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Vermont Passes New Festival Wine Legislation

Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce Wilmington, VT

It’s More Vermont Here

www.VisitVermont.com

Contact:  Laura Sibilia 802-464-8092, laura@visitvermont.com

June 16^th 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vermont passes new festival wine legislation

Wilmington, VT – Vermont wineries and organizers of the Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival were in a celebratory mood last week when Vermont’s Governor Jim Douglas signed into law new legislation beneficial to Vermont wineries and the festival. Vermont Life publisher Tom Kelly, Commissioner Bruce Hyde from the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing and area legislators joined businesses and residents from the Mount Snow area at the historic White House of Wilmington for the signing.

“It’s a real pleasure to be here today in support of both Vermont agriculture and Vermont wine makers,” Douglas said prior to the signing.

The bill, H.700, was sponsored by Representatives John Moran and Ann Manwaring during the 2008 Vermont legislative session and allows Vermont wineries the ability to sell bottles of wine at festivals   Previous Vermont liquor legislation allowed only for sales of glasses of wine, and festival organizer Laura Sibilia of the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce says the new law will be a boon both for Vermont wineries and for visitors to this falls Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival. 

“This is really an exciting opportunity for Vermont’s burgeoning wine makers,” she said, adding “the one stop shopping at the festival will give visitors an opportunity to sample, purchase, and learn about the majority of Vermont’s growing wineries.”

The Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival will take place in Southern Vermont’s Mount Snow Valley September 26-28 in 2008, and in addition to showcasing Vermont wines, will highlight the large number of quality small specialty food producers in the state.  Vermont artisans of all types will round out this uniquely Vermont festival, which will include headline entertainment from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s brass trio Fanfare, and an education segment from the Vermont Grape and Wine Council

"The passage of the wine bill only makes it better. Expectations for the first annual Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival are even higher. For us, the event is a natural, Vermont Life readers are self described foodies”noted Tom Kelly, Vermont Life Publisher. “Working together with the talented and energetic folks at the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce is a pleasure.  Because of their efforts, the event planning is well in hand.  We feel we can add a lot to the event. Vermont Life magazine has credibility and media reach in Vermont and the region. Culinary topics and enjoying the good life are a major interest of Vermont Life readers. Our readership is passionate about Vermont.”

Vermont Agriculture officials say wine is another example of how Vermont farmers are diversifying to find new markets.  Vermont wineries have focused on using cold-hardy French hybrid grapes, but have also been experimenting with some other varieties. Honey, apples, pears, blueberries, and maple are also increasingly being used in Vermont wines.

For more information on The Vermont Grape and Wine Council contact President Dave Boyden of Boyden Valley Winery & Farm  70 Vermont Route 104  Cambridge, Vermont 05444         Email: info@boydenvalley.com Telephone: (802) 644-8151 Fax: (802) 644-8212

For more information on The Vermont Wine & Harvest Festival or visiting Vermont this fall contact: The Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce PO Box 3 Wilmington, VT 05363  Email: info@VisitVermont.com Telephone (802)464-8092 Fax: (802) 464-0287