Governor Dannel P. Malloy, in Goshen Monday as part of his promote tourism tour, tells George Motel how much of a taste of wine he wants. Motel is the founder and wine maker at Sunset Meadow Vineyards, the last stop on the governor’s five-stop tour. (MICHELLE MERLIN / Register Citizen)
Connecticut Governor Tours Vineyard in Goshen on Tour to Promote Tourism
Published: Tuesday, July 03, 2012
MICHELLE MERLIN
Register Citizen
GOSHEN – After kicking off the day with two rides at Lake Compounce, Governor Dannel Malloy spent the evening sipping a “merlita,” or merlot slushie and taking a tour of the Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, talking about wine and grapes with owners George and Judy Motel.
Those were two of the five locations Malloy traveled to promote Connecticut’s new tourism campaign, “Still Revolutionary.”
The slogan, which evolved after research and a survey of 1,500 people, is a part of a push to bring people to Connecticut and highlight the state’s hospitality.
“We have a wonderful history and we’re very proud of it, but we haven’t stayed dormant. We’re constantly changing and making new history therefore we’re very revolutionary,” said Rena Calcaterra, the marketing and public relations coordinator for the Office of Tourism.
Malloy said the winery exemplified a tourist destination in the state.
“They’re pretty far along on the development of their business model,” said Malloy. “This is a gorgeous part of the state in the summer and Goshen fairground is a spitting distance from here.”
“The wine trail is a big part of our promotion,” he said.
After former Governor Jodi Rell drastically cut the state’s tourism to $1 in 2010, Malloy is trying to promote Connecticut to the public, focusing the $27 million campaign in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Boston and Rhode Island. Currently, posters can be seen all over Penn Station and Grand Central in New York City.
“The governor sees this as a tool of economic development and when people come into the state they spend money,” said Andrew Doba, director of communications for the governor. “It really creates a ripple effect for every person we bring in here.”
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