A top winter destination

Great winter getaways: Las Vegas, Sausalito and Lodi?

That's right. In its January/February issue, Via magazine named Lodi as a top place to visit this winter.

With more than 3.1 million AAA members receiving the magazine in Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Idaho earlier this month, the Lodi Conference and Visitors Bureau is already seeing an uptick in tourism queries.

"An article like this one is better than advertising in the magazine because readers get to see an unbiased, third-party perspective and they respond well to that," said Nancy Beckman, executive director of the LCVB.

Beckman said being featured on the cover of the bimonthly magazine has resulted in a flood of phone calls to her office from people as far away as Utah asking for visitor information packets.

Beckman's work generating press interest has resulted in Lodi being featured in a number of publications in the past two years, including Sunset, Valley Views and Sacramento Magazine.

"This couldn't have come at a better time for the city," said Mark Chandler, executive director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission.

Chandler, who was interviewed for the story, said Lodi is poised for an influx of tourists, with a revitalized downtown, a new tasting room expected to open soon and wineries finished with fall crush.

The article in Via highlighted some of Lodi's better known attractions, including Wine and Roses, The LangeTwins Winery and the Lodi Beer Company.

The author compares downtown Lodi to the likes of Santa Barbara and Carmel, showing just how much the city has transformed in recent years.

The editorial staff at Via chose to highlight Lodi as a great getaway because it is an oft-overlooked gem of the Central Valley, said John Poppy, the magazine's executive editor.

"Lodi's reputation for fine wines has been growing in recent years," Poppy said, "And we wanted to emphasize that the region is no longer just about quantity but quality."

More great getaways

Via chose three other towns to highlight in the January/February 2007 issue. The softer side of Las Vegas was featured, giving readers recommendations for resort spas in a city more widely known for its slot machines.
Sausalito, another California town, is billed as a former fishing village turned posh, with high-end shops and restaurants lining the revitalized waterfront.
An article on Bend, Ore., gives readers more than just ski slopes to look forward to on their next visit, including fine dining and relaxing in an indoor Turkish pool.
— News-Sentinel staff.

The article featured a variety of Lodi wineries, including Van Ruiten Winery, Michael-David Vineyards and Grands Amis Winery.

"I've been really surprised by the number of people who have seen the article," said Michael Phillips, co-owner of Michael-David Vineyards.

Phillips said he's seen an increase in business, but isn't sure whether to attribute it to the article.

He said many people have commented on the article. But business has been increasing by about 25 percent annually for the past four years, so it could just be the forward momentum continuing.

"Really, it all helps," Phillips said. "The article will definitely be a positive thing for Lodi."

Contact reporter Rebecca Adler at rebeccaa@lodinews.com.

First published: Thursday, January 4, 2007

Reader Feedback

Rick Reeves wrote on Jan 4, 2007 9:07 AM:

" Im all for boosting Lodi, but you will have to do something about that old CCR song :} I was in Chico last weekend, and it was pretty nice, so I bet Lodi is, too. RR, Santa Barbara "

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