From Elite Magazine: SCV Winemakers Give Back To The Community

When I read all about the wonderful winemakers and beer makers that were highlighted in a story in Elite magazine, I asked for permission from Elite to reprint the story here on my site.  I hope you enjoy learning about how these local winemakers give back – and I see many of you at Sunset in the Vineyard on November 4.  Below the story is additional information sent to me by Jeannie Carpenter, who is co-chairing the event with Leila Rosenberger, as well as a link for tickets.

SCV Winemakers Give Back To The Community

Winemakers give to so many in a philan- thropic way, whether they donate their wine or help pour, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, we at élite Magazine, wanted to focus on some of the generous people in SCV who we are proud to call our own, who have graciously given back to our community. We would also like to thank them for their giving spirit.

Whistling Vineyard

Roman Weiser

My fascination for wine goes back to my childhood. Born and raised in poorest of villages in Czechoslovakia, I often read about culinary arts and the amazing wines of France. In 1989, I said goodbye to Eastern Europe and hello to America.  In 2006, I trans- formed the east sloping hill behind my house covered with brush, into a vineyard of 75 plants of Syrah and 25 of Grenache. My wines are all natural, made from bio dynamically grown vines the old fashion way – grow, harvest, stomp, ferment and bottle.

Sharing wines with friends is fun. It is special however, to share the wines with friends while helping those less fortunate. I can relate to people who have very little or nothing at all. Offering my wines and participating in charity events in SCV is my way of giving back to the community that gave me so much.

Compa Vineyard

Jeannie, Chris & Tim Carpenter

Wine is meant to be shared, and we have been happy to share and donate to our community. My husband Chris and I began our journey into the world of wine in 1985. We attended small wine pairings. After many years of wine country visiting resulting in a cellar of outstanding wines, we constructed a temp controlled wine room. We decided to offer our wine to local charities; The Youth Orchestra, the SCV Senior Center Wine Auction, Boys & Girls Club to name a few.

In 2005 we planted a vineyard with my brother-in-law, Tim Carpenter, making wine with fellow enthusiasts. We reached out to my favorite charity: Assistance League of Santa Clarita and offered our home and adjacent vineyard for the fabulous fundraiser Sunset in the Vineyard. Bringing our love of wine, winemaking with friends and food together, it has been a great success!

Bouquet Vineyard

Danny & Nina Mascari

Nina and I are home winemakers, and call ourselves Bouquet Vineyard.  We own a four acre ranch property and planted one and a half acres in Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grape (approximately 1,000 vines) 18 years ago. We have been involved with Assistance League and “Sunset in the Vineyard” since the event was started. Nina and I enjoy supporting Assistance League, and do so by pouring our wines at this very unique event. Though we have been involved in other charitable wine events, this is the only event where we pour our own wines. Come stop by and try our Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat, and Sangiovese wines.

Bobcat

Tomas &Jenny Lukas

Several years ago we were fortunate enough to meet several other home wine makers here in the SCV. Over the years we have developed a network of contacts through our group of friends, which has allowed us all to benefit by obtaining access to reliable grape growers, equipment and different views on the art of wine making.

Members of the wine making group also introduced us to participating in philanthropic events that were based around wine tasting. With many different vehicles available to a person who would like to donate time or money to a worthy cause, being able to give back with a wine that you worked hard to produce, make the effort seem even better. We are happy to say that we have participated in Sunset in the Vineyard since its inception along with many other local wine tasting events over the years and look forward to many years more.k

Nuggucciet  Estate Vineyard

Russ &Nancy Briley

Nuggucciet Cellars is a boutique winery producing very small quantities of pinot noir. Nancy and I have been very involved with the community especially in our younger years.

While we had to cut back on our community involvement, making wine has reintroduced us to helping serve non-profits and our community in another way. We have donated wine and poured at the Circle of Hope, Vine to Wine Classic, the Wine Affair, Sunset in the Vineyard and we were also the featured wine for the VIP dinner at the Jazz Festival held at Valencia Country Club last year.

One Vine Four Branches

Jeff Lippencott

I have been growing Syrah and Cabernet grapes in Hasley Canyon now for six years. I am only a hobbyist and enjoy the whole process from farming the vines until it’s poured in the glass several years later. I have been all over to learn and study all different types of wine and winemaking styles. Up until this year, my volume has been fairly low as the vines had yet reached maturity. Now that I am making a larger volume of wine my hope is to be able to offer my wine to charities and local fund raising events. My 2010 Syrah won a gold medal in the L.A. Cellar Masters home winemaking competition and a silver medal in Wine Makers Magazine home winemakers competition which is the largest of it’s kind in the world.

Pulchella Winery

Steve Lemley &Nate Hasper

Pulchella Winery is not only dedicated to producing world class, premium Paso Robles wines right here in the SCV, we are also very dedicated to supporting the local community that supports us. We are winemakers who allocate a large amount of wines each vintage to support many local charities and fund raisers. Many of these charities are managed by close friends of ours and their organizations’ income relies on events and fundraisers to keep their cause supported. It’s the least we can do for the SCV given all the support the winery and tasting room has received.

Kerry & Susie Clark

Two Hearts Cellars

Two Hearts Estate Vineyard is nestled in the rolling foothills north of Santa Clarita. We are “amateur” winemakers who make award-winning wines from our own grapes as well as from grapes that we source from around the globe. For us wine has always been about sharing. We feel fortunate that doing something we love to do can also help others. We are proud to donate our time and our wines to help our community.

We encourage wine fans and the wine curious to join us in enjoying and leaning about wine while supporting local charities. Looking forward to seeing you at the next event.

Alonso Family Vineyards

Juan Alonso

My father had vineyards when I was growing up and I thought it would be a great thing to do as well. I started with planting about 50 grapevines in 1995 and it just kept growing and growing. Every year, I kept planting more, and now I have about five acres in the Agua Dulce area. The vineyards are located near Le Chene Restaurant along Sierra Highway. We grow Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alvarino and many other varietals.

I have been a part of the SCV Senior Wine Auction for 17 years, and also Sunset in the Vineyard, the Agua Dulce Fair and much more. I feel it is important to give back to the community… without the community you have no business, and I think it is important to share and to give.

Latest additions to the auction:

7-Day Cruise donated from the Princess Cruises Foundation
The artisans will donate a dinner & pizza for 10 with the winemakers.

Tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at the door.  For more information, contact Jeannie Carpenter at 661-255-5853 or e-mail ALsantaclarita@gmail.com. Information about Assistance League membership, philanthropic programs and community involvement can be found on their website www.assistanceleague-alsc.org.