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2022 Wine Awards – Summer

June 30, 2022

The Community Wine Awards recognize individuals and organizations that make Paso Robles Wine Country a better place to live and work. For the fourth year in a row, we called for nominations for our Wine Awards from the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance membership, and the awards are voted on by their peers. It is exciting to announce the recipients of the 2022 Good Neighbor, Master Marketer, Unsung Hero awards, and Legend Status.

Master Marketer Award

An innovative person that constantly thinks outside the box to creatively market their business and uniquely promote Paso Wine. This includes a cool ad campaign, a new innovative product, or maybe a creative program that is too good to not recognize. We’re looking for the vanguard.

Ian Consoli – Director of Marketing, Tablas Creek Vineyard

Ian is a progressive wine marketer with his pulse on innovation as well as a leader in the Paso Wine marketing circle. Ian took the lead and organized meetings of like-minded marketers in the Paso Wine community, called the Marketing Roundtable, it is now a part of the PRWCA Education series and helps foster new ideas. In his four years as Marketing Coordinator and Director of Marketing at Tablas Creek Vineyard, Ian has added new initiatives in video (Chelsea & the Shepherd), social media (Instagram Live interviews with Jason and Facebook Live tastings with Neil), live virtual pickup events for Facebook and YouTube, and print (new educational information for tasting room guests and club members), keeping the information fresh, lively, and timely.

Unsung Hero Award

As a good steward of Paso Wine, this person comes to work every day with a smile on their face and works hard to contribute to their team and their community, never asking to be recognized for their diligent efforts. This person quietly contributes and deserves a little spotlight.

Liz Gillingham – Director of Business Operations & Brand Partner, McPrice Myers Wine

Liz Gillingham is the Director of Business Operations at McPrice Myers, and she’s the same kind of community-builder there that she is in the world at large. Liz is always ready to lend a hand, from rolling up her sleeves to help pack shipping boxes to pouring wine when things get busy for the TR team. In her away-from-the-winery life, she received training to relocate rattlesnakes safely and humanely so that they are not killing other helpful predators. She rescues and fosters kittens, pairing these lost little creatures with their forever families. Though her big heart has caused a few foster “fails” who have found their forever home with her.

Good Neighbor Award

A person that has gone above and beyond to build great relationships with the local community. This persons positively contributes to the fabric of life in the greater wine community of Paso Robles that makes it a better place to work and live.

Justin & Julie Fischer – Owners, Paso Robles Wine Merchant

After moving to Paso Robles in 2018, Justin joined the wine industry working in the kitchens of Cello Restaurant at Allegretto, The Restaurant at JUSTIN, and the kitchen at JUSTIN Downtown Tasting Room. In 2020, Justin & Julie took the leap and opened their own establishment, Paso Robles Wine Merchant. Not only is the Paso Robles Wine Merchant a great addition to the Paso Robles community, but Justin and Julie are also kindhearted and love working with small and large wine brands and always highlighting sustainable practices in the industry. The Paso Wine Merchant Wednesdays have been a great way for industry and wine fans to interact, learn, and collaborate.

Legend Status Award

Joe and Karen Plummer, all your contributions to Paso Robles Wine Country and your leadership in raising the quality of wine grapes and farming in the Paso Robles wine region has earned you…Legend Status.

Joe and Karen Plummer – Plummer Vineyards

After retiring, Joe, a chemical engineer for Shell Oil company for 30 years, and Karen, a school teacher, moved to Paso Robles in March 2001. Joe and Karen purchased a property on Wellsona Road and worked with John Crossland to develop about 67 acres of winegrapes. Other parts of the property have been grazed, farmed for wheat, used for covered hay storage, cottages rented to local winemakers, and olive tree orchards. Joe has served in a myraid of roles over the years for the PRWCA. He is a regular attendee of the Viticulture Technical group, he spent years on the Board as the Grapegrowing representative, and has severed as a willing resource to staff and members alike on any farming questions or needs. His leadership in our Grower Improvement Program and technical interpretations of the impact of farming practices on grape phenolics benefited not only the other grapegrowing participants, but made his grapes some of the most desirable around.