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Wine Lovers and Community Invited to Winegrowers Festival at The Farm

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona Wine Growers Association today announced its 2017 lineup of vineyards for the Festival at the Farm, Saturday, November 11. The event will offer various wine tastings, displays and food from Arizona restaurants and retailers. Discussions will focus on how wine growers engage customers in their brands and enhance the shopping experience through innovation, technology and techniques for meeting evolving consumer preferences.

A gala, the Arizona Wine Founders' Dinner, will kick off the festival on Friday, November 10 from 6-pm at the University of Arizona's Student Union, where four founders will be honored for their dedication and service to the industry.

The festival will be held November 11 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the UA's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' "Farm," 4101 N. Campbell, Tucson, AZ.

This inaugural event will serve as a forum for emerging ideas in a setting that fuses passionate businesses and customers.

Wineries participating at the event include:
* Alcantara Vineyards
* Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
* AZ Wine Cellars
* Callaghan Vineyards
* Carlson Creek Vineyard
* Coronado Vineyards
* Dos Cabezas Winery
* Four Tails Vineyard
* Golden Rule Vineyards
* Keeling Schaefer Vineyards
* Kief Joshua Vineyards
* Lightning Ridge Cellars
* Pierce Wines Arizona
* Pillsbury Wine Company
* Sierra Bonita Vineyard
* Sonoita Vineyards
* Southwest Wine Center
* Su Vino Winery
* Wilhelm Family Vineyards
* Zarpara Vineyard

Founders being honored include:
- Dr. Gordon Dutt
- Al Buhl
- Bob Webb
- Kent Callaghan

Details on the event, including a complete program, are posted on Arizona Wine Growers Association http://arizonawine.org/, with pages on Facebook.com (facebook.com/ArizonaWine/) and Twitter at @AZWineries.

"We hope to have robust conversations around the new and dynamic directions of an industry that leads consumer preferences. The pace of change has never been as rapid as it is today. Leading wine retailers and brand marketers are looking differently at how they attract and retain customers, and how they develop the talent and technology needed for the future," said Brain Predmore, President Arizona Wine Growers Association. "This year's event will help to raise awareness of the vibrant Arizona Wine industry by showcasing our wines and interacting with our attendees. In addition, we hope to raise money for the Arizona Wine Library and Research Center."

Proceeds from the festival will go to creating the Arizona Wine Research Library at the University of Arizona.

"The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and its Norton School's Retailing and Consumer Sciences program, especially, is proud to partner with another Arizona industry that is transforming our food and tourism landscape," said Shane Burgess, UA vice president of agriculture, life and veterinary sciences, and Cooperative Extension.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-the-farm-founders-dinner-nov-2017-tickets-37572597651 for the Founders Gala and the Wine Festival.

For more information on attending the event, visit https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaWine/ and follow to the registration page. Or email Mike Pigford at events@arizonawine.org .

The Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) serves grape growers and winemakers in Arizona, allying its members for representation, promotion and education. The association strives to advance with integrity, the sustainable growth and production of authentic Arizona-grown wines and increase awareness of the Arizona industry, which includes 104 licensed and bonded wineries throughout the state.

The John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arizona prepares the next generation to solve the global challenges of individuals, communities and the changing marketplace. We provide educational enrichment, professional development, world-class events and hands-on learning opportunities, ensuring that our graduates have the skill set, training and preparation to lead their companies.

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Business, Free News Articles

Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) Elected New Board Members

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) has announced the election and the re-election of members to its Board of Directors and officers for term through 2018. AWGA is governed by 8 growers in three districts who serve 1 or 2 year terms.

The new directors are Kief Manning, owner/winemaker of Kief-Joshua Vineyards; Barb Coons, owner of Four Tails Vineyard; Cory Whalin, owner/winemaker of Su Vino Winery; Lori Reynolds, owner/winemaker of Sonoita Vineyards; and Michael Pierce, Director of Enology at Yavapai College, owner/winemaker Saeculum Cellars and Bodega Pierce.

Re-elected directors, are Brian Predmore, owner of Alcantara Vineyards and Winery; Ann Roncone, owner of Lightning Ridge Cellars; and John Smith, owner of Sierra Bonita Vineyards.

The elected officers are: Brian Predmore, President; Kief Manning, Vice President; Ann Roncone, Treasurer; and John Smith, Secretary.

"We are pleased to have and welcome the new board members and look forward to their leadership and experience," said AWGA past president, Rod Keeling of Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards. "They will be a valuable asset to our growing organization and will be a powerful voice for Arizona wine growers."

AWGA provides industry leadership to advocate for industry policies, research, leadership, and public education. The organization is dedicated to enhance Arizona's wine growers business in the state's Agritourism and Public Knowledge of Local Wines. The Arizona Wine Growers Association represents over 70 percent of the state industry's wine producers. Our 5 year strategic plan includes focusing on marketing, legislation and promotion of the AZ wine industry in the state.

AWGA has several signature wine festivals starting with our newest event at the University of Arizona, Festival at the Farm on November 11, 2017. There will be a dinner to honor our founding fathers of the AZ wine industry on Friday, November 10, 2017. The Grand Wine Gala on Friday, January 26, 2018 where AZ Republic presents the AZ Wine Awards will be held in Downtown Phoenix at CREATE at the AZ Science Center, followed by the Grand Wine Festival Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28, 2018 at Heritage Square. The Oro Valley Wine Festival is Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley.

Information on the AWGA including participating winery members, events and wine tour maps can be found at http://arizonawine.org/.

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