Visit Lodi! recognizes tourism all-stars at awards luncheon

By Maggie Creamer/News-Sentinel Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 12:00 am 

Lodi's vintners, public officials and business owners gathered at Wine & Roses on Tuesday afternoon to honor a winery and two local residents who through their work have promoted Lodi tourism.
 
Visit Lodi! Visitors & Conference Bureau hosted the dinner and president and CEO Nancy Beckman discussed new ways the nonprofit is promoting Lodi.
 
The bureau is focusing on online advertising and targeting San Francisco and Los Angeles, because that is where the greatest number of Lodi visitors live. The group is also advertising Lodi as a bird-watching mecca with the Sandhill Crane Festival, and as a wedding destination. For example, Visit Lodi! is running an ad that says, "Happily ever after begins in Lodi Wine Country."

Beckman said they want to attract new tourists and entice previous visitors to come back.

"The bottom line is, they are spending money in our community, and this should be encouraged," she said.

Below are short profiles of the winners:

Winery of the Year: Borra Vineyards

Owners: Steve and Beverly Borra.

Why they won: Borra Vineyards was recognized for drawing attention to Lodi when its 2008 Borra Fusion Red was named one of the Wall Street Journals' top 12 wines in 2011, Beckman said.

"It has literally taken Lodi wines and put them in the national spotlight," she said. "And that's something everyone is so grateful for and excited about."

Beckman said the Borra family is also heavily involved in the community. Steve Borra started making wine for his family in 1967 and the winery was bonded in 1975.

The winery released its first fusion in 2002, when the family started mixing several of their wines.

"This has been a family operation ever since day one," Borra said.

Lodi Tourism Advocate of the Year: Frank Gayaldo

Job: Owner of Embassy Wine Distributors.

Why he won: Gayaldo works with leaders in China and Costa Rica to create arrangements that allow Lodi's wine to be exported.

"He has literally taken Lodi wines and put them on the international stage," Beckman said.

She added that many people probably have no idea how much Gayaldo does for Lodi's wine and tourism industry.

"Frank is one of the most humble people I know, and will always give the recognition to someone else," Beckman said.

In a video produced for the event, Gayaldo said that he would like to see more wineries and Lodi businesses exporting.

"Lodi is an authentic place, and it's a place that provides a consistent product that is very high value at a medium price," he said.

Pat Patrick, president and CEO of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, credits Gayaldo with international business leaders coming to Lodi.

"We will see a lot of Chinese tourists in Lodi, and I think it can all be traced back to Frank Gayaldo," he said.

Special dedication to Dale Gillespie

Job: Owner of RPM Company and the developer of Reynolds Ranch.

Why did he win? Beckman wanted to recognized Gillespie for his work to develop a new storefront location for Visit Lodi!

By the end of the summer, the bureau plans to move to 25 N. School St., a building that already houses cellardoor, a Downtown tasting room.

Even though Gillespie had termed off of the Visit Lodi! executive board, he volunteered to help oversee the construction project, Beckman said. He has worked with the architect to finish drawings, helped the nonprofit with permits and will oversee the construction.

"There is such an immense amount of work that goes into the project before you open your doors. ... As a nonprofit organization, this is not something we could afford to pay someone for. I know this is time he is taking out of his own family, and his own projects," Beckman said.

To honor him, Visit Lodi! will place a bronze plaque on the new visitors center that says, "In special recognition of Dale Gillespie, whose vision and dedication helped to make the Downtown Lodi Visitors Center possible."

Gillespie said he was surprised and speechless before thanking his "beautiful bride of 40 years and three wonderful children."

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com. Read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/citybuzz.