Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery Founder to Speak at National Wine Conference

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 27, 2009 – Joy Neighbors, Marketing Director for Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery (whiteowlwinery.com) will speak on “The Sensual Pleasures of Fruit Dessert Wines” next weekend.  She will discuss the benefits of fruit wines and delve into the winemaking situations and successes regarding some of her winery’s fruit and dessert wines.  Attendees will sample six of Purgatory Cellars international award-winning fruit wines including Vin de Papa, a dessert wine made entirely from undomesticated Midwestern paw paws; Old Blue, a port-style wine crafted from wild elderberries and local blueberries; and Persimmon Solera, a sherry-style wine created from wild harvested American persimmons.  The Persimmon Solera has garnered over thirty awards since its release in 2007, including the Illinois Governor’s Cup, a sliver medal from Austria last year and a bronze medal this year from Japan.
Neighbors spoke at the AWS wine conference two years ago about the history of her winery. She was the first speaker from the state of Illinois. Over 5,000 attendees are expected to attend the conference, set for November 5, 6 and 7.
Neighbors has been involved in the wine industry for ten years.  Before opening the winery in 2000, she spent 20 years in the broadcasting industry as a writer, producer/director and on-air talent.  
Neighbors speaks to organizations and associations around the Midwest on topics such as public relations and marketing, agri-tourism, wine, and small business team building.  She may be reached at joy@whiteowlwinery.com.