Posted March 2006
Wine relief
Generous Vintner provides wine deal to customers, donates all proceeds to disaster relief
By ML Hilton
The adage “drink to your health” takes on an additional meaning when you are discussing Hurricane Cuvee, recently released by Vineyard 29 in St. Helena, CA. The toast in this case is less to the imbibers and more to those who suffered in the hurricane rampages that overwhelmed America’s southeast last fall. But, customers of Vineyard 29 are probably as delighted by the wine, as they are by the donation.
This wine is a raging steal for regular Vineyard 29 customers who are used to paying more than double that for the small production reds. And it is a real boon to those that aren’t current customers – there is a waiting list to purchase all Vineyard 29 wines, except for the Hurricane Cuvee which is available to all – until it is gone, of course.
The real beneficiaries however, are the disaster victims who will receive 100 percent of the proceeds of the approximately 500 cases. AmeriCares Hurricane Relief Fund will collect $150,000 when all the wine is sold.
"We can’t donate wine to the victims," said Chuck McMinn, President Vineyard 29. But, he said, "we can donate proceeds generated from the wine sales." This is a way to involve all of our consumers in the relief efforts. "Our customers will get a special tribute wine, and we will have turned our grapes into financial aid for the victims of these tragedies."
While the hurricane may be over, the disaster relief and rebuilding efforts still need the nation’s involvement. A recent report (March 8, 2006) said that six months after Hurricane Katrina, at least four of every five businesses in New Orleans are still shuttered.
The non-vintage red is produced from a majority of old vine Petite Syrah, sourced from a St. Helena vineyard planted in the 1920’s. McMinn described it as "most intense."
If you would like to purchase Hurricane Cuvee, you need to do so through Vineyard 29’s website: www.vineyard29.com. You will need to create a new account for yourself (if you do not already have one) on the purchasing page by clicking on the “Add me to the waiting list.” Fill out all your information, you will be given a username and passcode to use in the store. If the Hurricane Cuvee does not show up when you first put in your information, try quitting the browser and starting over on the purchasing page – this time logging in as an existing customer.
McMinn expects the wine to sell out in the next month or two. In fact, he has one distributor that has purchased a full pallet at full price and will be reselling the wine with no markup. So, if you want to raise your glass in a toast you better act soon.
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