MCLAREN Vale winemakers and tourism operators are hoping their world-class red wines, great coastline and delicious local produce will be enough to lure Oprah Winfrey to the region.
The US talk show queen last week announced she would come on an eight-day Ultimate Australian Adventure, with 300 audience members, in December.
During the trip, Oprah will visit some of the country’s tourism hotspots to film two episodes for the Oprah Winfrey Show,, which will air in the US early next year. They will then be screened across the globe in 145 countries.
McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism Association marketing manager Elizabeth Tasker said attracting a visitor of Oprah’s status would encourage more people to experience the region’s “beautiful scenery, friendly people and great food and wine”.
She said Oprah had a reputation for recognising “something of value that will be the next big thing”.
“She will find this in McLaren Vale,” Ms Tasker said. “McLaren Vale has all that we love and want to share about Australia.”
The SA Tourism Commission (SATC) is working with Tourism Australia to have SA - including McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula - included in the program.
Chapel Hill winemaker Michael Fragos said Oprah’s talk show was “very influential” and would give McLaren Vale invaluable exposure on the world stage: “I hope that the wine, the food and the beaches in our region are alluring enough for Oprah,” he said.
McLaren Vale Studio Apartments owner Roz Vertigan said attracting Oprah to the region would give McLaren Vale the international exposure “we’re really looking for”.
SATC executive general marketing and sales manager Steven Kernaghan said the show’s itinerary was still in the planning stage.
“The final decision regarding which regions of Australia Oprah visits or features during her trip will be made by her production company,” Mr Kernaghan said.
Oprah announced the trip to her Chicago audience during the first show of her farewell season on Tuesday, September 14.
www.bellevuebnb.com.au
