RICHMOND, Virginia (Oct. 17, 2018) – The Virginia Wine Board has selected Padilla as agency of record for its strategic marketing and communication programs. The Virginia Wine region is the sixth-largest in the United States. Padilla’s brand consultancy, Joe Smith, has helped the region establish a bold new story and visual identity that is currently coming to life through new video content, website, mobile app, and signature events all across the Commonwealth. Expansion of the partnership with Virginia Wine includes an integrated marketing and communication plan, consumer media relations and other public relations strategies.
“The refreshed look and feel tells the story of how tradition and revolution go hand-in-hand in Virginia’s wine country,” said Annette Ringwood Boyd, director, Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office. “We’re excited to evolve and elevate our brand with the help of Padilla’s public relations, marketing and branding expertise.”
One of the unique elements of Virginia wine lies in varieties that are largely unknown in other parts of the world but are thriving in Virginia, such as Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Unlike so many wine regions where styles and varieties are set in stone, Virginia winemakers are more interested in expressing the soil and the season, than accepting a predetermined idea of what a wine should be.
The 30th Annual October Virginia Wine Month coincides with the launch of Virginia Wine’s new brand and an exciting new ritual called Harvest Party. Dubbed “Virginia’s home-grown holiday,” Harvest Party is a state-wide celebration of the bounty of the region, where people gather in restaurants, vineyards, private homes and open fields for a feast of Virginia food and wine.
“We are thrilled to be helping Virginia Wine build, grow and protect its brand as it represents the diverse wineries that span the state,” said Matt Kucharski, Padilla president. “Most people are unaware of the seven viticultural regions in the state, and with our expertise, we can help consumers learn about and experience the unique attributes of wines from these skilled and dedicated vintners.”
About Padilla
Padilla is an independently operated, globally resourced public relations and communication company with offices across the United States. The agency builds, grows and protects brands and reputations worldwide by creating purposeful connections with the people who matter most through public relations, advertising, digital and social marketing, investor relations and brand strategy. Padilla includes the brand consultancy of Joe Smith, the food and nutrition experts at FoodMinds, and the research authorities at SMS Research Advisors. Clients include 3M, Barnes & Noble College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Hass Avocado Board, Mayo Clinic, Prosciutto di Parma, Rockwell Automation, Sanofi Pasteur, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, the Virginia Lottery and Welch’s. Padilla is an AVENIR GLOBAL company and is a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, a partnership of 132 independently owned partner offices in 115 cities on six continents. Connect with purpose at PadillaCo.com.
About The Virginia Wine Board
Created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1984 as part of Virginia’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Virginia Wine Board promotes the interests of vineyards and wineries across the state through research, education and marketing. Virginia is the sixth-largest wine region in the United States, with nearly 300 wineries and seven American Viticultural Areas. Learn more at VirginiaWine.org.
Media contact: Julie Behr, 612.455.1706, [email protected]