While everyone wants to celebrate with friends and family this holiday season, Benefit Wines of Massachusetts wants holiday revelers to support local charities as well. Now you can give back while tossing back.
Andrew and Heidi Graff started Charity Wines back in 2006 after the family had some issues with cancer and heart disease. Their idea was create wine brands with a sports theme that raised money for their favorite charities. They gained the support of a few famous athletes (perhaps you are familiar with Dan Marino, David Ortiz or Ken Griffey, Jr.) and in the first 18 month sold over 65,000 cases of wine raising $1 million. That got Andrew to thinking how this largest-scale business model could benefit small-scale charities and Benefit Wines was born.
Benefit Wines has two simple concepts:
- Choose one of their established charity brands like Humane Cellars, Spectrum Cellars or Firehouse Estates. These are pre-designed labels for charities to choose from. Humane Cellars features a paw print on the label for Animal Charities.
- Or non-profits can create their own customized labels unique to their organization and logo.
All charities receive an online wine shop including shopping cart, a link to the charity’s home page and marketing through emails, newsletters and events. As their supporters buy the wine, the charity receives a monthly check. To join Benefit Wines, organizations must be non-profit, have a website and the ability to email or direct mail. Benefit Wines gives 100% of the retail profits back to the charity. As Andrew says, “Are we getting rich? No. Are we having fun and helping worthwhile non-profit organizations in the process? Yes!!”
So what kinds of wines can you get from Benefit Wines? Amazingly refreshing and stimulating wines from LaFortuna Vineyards in Lontue Valley, Chile. Six wines are produced – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc. On the market since 1950, La Fortuna is third-generation owned and was the first vineyard in Chile to be certified organic back in 1997.
I discovered Benefit Wines because one of my favorite non-profits, the Cat Care Society, is a partner. I’ll be drinking their Love Me Malbec and Benny’s Select Merlot this holiday season. However, there are many organizations throughout the county to choose from. Erie Fire Company No. 4, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Cakes for Causes and Heritage Hikers of the American Cancer Society are just a few of the organizations that participate in this program. If an organization you belong to would like to join Benefit Wines, visit their Application Page.
Wines can be purchased by the bottle for $19.99 with $7 of the purchase price going to the charity. A Sampler Package of four wines is $74.95 with $22.99 going to charity and the Collector’s Package of all six wines is $109.95 with $32.01 going to the charity.
So please join me with a glass of Cotton Chardonnay (Cat Care Society), Baker’s Melbec (Cakes for Causes) or the Coastal Pinot Noir (Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation) and do some good while enjoying the holidays.
“No poem was ever written by a drinker of water” – Homer
Carrie Dow
Lakewood, CO
Where is CD now?
International Pet Examiner
