Great promotion Michelle. Gunns wines?

Michelle O’Bryne from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism
US TV Chef Promotes Tassie’s Food and Wine
19 January 2009
A famous American cooking show host has sung the praises of Tasmania’s food and wine experiences as part of Tourism Tasmania’s G’DAY USA promotions at Macy’s department store on Saturday.

Hag: Give us the wine list Michelle. Such is the dark cynicism at Labor’s toadying relationship to Gunns Ltd, the not unreasonable assumption would be that the favoured wines to be promoted were Gunns labels, like Tamar Ridge? Do tell. Do tell.

The fully massaged missive from Michelle …

US TV Chef Promotes Tassie’s Food and Wine
19 January 2009
A famous American cooking show host has sung the praises of Tasmania’s food and wine experiences as part of Tourism Tasmania’s G’DAY USA promotions at Macy’s department store on Saturday.

The Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne said television lifestyle and cooking show host, Laura McIntosh, gave a one-hour cooking demonstration at Macy’s Cellar at Union Square, where San Francisco’s high-profile food writers and chefs get together to talk about food.

“Laura McIntosh is a well known and trusted television chef in America, where she hosts and produces, Bringing It Home with Laura McIntosh,” said Ms O’Byrne.

“After meeting Tasmania’s representatives during last year’s G’DAY USA, Ms McIntosh travelled to Tasmania in April 2008 to film two episodes for her culinary lifestyle series which screens on numerous television networks across California.

“Tasmanian imagery from the Bringing it Home episodes was displayed on flat-screen televisions during the Tourism Tasmania cooking promotion. Macy’s shoppers were treated to Tasmanian wine to match with the culinary delights that included Petuna Ocean Trout, Tassal Salmon, King Island Triple Cream Brie, Diemen Pepper berries, Ashbolt Virgin Olive Oil and Blue Hills Leatherwood Honey.”

The event was oversubscribed with nearly 150 people vying for position at the event to sample the fine Tasmanian produce and wine.

“The Tasmanian message got an even bigger reach with pre-promotion appearances by Ms McIntosh on San Francisco afternoon ABC television show, The View from the Bay and KGO news talk radio in the Bay Area.

“Tasmania was also promoted through Macy’s marketing and advertising material surrounding the event, with newspaper advertising in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner; on Macys.com and in Macy’s event newsletters to 1500 subscribers.

“Tourism Tasmania has partnered with food travel agency Tour de Forks to offer holiday packages to Tasmania as part of this promotion.

“With the accolades of local wine connoisseur Chuck Hayward from the renowned Bay Area wine providore, the Jug Shop, Tasmanian wine will be flying off the shelves.

“Chuck’s eloquent positioning of the character of Tasmanian wine will open the eyes of Northern Californians to the quality wine production coming out of the wine regions of Tasmania.

“In a world of mass produced wines and high volume exports from Australia, the boutique nature of our wine producers coupled with the effect of our cool climate will undoubtedly differentiate Tasmanian wines from the rest of the pack” Ms O’Byrne said.

A similar event will be held at the Macy’s Herald Square, New York on 24 January, which will be hosted by Australian celebrity chef and Tasmanian produce ambassador, Luke Mangan.

G’DAY USA is a two-week spotlight on Australia, presented by the Australia Week Committee, with a diverse program of activities and events showcasing the very best of Australian culture, fashion, food, wine, tourism and business.

G’DAY USA 2009 runs from 13-24 January 2009 with events in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.