Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau Members- Messaging Toolkit

What is this?

This page is for SVVB member business to get accurate information for messaging to customers and stakeholders as well as have some tools for building your own communication and marketing kit.

We will update this page as needed. Please contact the SVVB communications team with questions at info@sonomavalley.com. 

Holidays in Sonoma

• Sonoma Plaza is alight with thousands of brilliant lights through the end of January
• Now is a good time to visit Sonoma Valley and see the lights, while also doing some holiday shopping and having lunch or dinner at a local restaurant
• Beyond the Sonoma Plaza, Cornerstone to the south and Glen Ellen and Kenwood to the north are great places to visit wineries, small shops and find a great meal
• November and December are good times to visit - there are fewer people in the tasting rooms, the weather is mild, the hills turn green as the winter grasses grow and there are lots of events to come enjoy.
• Click on the images below to download - use to promote the event on your own social media channels!

Kincade Fire Messaging

• The Kincade Fire was 100% contained on November 6, 2019
• Sonoma Valley was one hour away from the Kincade Fire zone
• Nothing in Sonoma Valley was affected by the Kincade Fire
• The majority of the Kincade Fire affected areas away from places a visitor would go; rather it mainly affected rural areas in the mountains between Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties
• Now is a great time to visit Sonoma Valley and the rest of the Sonoma County. The days are warm, the nights are crisp and the leaves are turning colors in the vineyards. Plus, with harvest wrapping up, the tasting rooms and winemakers have more time to spend talking about their excellent Sonoma wines. Additionally, olive harvest is starting and it's almost crab season at the coast. 

Harvest 2019 Messaging

• Sonoma Valley is a great place to visit during harvest season which runs roughly from August through November.
• Winemakers and wine growers are busy picking grapes, often at night, and you can see a lot of activity at the "crush pads" of wineries where the grapes are sorted and crushed to start the wine process
• Farmers markets are full with local produce, including tomatoes, peppers, apples, berries and pumpkins and gourds
• Popular activities include hiking, biking, seeing the historic sites and of course, enjoying wine and local food
• Harvest season usually ends with the beginning of the Holidays in Sonoma, which is marked with the November 16 "Lighting of the Plaza" when the community gathers to see the lights on City Hall and the eight-acre plaza turn on.

Sample Press Release

Adapt the press release below to create your own. This one is to announce a new business opening.

[INSERT COMPANY LOGO]                

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
[Name]
[Email]
[Phone Number]

{INSERT YOUR TYPE OF BUSINESS} OPENS IN SONOMA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

[Insert subheading, providing a quick description of the business]

Example: Renowned Family-Run Winery Will Begin Serving Award-Winning Wines on Historic Sonoma Plaza in October

SONOMA VALLEY, CALIF. – September 1, 2019 – [Insert information introducing the company and most relevant news and information. Identify the company’s location]

Example: Sonoma Valley Winery, a family-run winery, will expand by opening a tasting room on the historic Sonoma Plaza. Located at 453 First Street East, the tasting room will serve Sonoma Valley Winery’s award-winning pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and more.

[Continue to describe the company, highlighting unique offerings that differentiate the business from competitors]

Example: Sonoma Valley Winery Tasting Room will offer individualized tastings daily, guided tasting flights and select food pairings. The tasting room will partner with several local purveyors and restaurants to offer seasonal delights that pair with each wine, encouraging visitors to take the pairing home with them. 

[Insert a quote expressing excitement and specific details of excitement from owner/general manager]

Example: “Our family has worked hard, for many generations, to build Sonoma Valley Winery and we are thrilled to expand into the historic Sonoma Plaza,” said John Doe, owner and head winemaker of Sonoma Valley Winery. “We believe the added convenience of the tasting room will encourage more people to visit and taste our wines, whether they stop in for a tasting or grab a bottle to enjoy on the Plaza.”

[Discuss the space logistics (i.e. square footage, capacity, etc.) and design attributes]

Example: The approximately 1,500-square-foot tasting room features a reclaimed wood bar, several dining tables and a quaint patio, which seats a total of 50 guests. Designed by Head Winemaker John Doe, the tasting room is adorned with family photos from the past generations while floor-to-ceiling windows and accents of leather, natural wood and metal, creating a warm and natural gathering spot for all visitors.

[Detail hours of operation]

Example: Sonoma Valley Winery Tasting Room is open from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.

[INSERT COMPANY BOILERPLATE – A brief description of your company, often described as your “elevator pitch” along with your website and social handles]

About Sonoma Valley, California

Located in the heart of Northern California wine country, Sonoma Valley is a 17-mile long area within Sonoma County, and which encompasses the city of Sonoma and the villages of Carneros, The Springs, Glen Ellen, and Kenwood. The birthplace of the state of California, as well as the state’s wine industry, the year-round destination is home to more than 100 premium wineries, 85 percent of which are family owned. For more information, visit SonomaValley.com, or follow us on Instagram at @sonoma_valley, and on Facebook at @ExperienceSonomaValley.

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