Deep in the fiber of Santa Barbara County’s winemaking community courses a strong current of selfless service. When asked, local vintners don’t hesitate to lend a helping hand and are
ever willing to share technical advice, the tools of their trade, or their wares for a worthy cause.
Since 2008, a group of winemakers has championed an innovative fundraising effort called Vino de Sueños, which translates to “wine of dreams” in Spanish. Each year, local winemakers support this effort by donating wine for a series of blends and varietal bottlings that are then released at a gala autumn event.
The organization behind Vino de Sueños is People Helping People (PHP), a local nonprofit that assists disadvantaged families in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys. All money raised through wine and ticket sales goes to fund basic needs and family support services for the region’s vineyard and farm workers and their families.
This year’s event, slated for Nov. 6 at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel in Buellton, features nearly 20 wineries whose principals will donate their liquid treasures for bottling under the unique Vino de Sueños label. Wines run the gamut from Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, to Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.
Among those participating are several wineries that helped found the event, including Alma Rosa Winery, Buttonwood Farm Winery, Foxen Vineyard, and Longoria Wines, as well as Au Bon Climat, Cold Heaven, D’Alfonso-Curran Wines, Fiddlehead Cellars, Hitching Post Wines, Kalyra Winery, Makor, and Vogelzang Vineyard. New to the fundraising effort this year are Carhartt Vineyard, Fontes & Phillips, Qupé, Rideau Vineyard, and Riverbench Vineyard, each of which will contribute a particular premium wine.
“The event is off to a great start,” said Dean Palius, CEO of PHP. “We already have a major sponsorship commitment from the Chumash Casino, and their underwriting will allow us to return nearly all the income from this event to those farm and vineyard workers who are most in need during these difficult times.”
Guests at the party will enjoy generous samples of wonderful wine and the opportunity to purchase it by the bottle at prices ranging from $12 to $40, depending upon vintage and varietal. White wine and red wine six-pack samplers, as well as case samplers, will be available at discounted prices.
Buellton-based artist Karina Puente designed the elegant Vino de Sueños logo, called “Dreamer,” that appears in the center of each label. She also enlisted her fellow artists to create and donate original paintings and photographs, which have been reproduced as wine labels, and will be auctioned off during the course of the evening.
Kros Andrade, owner of UVA Design Studios, transformed the artwork into eye-catching graphics to create a brand identity for the Vino de Sueños label.
“I love the challenge of working with these gifted artists,” Andrade said, “to create the labels and assist People Helping People.
“I was 14 when I immigrated to this country with my parents,” he added. “I know what it is like for a family to be given a chance at a dream and work extremely hard to achieve it for their children and children’s children.”
Artists who have generously donated their work include Ariane Aumont, Kari Crist, and Jenny Diaz. Jim Farnum, who paints his vision of the natural world, contributed a motion-filled oil of workers harvesting grapes, while Zoë Nathan’s Harlequins in Repose pays homage to the masters of the past.
Christina Locascio painted Among the Vines on watercolor paper with an unusual combination of pastels and red wine. Santa Ynez Valley photographer Jose Villa contributed a haunting image, and renowned sculptor Suzi Trubitz adorned painted steel with amethyst, jade, and agate to create Jewels of the Vineyard.
To fuel the fun at the event, Chef Jeff and Janet Olsson, proprietors of New West Catering, will prepare a lavish spread of hearty appetizers and savory treats.
“Jeff is an artist, too,” Palius said. “New West is a premier caterer, and they donate everything for this event. There will be hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, and two different food tables. It’s really first class.”
Guests at Vino de Sueños will enjoy the music of guitarist Derroy, an internationally acclaimed guitarist back by popular demand. Derroy’s athletic playing has been described as both masterful and gravity defying.
Last year, proceeds from the Vino de Sueños gala totaled nearly $160,000, a sum that helped PHP deliver aid and services to more than 400 farm and vineyard workers and their families. Funds derived from this benefit will be used for basic needs and family support services for vineyard and farm workers and their families.
“With 17 wineries and 17 artists participating,” Palius said, “we’ve moved the event to a larger venue at the Marriott to accommodate the overflow crowd.
“This year’s event,” he promised, “will be bigger and better than ever!”
K. Reka Badger dreams in red, white, and rosé. Send comments to rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Oct 21-28, 2010.