Santa Barbara County’s winemakers come from a dazzling diversity of backgrounds. Despite their differences, however, they share a generous streak that compels them to step up in support of worthy causes.
The members of the local wine community regularly lend a helping hand to both regional and international charities. From the global good works of Direct Relief International to the Santa Ynez Valley-wide efforts of Arts Outreach, they donate money, time, and wine in the name of philanthropy.
“I have noticed more local wineries are donating 
proceeds to charitable causes,” said Becky Corey, co-owner of CORE Wine Company, “and combining this with special events to entice people to show their support and spend [some] money.
“We recently raised about $3,000 for a nonprofit that a friend of ours had chosen in the event of his passing. He died last year, so we did a special bottling and sold it to his friends, family, and supporters of the nonprofit organization,” she said.
This year, CORE Wine Company also participated in Taste for Justice, held in Santa Maria to benefit Legal Aid Foundation services in the North County region. The foundation offers free legal assistance to low-income and senior citizens in matters ranging from civil and consumer rights to family law and domestic violence.
The event featured area chefs competing in a chili cook-off, as well as silent and live auctions. Winery participants included Daniel Gehrs Wine, Whitcraft Winery, Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards, Ortman Family Wines, and Lions Peak.
Jennifer Soni, owner of Lions Peak, purchased one of the Central Coast’s oldest vineyards—planted in 1971 near San Miguel—and today happily shares the fruits of her good fortune.
As a victim of domestic violence, Soni has a personal reason for making time to volunteer for causes close to her heart. Feeling blessed by her long-running business successes, she’s grateful to be able to give back.
Having pledged a portion of the profits from sales of its 2009 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Riverbench Vineyard recently made a hefty donation to Marian Medical Center.
“We chose Marian because we wanted to tie our Rosé sales (since it’s pink!) to breast cancer research in some way,” explained Laura Mohseni, general manager at Riverbench. “I have two survivors in my family, and many of the staff have been affected with someone they knew.
“One of our [former] staff members was helping her mother battle it at the time, so she really led the way and got us involved with Marian,” she continued. “We know many of the staff there and felt we should donate to our local community.”
Every August, Riverbench also makes a large donation to the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society (SMVHS) by hosting a pizza party.
“It’s called Paws for Pinot,” Mohseni said. “They bring out adoptable pets, and people have pizza and bring their dogs to the winery for the day. Central City Market donated the pizza last year, and all of the proceeds went to the [SMVHS].
“My bulldog, Roy, is my best friend,” she added, “and our other bulldog, Oswald, is a rescue. We’re all for the animals out here!”
Founded five years ago, Carivintâs Winery blends wine with philanthropy, and even the name itself—“caritas,” signifying charity in Latin, and “vin,” meaning wine in French—reveals the driving elements of the winery’s mission statement.
Carivintâs donates a portion of its wine sales to select beneficiaries, including Return to Freedom (RTF), a Lompoc-based nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing America’s wild horses.
In addition, the winery regularly teams up with local animal shelters to stage “Adoptable Pets” events. Oenophiles can sip wine, meet dogs and cats in need of loving homes, and maybe even find a new four-legged companion.
A friendly competition held annually to benefit Arts Outreach, Real Men Cook drew 400 tasters to Buellton’s Flag is up Farms last October.
“We are extremely grateful to the … vintners and chefs and all the guests who attended,” said Catherine Affolter, executive director of Arts Outreach. “We couldn’t have asked for a better evening!”
Affolter explained that the goal of Arts Outreach is to improve lives by exposing children and adults to new experiences via the arts. Real Men Cook helps put teachers and supplies in schools and community centers throughout the Santa Ynez Valley, relying on the aid of area winemakers for its success.
The Santa Barbara County Vintners Association (SBCVA) has long led the way in charitable giving. Even during the association’s early days in the mid-1980s, organizers earmarked a portion of the proceeds for local beneficiaries, from the Foodbank to Blockman Union School.
Since 2000, the SBCVA has sponsored the biennial American Riviera Wine Auction and Dinner to benefit Direct Relief International. In that short time, the association has raised more than $1 million to help DRI send much-needed medical assistance to impoverished, war-torn, and disaster-plagued regions worldwide, proving, once again, the remarkable generosity of Santa Barbara County’s winemakers.
K. Reka Badger is all heart. Contact her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Mar 10-17, 2011.
