10th Annual Fundraiser Celebrates Contributions of Farm & Vineyard Workers
The 10th Annual Vino de Sueños (Wine of Dreams) benefit wine release celebration will be held November 11th at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton, CA from 3-6 PM. The public is invited to attend and celebrate the work of farm and vineyard workers. Proceeds underwrite services furnished to farm and vineyard workers by the non-profit, People Helping People (PHP).
Vino de Sueños successfully debuted in November of 2008 and was organized by a small group of local premium winemakers to specifically help farm and vineyard workers. PHP was selected as the beneficiary because of the large number of farm and vineyard workers they serve. Founding wineries were Alma Rosa, Buttonwood, Clos Pepé, Feliz Noché, Foxen, Longoria, and Presidio.
Vino de Sueños (VDS) is the brand name for People Helping People’s wine series released each year at the annual event. This year, thirteen of the best Santa Barbara County wineries are donating wines bottled under the exclusive VDS label. These wines will be available for tasting and sale at the release celebration.
Becky Barieau, VDS event chair, said that, “we are very excited to announce our lineup of 2017 wineries: Alma Rosa, Brander, Buttonwood, Dierberg, Foley, Foxen, Ken Brown, Kitá, Longoria, Quail Crossing, Riverbench, Stolpman, and Vogelzang.”
There will be individual white and red wines for every taste and pocketbook including two Chardonnay choices, Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, two Syrah, three Pinot Noirs, and a red Rhone blend. Wines are expected to sell from $17 to $48 depending upon varietal and vintage and they are specially discounted for this fundraising event. White wine and red wine 6-pack samplers and individual cases will be available for further discounted prices.
The Vino de Sueños event and wine sales are a fundraiser to benefit vineyard and farm workers through the auspices of People Helping People (PHP). PHP is a unique multi-program non-profit organization which helps families and individuals of limited means in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos Valleys by providing a wide range of services including food and nutrition education, health care, youth mentoring, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention “under 1 roof.”
Dean Palius, PHP CEO, stated that the agency serves nearly 1,000 farm and vineyard workers and their family members each year in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos Valleys. “All in, the services cost in excess of $250,000 and we simply could not afford to serve all of those in need without the donations of our winemakers and lead sponsors, the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Foundation and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundations.”
According to Barieau, another unique aspect of the Vino de Sueños wines is that every year each winery’s VDS bottle label includes a reproduction of an original art piece. “We have been extremely blessed each year to have so many local artists willing to contribute to this effort. Artist Karina Puente originated the ‘dream’ icon that appears on each Vino de Sueños bottle. This year’s original labels will be based on the art of Susan Belloni, Peggy Brierton, Chris Chapman, Jim Farnum, Kevin Gleason, Rebecca Gomez, Patricia Hedrick, John Iwerks, Rene Kelleher, Teresa McNeil Maclean, Sharon Tate, and Seyburn Zorthian.
The artists’ original works will be prominently displayed at the event and will be available for purchase via a silent auction. Art lovers can obtain a preview of the art and see artist biographies on the Vino de Sueños web site at www.vinodesuenos.com
Kros Andrade, owner of UVA Design Studios, is once again designing the unique Vino de Sueños wine labels. Andrade said that creating the eye catching labels is a labor of love. “It is a pleasure and a privilege to volunteer for this event, give back to farm and vineyard workers and support a very worthy non-profit like People Helping people.”
What has resulted from the marriage of the winemakers and artist’s talents, Barieau says, “(I)s a series of wonderful wines with extraordinary labels that just jump off the bottle. These labels and the original works they represent are truly collectors’ items.”
In addition to the wine tasting, wine sale, and art auction, the November 11th release event will feature a silent auction of upscale lifestyle items and select wines, live music by the Complicated Animals (https://www.complicatedanimals.com), and appetizer stations catered by some of the top chefs on the Central Coast including, as of this publication, Jeff Olsson of Industrial Eats and New West Catering, Luca Crestanelli of SY Kitchen, Beto Huizar of The Landsby, and Santa Ynez Café. Decadence Fine Cakes and Confections will offer wine based cookies designed to be paired with event wines.
For the second year, PHP will also host an exclusive event within the event, the VIP and Patron Lounge. The private Lounge area features exclusive wine pourings by local winemakers and special appetizer selections in a comfortable and intimate setting. Individual VIP and various Patron level tickets are available.
General ($50 each $45 “early bird”), VIP, and Patron tickets for Vino de Sueños are” now on sale. To make a purchase or to receive more information about the Vino de Sueños release celebration, go to the Vino de Sueños website at www.vinodesuenos.com or contact Erica at Erica@syvphp.org or at (805) 686-0295.