Paso packs a one-two with wine festival, bike tour

Tourism officials have been cross-promoting the Paso Robles Wine Festival and the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, both of which take place in the city next week.

Stage Five of the eight-day biking tour comes to Paso Robles on Thursday. The 29th annual Wine Festival begins the next day.

“Those wineries who are on route have been encouraged to host watch parties during the race as special promotion,” said Meagan Callahan, communications manager for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

The bike tour’s website promotes the wine festival, saying “Come for the Race and Stay for the Wine!” with a 20-second YouTube commercial linking the events.

Festival ticket sales are ahead of 2009 and 2010 so far, Callahan said.

City police are working with wineries and other businesses along the Amgen route to make sure the roads are clear for the riders as early as 10:30 a.m. Thursday depending on location, said Lt. Tim Murphy of the Paso Robles Police Department.

Parking in the downtown area will be closed as early as 7 p.m. Wednesday, Murphy added.

Zeroing in on Paso

The Paso Robles region was recently featured in a new television series called “Vine Talk.” It runs Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. on KQED.

Produced in New York, each episode of the talk show focuses on a different wine region. Celebrities and others taste and discuss a handful of wines.

The most recent episode, “Zeroing in on Zinfandels from California,” focuses on these Paso producers: Carina Cellars, Peachy Canyon Winery, J. Dusi Wines, Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery, Turley Wine Cellars, and Victor Hugo Winery. For details or to see clips of the show, visit www.vinetalk.com.

Recipe moves Winesday online

Recipe Marketing is promoting Central Coast wines on Facebook in weekly Winesday posts.

A division of the San Luis Obispo marketing firm Whizbang, Recipe is designed for edibles with a national focus.

For seven years, Whiz-bang has held tastings each Wednesday for staff — now 11 people. Over the years, they have invited community members to join them in the office.

More recently, the company has experimented with online tastings through blogs and social media. Now it’s posting office picks to its Facebook profile at Recipe Marketing Firm.

“Often, we pair it up with different events on the Central Coast,” said Ellen Curtis, Whizbang’s co-owner and managing director. Her partner, Frank Scotti, is creative director.

In the past, Recipe has worked with specific wineries to promote online tastings to spur wine club sales. It currently sources selections from Central Coast Wines.

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