Pennsylvania Wines Launches New Brand, Mobile Site

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Navigating Pennsylvania's 200 wineries just got a whole lot easier.

As part of a month-long focus on Pennsylvania's growing multi-billion dollar wine industry, the state's trade association today unveiled its first mobile website, m.PennsylvaniaWine.com, specifically designed for travelers. The site is the first piece in a new multi-year marketing initiative led by the Pennsylvania Winery Association, which is being rolled out this fall with a new mark, tagline and marketing materials.

The new mobile-friendly website works on smartphones, tablets, and your desktop. It includes tools that allow users to plot their trip through the countryside. The site uses GPS positioning to recommend nearby wineries and provide information about upcoming events and other details that visitors need while on the road, such as opening hours, directions and contact information.

In addition to the mobile site, the new brand with its wine-colored logo will begin appearing across Pennsylvania at wineries, wine festivals, fairs, tasting rooms and visitor information centers over the next few months, and at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. The goal is to highlight the diverse experiences at wineries and tasting rooms across the state, according to PWA's Executive Director Jennifer Eckinger.

"With nearly 200 wineries and 12 unique wine trails across six distinct regions, you're always less than 45 minutes from a winery," she said. "The new campaign and this mobile site, in particular, are designed to make it easy for people to explore – they can try one wine or winery, then another and another and another. Maybe over a weekend or a month or a year. But however you pace yourself, there is a lot for you to discover."

The brand grew out of a six-month strategic planning process earlier this year, which included a unified, comprehensive marketing plan to better reflect the growing industry.

ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA WINERY ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania Winery Association is a trade association representing more than 100 member wineries and an advocate on behalf of the state's growing multi-billion dollar wine industry. With some of the most fertile grape-growing land on the East Coast, Pennsylvania ranks fifth nationally in the amount of grapes grown, seventh in wine production, and seventh in the number of licensed wineries. The climate and sheer size of the state also allow for dozens of varietals to be grown. There are wineries in every region, and many of them are family-owned and -operated, continuing a centuries-old tradition that began in 1683 when William Penn planted the first vineyard in Philadelphia. Today, Pennsylvania's wineries host events year-round, and most sell their vintages directly through their own tasting rooms. Most are also part of 12 organized wine trails that weave across the state—in fact, visitors to Pennsylvania are always within a 45-minute drive of a winery. To learn more about Pennsylvania wine or to plan your trip, visit PennsylvaniaWine.com.

SOURCE The Pennsylvania Winery Association