Conn Creek Named A "Best of Wine Tourism" Award Winner

Winery Recognized for Innovative Wine Tourism Experience

Conn Creek Winery’s AVA Room Barrel Blending Experience, a unique tasting and blending experience allowing wine lovers of all levels to taste their way through the Cabernet Sauvignons of the Napa Valley in one stop, has been named the regional winner of the “Innovative Wine Tourism Experience” award at the 2011 Best of Wine Tourism Awards.

The awards, sponsored by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, acknowledge the achievements of leading innovators in each of nine international wine regions recognized as a great wine capital. Conn Creek competed in the San Francisco | Napa Valley region, the only American region in the network. The Innovation category is one of seven categories in which the awards are presented.

Founded in 1973 and located in the Rutherford District on Napa Valley’s famed Silverado Trail, Conn Creek has built its reputation on blending expertise, sourcing grapes from nearly all of Napa Valley’s diverse sub-appellations to create wines that truly showcase “the best of Napa Valley.”

The AVA Room opened its doors in June, 2009 and is open to the public by appointment six days a week, offering a hands-on tasting tour of Napa Valley Cabernets from Carneros to Calistoga. During the guided, two-hour seminar, participants taste barrel samples of Cabernet Sauvignon from nearly all of Napa’s 15 sub-appellations, organized by Conn Creek winemaker Mike McGrath according to flavor and richness. Participants also taste other Bordeaux blending varietals before creating a bottle of their own blend to take home that same day, and have the opportunity to add their blend to a virtual blending gallery located on the winery’s website.

“Our goal in building the AVA Room Experience was to offer visitors to Napa Valley a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable wine experience,” said Conn Creek Hospitality Manager Paul Asikainen. “We are thrilled to be recognized for this unique offering and proud to contribute to Napa Valley’s reputation as a premier wine destination.”

As a regional winner, Conn Creek will now move forward to compete in the international awards, which will be judged and presented at the Great Wine Capitals Global Network annual meeting held in November in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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For further information:
Grace Doyle
425.415.3359
grace.doyle@smwe.com