Raised Over $4Million as Wine Country Weekend Aids Sonoma County Beneficiaries

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Have a glass from an award winning wine region, enjoy small bites by famous chefs… AND

Raise money for children in need. Fund the Future.

It takes a village…

Watching the wine community come together in Sonoma County to lend a hand to at-risk children and to dedicate themselves to improving local childhood literacy rates was quite moving this past week.

Raising over $4 million dollars for Sonoma County Beneficiaries with 1.9 million going towards Childhood Literacy Programs… all while sipping wine and having a good time…. is also quite inspirational.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, an annual 3-day event which is put together by a partnership between Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers and Sonoma County Vintners, is one of the largest charitable events in the County. Breaking another record this year, the event raised over $4.5 million for Sonoma County literacy based non-profits.

The 3-day long fundraiser includes several different day and nighttime events bringing together learning, music, wine, cuisine, and camaraderie in brilliant fashion. Smiles abound.

This weekend I attended several of the events and was impressed at the dedication, hard work, determination and downright brainpower that it took to put together such a large fundraiser.  Not to mention the amount of money that was raised due to the generosity of the people who attended and the local winery owners.

There was food, drink and, most of all, entertainment at every turn.

One of the things I enjoy most about this one particular weekend in Sonoma County… is that it brings together over 200 of Sonoma’s top winemakers and growers, along with a collection of the area’s best chefs, in one spot. I am able to visit, sample and learn directly from Wine Country pros.

There are a bevy of events leading up to the main attraction on Sunday…

The Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction is the true powerhouse behind the fundraising weekend. This year, it again broke all records. Attendees were dazzled by the many amazing styles donned for the World’s Fair Exhibition theme at Chateau St Jean to round out the weekend.

I was also impressed to see the generosity of the donated auction lots, the donation of time by the many volunteers that worked the event, and the amount of giving from all that raised a paddle and bid to fund the future, our children…

Cheers to them. Readers are Leaders.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend has raised more than $16 million for local charities supporting children, the environment and health to date. Soo many people to thank.

I especially want to thank Bettina Sichel from the Vintners Board, who attended the events with me, whose winery helped support the auction, and was the BEST damn Magnum Force Lady that danced her heart out helping to raise a whopping $80k in one Magnum bottle auction lot.

Cheers to Bettina and one of my fave wineries bar none, Laurel Glen Vineyard.

I also want to send a special thanks to Buena Vista Winery, Jean Charles, Tamara and Winemaker Brian who sent me a special invitation for a tour, tasting and behind the scenes look at the new museum. And the brand new release of their Cabernet, Yum!

The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers (SVVG) is a non-profit organization serving over 500 members who share a mission to promote awareness of Sonoma Valley’s grapes, wine and history as the birthplace of the California wine industry. Sonoma Valley comprises five of the 17 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of Sonoma County: Bennett Valley, Los Carneros, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Mountain and Sonoma Valley.  MORE: www.SonomaValleyWine.com.

Sonoma County Vintners (SCV), the leading voice of Sonoma County wine, is dedicated to raising awareness for one of the world’s premier wine regions, noted for its heritage of artisan winemaking and extraordinary quality. Founded in 1944, SCV represents over 250 wineries and affiliated businesses throughout the county.  MORE: www.SonomaWine.com.