Jim Fetzer explains Bio Dynamic Farming to American Wine Society members during their tour of Lake County last year. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE – Lake County wines will be the exclusive vintages served during a prestigious American Wine Society (AWS) banquet in November, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has announced.

In addition, Lake County representatives will participate in program seminars with three separate presentations on the Lake County winegrape growing region.

This year’s national conference of the American Wine Society is scheduled for Nov. 5-7 and will take place in Destin, Fla.

During the event’s awards banquet, the Lake County Winegrape Commission will pour Lake County wines to more than 600 attendees, according to Shannon Gunier, executive director of the commission. Lake County’s Winegrape Commission is the only sponsor pouring at the banquet, according to Gunier.

Lake County Winegrape Commission Chair Peter Molnar and Wildhurst Vineyards winemaker Mark Burch will join Gunier in giving seminar presentations on Lake County and offering tastes of Lake County wine.

The Lake County contingent will be among winery owners, pioneers in the various aspects of the wine industry, and renowned winemakers who are selected to present sessions during the event, Gunier said. The conference also includes a program educating members to become AWS trained wine judges.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the commission to showcase Lake County wines at a national event,” said Molnar, who will be giving a presentation on “A Taste of Lake County.”

Gunier will be on hand to pour tastes for seminar attendees.

In another session, Burch will be speaking about “Lake County Sauvignon Blanc, the Right Grape in the Right Place,” and guests will be able to “taste for themselves,” states the event brochure.

To prepare for the conference, the Winegrape Commission arranged for over 30 cases of Lake County wine to be shipped to Florida, said Gunier.

She said she looks forward to promoting and pouring the area’s fine wines at the AWS conference.

For further information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission and its programs, call the commission office at 707-995-3421 or visit its Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org .