EX-'BACHELOR' TO BE HONORED: CITY OF SONOMA SET TO RECOGNIZE FLAJNIK FOR HIS PART IN PROMOTING TOURISM

Most people wouldn't think of appearing on a salacious reality TV show as a civic activity.

But the City of Sonoma is about to officially proclaim its praise and appreciation for hometown hero Ben Flajnik, who starred in two reality dating series on ABC.

"Sonoma is proud of Ben Flajnik and wishes to acknowledge his life, his successes, and his contributions to the community," said Mayor Joanne Sanders in the written proclamation.

It is to be voted on by the council at its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, and Flajnik is planning to attend.

"It's an honor, that's for sure," Flajnik said. "I didn't think I was gonna get it for something like this, but I understand how the show sparked local commerce. I didn't work to be on this reality television show, so it's not like I earned it by any means."

On "The Bachelorette," which aired in 2011, Flajnik, who grew up in Sonoma, had his heart broken before millions of viewers when his earnest wedding proposal on bended knee was rejected.

But then, a few short months later, it was Ben's turn to be the heartbreaker as the star of "The Bachelor." He took his suitors on dates around the world, rejecting them one by one until he was left with his now fiancee, Courtney Robertson.

The result turned into an irresistible advertisement for Sonoma. There were shots of Flajnik driving a tractor through a vineyard, looking thoughtful. There were romantic scenes where he strolled arm-in-arm with young ladies through the historic town square. And ABC even changed the show's logo to a golden vineyard at sunset.

"Filming portions of 'The Bachelor' in Sonoma brought with it an injection of revenue benefiting the local economy as well as bringing international exposure to our wonderful little city," Sanders wrote.

"The show, viewed by millions of viewers around the world, provided a look into the City of Sonoma and served as a marketing blitz worth an untold amount of money."

Anyone who watched the show knows there also was a fair amount of sizzling make-out scenes, cat fights between the women, late-night skinny dipping and "fantasy suite" bedroom dates behind closed doors.

Next up, Flajnik intends to open a 1,100-square-foot tasting room in Sonoma, called Envolve Winery, on the south side of the town square by July 1.

"We're working on outdoor permitting, so people will be able to drink our most well-known wine, sauvignon blanc, and the rose, in the hot summer months here outside," Flajnik said.

Asked whether he and Robertson had set a date for the wedding, Flajnik declined to comment. He said he was planning to spend every weekend at the new tasting room with his business partners Mike Benziger and Danny Fay.

"Our life is wine these days," Flajnik said.