine enthusiasts flocked to Beautiful Monterey County to enjoy Valentine's Day Weekend
MONTEREY, CA. - February 18, 2003 - Monterey Wine Country's First Annual Passport Weekend, which occurred February 14-16, 2003, exceeded expectations and proved to be a wonderful experience for all. The passport program allowed guests to enjoy wine, food, and entertainment over the three day weekend. Each guest received a wine country passport, a picture at their starting location, and a Monterey wine glass as a memento of the weekend. Participants received stamps at each location that they visited and they were then entered into a grand prize drawing featuring over $1500 worth of Monterey Wine Country specialties.
"This event was a phenomenal success," stated Monterey Vintners and Growers Association's (MCVGA) Events Director, Tamara Weinstein. "We surpassed sales expectations by over 50%. Guests continued to comment that Valentine's Day Weekend was a fabulous time to explore new wineries and enjoy the ambiance of our gorgeous wine region. We even had one couple become engaged at the event! This is definitely a program that we'll continue next year."
The winner of the Monterey Wine Country gift basket was George Carson of Morgan Hill, California. Carson commented on the event, "My wife and I purchased the Passport Weekend tickets and reserved a room in Monterey as part of our 17th wedding anniversary. We thoroughly enjoyed the weather, the scenery, and especially the wine and food we found at the nine wineries that we visited. My wife and I both love wines, and we enjoy visiting wineries and meeting people whose lives are about producing wine as food and art. The hospitality and charm of Monterey Wine Country was superb."
The 2004 Passport Weekend will occur February 13-15. Please contact the MCVGA office at 831.375.9400 for details about this event, as well as the Winemakers' Celebration in August and The Great Wine Escape in November.
About MCVGA
The Monterey County Vintners & Growers' Association (MCVGA) brings together the talents and resources of members, partners and our community in order to promote and support our leadership in the art, the science and the business of wine. Founded in 1974, MCVGA is a non-profit organization representing over sixty vintners and growers in Monterey County. MCVGA can be reached by calling 831-375-9400 or visiting online at www.montereywines.org
