charity

Drinking for Charity!

How would you like to drink some tasty wine, and donate to charity at the same time? Well you can! It’s true, there IS such thing as charitable drinking. There are several wine projects out there that in part, or in full, donate proceeds to various charities. In this case, Charity Case Wines were developed by the Charity Case Foundation, which was created in 2008 during a particularly crappy season.

The Foundation was created by a collective of wineries from Napa Valley, and created the Charity Case brand. The philosophy of the foundation is to give all of the proceeds to those in need, without spending additional resources on tradditional marketing, or winery red tape. All of the work to make the Charity Case wines is done by volunteers – including wine making, corking, bottling, and marketing. That is a pretty spectacular endeavour considering how a hectic crush season can be!

For the 2008 vintage, there were four charities that benefited: The Wolfe Center, Cope Famly Center, Aldea Children Y& Family Services, and Foster Kids Fund. You can read more abou these organizations and others that Charity Case has supported HERE.

Today, the sun is shining and it’s a glorious late spring (yay summer is nearly here!) fogless San Francisco day, so I broke out the 2008 Rose. This wine is a random blend of several varietals from Napa, and is a deep rose color. Huge strawberry aromas, rhubarb pie and peach puree come through in the glass. A touch of lime zest is also showing. Crushed red raspberries in the bottom of a summer basket are popping in my mouth, combined with orange blossom water. This tastes like a cabernet rose, which has a lot more bite than a syrah or pinot rose; it is dense and chewy, and would be fabulous with bbq chicken or other stronger flavors. Typically, I prefer a more subtle rose, but this is fun for a change of pace.

This is a fun little wine and would be a great guest at a barbeque or just for fun! At $12, it’s a great picnic addition, and you can’t beat that price for the cause.

Happy drinking!@

Thanks to Charity Case for providing some cool summer sippers

Are you single?

May 23rd, 2011

by winebratsf.

10 comments

Are you looking for adventure? Want some one on one time with some really great wine?

Then look no further! SingleVineyard.com is a new dating site.

ok well not really. BUT – it IS almost time for the 2nd Annual Russian River Single Vineyard night! (And no, it’s NOT just for singles!) What is this wild adventure you ask? Single Vineyard Night is a celebration of single vineyard wines in the caves, where you can sip, eat and tweet some of the best that the area has to offer.

On June 4th, from 6:30-10, join single minded wineaux at Thomas George Estates in Russian River where you can wander the caves and meet more than 30 winemakers woh specialize in single vineyard wines. Roving “Cellar Teams” will be promoting auction lots, and in a new twist, group bidding is encouraged to raise funds for Russian River Valley Winegrowers to continue their work to preserve the region’s agriculture legacy through marketing and education. Targeted at millennials, the 20-30 somethings who are the biggest new group of wine drinkers since GenX grew up and became post boomer yuppies (oh hell, that’s ME!) young vintners and growers will be pouring their wares.

After the tasting, move on over to the Thomas George Estates’ picnic grounds for the auction! A no-host bar featuring wines that normally retail for under $25 (offered by the taste and glass) and “sliders” fresh off the grill for a small price will be available as well as other food items. This year, one lot – hosted by Thomas George, will benefit a project sponsored by Coddingtown Mall, who donates gift cards to children from homeless shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs and other children’s groups to shop for school clothes.

Here are some of the kids pouring Single Vineyard wines:

Ancient Oaks, Siebert Ranch
Arrowood-Saralee’s Vineyard
Balletto Vineyards , selection of single vineyards
Benovia, Bella Una Vineyard
Desmond Wines, Estate
Dutton Estate Winery, Dutton Palms Vineyard
Dutton Goldfield, Freestone Hill Vineyard
Ferrari-Carano, Fiorella
Gary Farrell, Westside Farms
George Wine Company, Leras Family Vineyard
Graton Ridge Cellars, Bacigalupi Vineyard
Hop Kiln Winery, HKG Bridge Selection
Inman Family, Olivet Grange Vineyard
Iron Horse Vineyards, Rued Clone
John Tyler Wines, Bacigalupi Vineyard
Joseph Swan, Trenton View Vineyard
Korbel
LaFollette, DuNah Vineyard
Lauterbach Cellars, Estate
Longboard, Dakine Vineyard
Martinelli Winery, Lolita Ranch
Matrix Winery, Nunes Vineyard
Merriam, Willowside Vineyard
Merry Edwards, Klopp Ranch
Moshin Vineyards, Bacigalupi Vineyard
Mueller Winery, Vino Farms
Nalle Winery, Hopkins Ranch
Old World Winery, Estate
Papapietro Perry, Leras Family Vineyard
Russian River Vineyards, Estate Vineyards
Sandole Wines, Oehlman Ranch
Siduri Wines, Ewald Vineyards
Sonoma Cutrer, Owsley
Thumbprint Cellars, Saralee’s Vineyard
William Selyem, Flax Vineyard

Since I am unable to attend this year, both because I’m not longer single (don’t tell me you didn’t read my Facebook today!) and because I am booked, I am giving away two tickets to this event. Yes! TWO TICKETS! Tickets are $45 each so that’s some moola right there. Please leave a comment here on this post telling me what you like most about Single Vineyard Wines to be eligible to wine! Er win. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 25th Thursday May 26th FRIDAY MAY 27TH (yeah you have to be 21 to attend youngsters).

Tickets to this event are $45 (presale, $55 at the door), or $80 for a VIP session that starts at 5:30. I think it will be a blast! Go forth and buy tickets. It’s only $45! And you do not need a date, and you do not need to be single, you just need to love wine!

Life interruptus: In Memorium of Krystal Pepper

Mar 25th, 2009

by winebratsf.

2 comments

Sometimes, life throws you a curve ball. Sometimes, you don’t get what you deserve. This is certainly the case of my fellow wine blogger and friend, Michelle Lentz (@michellelentz), who’s 21-year old sister Krystal died suddenly from an undetected heart problem in 2007. The recent death of actress Natasha Richardson and Krystal’s sudden death bring a new perspective to living every day fully and with intention.

Michelle’s family has established a college scholarship fund to honor Krystal’s memory. Their goal is to raise $25,000 in the next 3 years, for the purpose of awarding an annual scholarship to an elementary education major, particularly students from Krystal’s high school.

To that end, the 2nd Annual Krystal Pepper Memorial Scholarship Benefit Dinner tickets are now on sale! There will be a Silent Auction, Chance Drawings, Dinner, Dancing and more. Tickets are $30 per person in advance, $35 at the door, and include dinner & drinks. Click here to Purchase tickets online.

Additionally, the wine blogging community is getting together to create a gift basket for the Silent Auction. If you would like to contribute an item or money, please contact David Honig (@dhonig2) for details. You can also contribute directly to the scholarship HERE. This is a 501c non-profit organization, administered by Thomas More College so you can get your tax receipts that way.

If you are healthy, have a job, and are happy, won’t you consider contributing to this great cause?

Thanks!