When we started this blog lo those many years ago — it was even before the archives demonstrate — the goal was to do a bit of educating and a bit of entertaining. We wanted to make wine enjoyment more accessible to more people, to help break down the barriers that result in some people being referred to as “wine snobs.”
Every so often, however, it’s necessary to put the education and entertainment aside, and share information on an extremely important topic. And that’s what we’re doing today here at Vinesse TODAY.
Yes, the topic is related to wine, but it’s really about human beings. Specifically, it’s about the people — many of whom work for wineries — that lost everything in the recent Valley Fire, north of Napa Valley.
As we did shortly after the fire was extinguished, we’d like to turn over today’s blog to the Lake County Winegrape Commission, which issued the following media release last week…
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Beckstoffer Vineyards has announced a donation of $50,000 to the #LakeCountyRising fundraising campaign.
“We’re part of the community,” said Andy Beckstoffer, Founder, Chairman, and owner of Beckstoffer Vineyards. “We have major vineyard holdings in Lake County, and many of our people live in Lake County.”
“On behalf of the Lake County community, we are grateful for the generosity that we’re seeing from across the region,” said Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, one of three organizations who have partnered to establish the #LakeCountyRising fundraising effort.
#LakeCountyRising is an effort to support community rebuilding in the areas ravaged by the Valley Fire, with a focus on livelihood, housing, and community needs. The effort was initiated by three Lake County organizations — the Lake County Winegrape Commission, the Lake County Winery Association, and the Lake County Wine Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that will manage the collection and distribution of tax-deductible donations.
“This generous donation by the Beckstoffer family is a wonderful example of how the wine industry is coming together with significant support,” Sommerfield said.
Beckstoffer Vineyards farms more than 1,300 acres in the Red Hills of Lake County, in addition to its 1,000 acres in the Napa Valley and 1,300 acres in Mendocino County.
“We hope this will motivate other people to give,” Beckstoffer said.
#LakeCountyRising aims to raise significant funds over the coming weeks and months to help members of the Lake County community cope, adjust, and rebuild after the Valley Fire. #LakeCountyRising is working with local organizations and government agencies to identify the most pressing community needs.
To donate, visit the Lake County Rising page on Facebook to make a donation online using PayPal, or send a check made payable to Lake County Wine Alliance (memo: “Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund”) to: Lake County Wine Alliance, P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451
