Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell today held a Virginia tourism, wine, food and film reception for industry professionals New York City.
The event was hosted by Donald and Eric Trump at Trump Towers. More than 200 wine news and travel journalists, wine trade representatives, tour planners business contacts, film makers and film trade professionals were in attendance. Governor and Mrs. McDonnell spoke about the recent growth in the Virginia wine industry, top quality “Virginia’s Finest” products, the filming of Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln in Virginia and Virginia as a top travel destination.
McDonnell joined Donald and Eric Trump to announce the opening of Trump Vineyard Estates in Charlottesville in October, 2011. Eric Trump continues to serve as the winery president. The Trump Winery 2008 Kluge SP Blanc de Blanc was one of 12 Virginia wines named to the 2012 “Governor’s Cup Case,” which is used by the Virginia Wine Marketing Office for promotional uses. New Judging standards for 2012 make the Governor’s Cup one of the most stringent and thorough wine competitions in the United States. Governor’s Cup Case wines are also used by Governor McDonnell on domestic and international marketing missions and other events designed to promote Virginia wine and winery tourism.
Wine Enthusiast magazine named Virginia one of the 10 best wine travel destinations in the world for 2012. From 2005 to 2010, the full economic impact of wine and wine grapes on the Virginia economy has more than doubled, from $362 million to $747 million, a 106 percent increase; and the number of full-time equivalent jobs at wineries and vineyards rose from 3,162 to 4,753, a 50 percent increase. The production of Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN in the Richmond-Petersburg area last year had an estimated economic impact of $35 million. The economic impact of the film industry in Virginia in 2010 was $344 million with 2,700 Virginians actively working in the sector. Tourism is one of Virginia’s largest industries, generating more than $17 billion in revenue, supporting 204,500 jobs and providing $1.24 billion in state and local taxes for the Commonwealth annually.
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AFP
