Things to Do

Fredericksburg 2016 Wine Marketing Conference

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Google the words, “wine in Fredericksburg, TX” and 221,000 results show up. That’s more than, “wine anywhere”! (For real, we ‘googled’ it.) If wine is to Fredericksburg what Google is to the internet search, then picture a wine marketing conference taking place in this mecca of southern hospitality! That’s right, from Nov. 8-10, 2016, the Wine Marketing & Tourism Conference (formerly known as the Wine Tourism Conference) is moving its host location to Fredericksburg, in Texas Hill Country.  What does this mean to THC wineries and surrounding value-added businesses? It provides research-backed information in a single-point-of-access setting through which the wine and wine tourism industry leaders can learn to grow and improve their local offerings.

Photo Credit: www.winetourismconference.org

According to the Wine Tourism Conference (www.winetourismconference.org) website, the state of Texas has 3,500 acres of vineyards and 350 bonded wineries (reference: Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association). Equally amazing is the fact that the state’s wine industry has a $1.9 billion annual impact on the economy, a third of which is due to wine tourism – proof that you too can have a dramatic ripple effect by simply going for a wine tasting or venturing out on a wine tour! Other points of interest noted by the event are; a) There are approximately 900,000 wine-related tourists within the state of Texas each year, and; b) Texas Hill Country itself was selected as a Top Ten Wine Travel Destination in 2014 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. For those in the industry, this means beaucoup bucks for not only their budding businesses, but also those that support them through tours, tastings, value-added sales (i.e. wine glass manufacturers, carafe makers, all manner of wine bric-à-brac and knick-knacks you can imagine) and general merchandising through hotels and restaurants, travel agencies and wine associations.

Photo Credit: www.discovertexaswine.com

With attendance expected to reach two hundred, consisting of winery representatives, wine/tourism associations and convention & visitors’ bureaus (CVBs), tour operators, travel agencies, transportation companies, and event planners, as well as hotels, restaurants, PR professionals and, of course, bloggers (*cough*, TexasHillCountry.com) the Wine Marketing & Tourism Conference is expected to be a huge boon for business in the THC, and in particular, Fredericksburg.

Photo Credit: www.fredericksburguncorked.com

One of the opening events attached to the conference is a highly-anticipated wine excursion taking place Monday, Nov. 7, 2016 at Lake Austin, including a visit to Spicewood Vineyards, Stone House Vineyard, and a Texas-style prime rib dinner at Flat Creek Enoteca. Similarly, Day One of the event (Nov. 8th) will see an expo, various industry speakers and keynote addresses, and will close with a dinner held at William Chris Vineyard, in conjunction with Compass Rose Cellars, Lewis Wines, Kuhlman Cellars and Hye Market. And what is a wine industry conference in THC without going to Luckenbach Texas (not with Willie and Waylon and the boys, but you get the picture)?! Wednesday night (Nov. 9th) following conference seminars and events, participants will enjoy dinner and dancing at the classic roadhouse (est. 1849) notorious for its country-and-western roots in the song made famous by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

Photo Credit: www.10best.com

Thursday and Friday (Nov. 10th and 11th) are also no slouches. For the final conference day, attendees can expect to enjoy an optional trip to Fall Creek Vineyards and Salt Lick BBQ in the small town of Driftwood, Texas. Fall Creek Vineyards is recognized as one of the original Texas wineries, in operation now for 4 decades. Their new facility in Driftwood will host a pre-dinner tour and tasting, and of course dinner follows across the street at the famed Salt Lick BBQ. Friday’s festivities include a wine country excursion through the Guadalupe Valley, including Kerrville Hills Winery, Bending Branch Winery, High’s Café & Store and finally Singing Water Vineyards.

Photo Credit: www.hillcountrylight.com

Families and guests of the approximate two hundred conference participants will also be arriving in beautiful Fredericksburg for this whirlwind in THC’s wine country, and as a result, vineyards, tour operators, hotels and restaurants can expect to see a wine-related windfall effect trickling down. If you’re one of the many industry participants expecting to attend this event, enjoy all that Fredericksburg and Texas Hill Country has to offer! And if you’re a winery representative, wine tourism spokesperson, or a leader in this ever-growing sector that hasn’t yet registered, what are you waiting for? Cheers y’all!