PRESS RELEASE

DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Dahlonega-Lumpkin Chamber & Visitors Bureau has been honored with an inaugural TravelBlazer award by the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) at the Annual Winter Conference held Feb. 24-26, 2020 in Valdosta.

The TravelBlazer award was created by GACVB Executive Director Jay Markwalter to recognize destination development programs that showcase the collaboration of community efforts. The Chamber & Visitors Bureau was chosen because of their successful efforts to have the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) designate the “Dahlonega Plateau” as a viticultural area in the United States (the first with boundaries contained in the state of Georgia).

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus,” said Chamber & Visitors Bureau Tourism Director Sam McDuffie.

“At the Chamber & Visitors Center, we are committed to advancing projects that enhance our community, further grow the local economy and attract visitors to our wonderful town. Working towards the AVA destination further enhanced our reputation as a premier tourism destination.”

The Chamber & Visitors Bureau, and its winery partners, worked hard to establish the designation, petitioning the TTB on behalf of local vineyard and winery owners. AVA designations are often difficult to obtain with approximately 238 in the United States, and nearly half in California.

“Having received the designation of the Dahlonega Plateau AVA further solidifies the fact that North Georgia can make world class wines.” said Wolf Mountain Vineyards Marketing and Wine Club Director Stephen Smith.

“From an agritourism standpoint, our new AVA speaks volumes to customers that want to know if you can grow grapes effectively in Georgia. As a winery located on the Dahlonega Plateau and having competed on the national stage as well as receiving Best in Category and Double Gold Medals at the most prestigious California wine competitions, it is our hope that we continue to expand on the branding of the AVA, educating our visitors.”

The Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus is an organization comprised of more than 80 diverse tourism bureaus throughout the state of Georgia and corporate members who provide services and support to the CVB community. The GACVB provides a unified voice of Georgia’s destination marketing organizations that raises awareness and positions the tourism industry as an important economic generator in member communities and the state.

Located an hour north of Atlanta, the historic town of Dahlonega, is the site of the first major U.S. Gold Rush in 1828. Today, Dahlonega is an award-winning, authentic Appalachian Mountain community. The town has been chosen as a 2016 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) winner by The National Main Street Center, Inc.

The City of Dahlonega and the Dahlonega Main Street program were recognized at the 2016 Main Street Now Conference held in Milwaukee. Many of the restored wood and brick structures in the Historic District are on the National Register, and offer an abundance of dining, live music, and theater.

Many of the downtown restaurants have wide porches perfect for taking in the scenery. Boutiques, galleries and shops attract some of the region’s top artists and are filled with art, antiques, unique jewelry, clothing and collectibles.

Dahlonega has evolved into a center for the performing and visual arts and hosts more than 10 annual artistic and cultural festivals, and is the official “Heart of Georgia Wine Country” having just been awarded the latest AVA destination in the U.S.

About the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber & Visitors Bureau
Dahlonega Convention and Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing division of the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. The CVB manages the Dahlonega Visitors Center and promotes community lodging, attractions, arts, shopping restaurants and history. The Convention and Visitors Bureau serves as the point of contact offering assistance for visitors, group travel professionals, meeting planners, tourism business developers and media representatives.

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