2013 Illinois Wine Events Draw Over 38,000
During 2013, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintner’s Association (IGGVA) hosted or sponsored a dozen events for the advancement of the Illinois Wine Industry. These events drew over 38,000 attendees, according to the IGGVA. The top three Illinois wine events for 2013 were:
1. 2013 Vintage Illinois Festival, Mattheissen State Park, September, 9,000 attendees
2. 2013 Illinois Wine Experience at the Illinois State Fair, August, 5,000 attendees
3. 2013 Ottawa 2 Rivers Wine Festival, Ottawa, June, 4,000 attendees
Through the summer, the IGGVA also had a weekly exhibition at the Illinois Products Farmers’ market in Springfield which attracted 6,600 total visitors.
According to Megan Pressnall of the IGGVA, “Wineries rely heavily on festivals for marketing, not just sales. Strong attendance at these festivals often results in higher sales at the tasting room as festival-goers make follow-up visits to the wineries.”
Also during 2013, the IGGVA unveiled a new logo and marketing campaign for the Illinois wine industry incorporating an image of Illinois’ most famous figure, Abraham Lincoln.
See related story: Illinois Launches New Wine Logo and Ad Campaign
