V-Day, Pro-Am double hitter: A win for Monterey County wine

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am plus Valentine’s Day all in one weekend equals a packed house for local wineries.

“It kind of creates for a little bit of unpredictability in terms of you know it’s going to be slammed,” said Scott Caracciolo, vice president of Caraccioli Cellars.

This week the nearly 60 wine tasting rooms in Monterey County are already seeing an influx of old and new customers, migrating from Pebble Beach and beyond for a taste of premiere bubbles.

“Wonderful. It was just a great way to start the day and the weekend,” said Pauline Monde from Pennsylvania.

As one celebration ends another one will begin.

Now wineries are amping up their romance game with special Valentine’s Day packages.

“We have a special pairing, sips and sweets,” said Caraccioli.

Which gives people more of a reason to stay in town after the tournament and let the peninsula’s chardonnays and rose’s tickle their taste buds.

“One of the really nicest things about Monterey County wines is that we are the largest grape growing region in the U.S.” said Galante Family Winery owner Jack Galante. “We have such an incredible diversity of wine in our area.”

Wine experts say Monterey county has become the “it” wine region in California, generating a more than $620 million a year economic impact.

“We get 4.5 million tourists a year already,” said Kim Stemler, executive director of Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association. “We’re turning them onto Monterey wines by having all of these wonderful tasting rooms throughout our community.

This jam packed weekend will draw even more attention to the area’s growing wine industry while also providing name recognition.

“When they see Monterey on the label when they’re at Safeway or they’re at their wine store they’re more likely to buy Monterey,” said Stemler.

ORIGINAL STORY: Love is in the air. For the second year in a row, Valentine’s Day is falling on Pro-Am weekend.

It’s a win for local wineries and vineyards. A 2016 Valentine’s Passport to eight different wineries, presented by the River Road Wine Trail Association, is already sold-out.

Tonight on KION, Maya Holmes talks with the Monterey County Vitners and Growers Association about the economic impact.