A few weeks back I wrote about Bob Frick, the 71-year old gentleman from Lafayette, CA who decided to hop on his bike and ride across the country to Florida raising money…and awareness…for Habitat for Humanity.  His goal was $71,000 ($1,000 for each of his 71 years).  He has raised over $80,000 to date and is still counting.  Humanitas has helped in his cause by creating a ‘Cycle of Hope Six-Pack’ in honor of Bob and for every pack we sell, we donate 20% to Bob’s cause — the East Bay Habitat for Humanity.

On Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure of carting several bottles of wine over to Bob’s house to pour during a ‘welcome home’ and ‘thanks for the support’ party.  I also delivered our second check in support of Bob — you see, several people opted to help this cause by ordering the Cycle of Hope pack for themselves and for gifts…and truly ‘drinking charitably.’  I was sincerely inspired by Bob’s journey and by the stories he told.  You can still support Bob — just order the Cycle of Hope pack on our website.  You can also support Habitat for Humanity East Bay any time you order Humanitas by using our ‘promo code’ HFHEASTBAY.  Or, if you want to join our club specifically supporting the East Bay HFH, click here.

Judd & Paul Ash - Exec. Dir. SF Food Bank

Monday morning found me in San Francisco experiencing 1.5 minutes of fame on televison in support of the San Francisco Food Bank.  Executive Director Paul Ash and I were on the local ABC affiliate urging folks to support the Food Bank and celebrating the support of wine lovers, restaurants & retailers in the San Francisco area who have purchased Humanitas.  This support resulted in Humanitas handing over a check for $1,500 to the SF Food Bank — the equivalent of about $13,500 worth of food for the needy.  Again, people ‘drinking charitably’ is helping those less fortunate.  Hopefully I’ll have that clip to share in the near future.  You can also support the San Francisco Food Bank every time you order Humanitas by using the promo code ‘FBSF’.  You can also join our SF Food Bank Wine Club and support the Food Bank year ’round simply by, again, drinking charitably.

The rest of month will be spent doing similar events and writing more checks.  I’m not going to try to fake this one…it is a hugely rewarding time for Humanitas.  We really revel in making what we feel are very honorable wines that celebrate winemaking excellence.  But we are equally dedicated to helping the communities that support our wines by giving back to charities in those cities.  And the high we get when we do what we set out do, is pretty hard to adequately describe in words.  Drinking well and doing good…its what we do…and it feels great.  We’re hoping everyone doesn’t limit this to the Holidays.  These charities need support all year long — and drinking charitably is something everyone can do…every night with Humanitas.

‘Tis the season…all year long — drink charitably, everyone!

The San Francisco Food Bankis one of the most inspirational charities we support and thanks to several supporters in the Bay Area, we are proud to present checks every year to this Food Bank as well as provide wine for several of their fund-raising functions.  Executive Director Paul Ash is a friend of mine, a wine lover, a philanthropist, and someone who provided me some fantastic input in creating Humanitas back in 2000.  He and his team are also providing sustenance for the some 150,000 poeple in San Francisco alone who struggle to feed themselves daily.  The quantity and quality of food available to those in need is shocking…and for many, the Food Bank is their salvation.  To read more about hunger in San Francisco, visit http://www.sffoodbank.org/about_hunger/. 

For the rest of us, times are tough.  But if you are reading this blog, chances are, your situation is nowhere near the situation of those in need of something so fundamental as a meal.  And this time of year is crucial for the Food Bank.  The charity business is highly competitive — a seemingly endless number of charities all vying for a finite amount of charity dollars available.   Food is so very primary – so if you are in the position to help, I encourage you to jump in and support a charity — it will do you…and others a great deal of good.  In my opinion, the San Francisco Food Bank is a great one to support.

And if your support is a vicarious one — simply enjoying wine is a great way to ‘give’.  You can do this by supporting a wine shop like the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, the Good Life Grocery, Thom’s Fresh Organics, Wine Styles West Portal,  with your purchase of Humanitas wines.  Or stop by Kuleto’s, Teatro ZinZanni, the Catch, Caprice, Green’s, the Hayes Street Grill, the Waterfront Restaurant,  or Zaziefor a glass of Humanitas and a bite.   All of these establishments, through their support of Humanitas, allow us to give money to the SF Food Bank. 

Or, if shopping on line is your thing, simple visit the Humanitas website, join our SF Food Bank Care Package Wine Cluband support the SF Food Bank forever while receiving wine four times per year.  A full 20% of your membership is donated by Humanitas back to the Food Bank.  Or if you simply want to help the SF Food Bank AND enjoy a nice bottle of wine for yourself or as a gift, visit the site and be sure to use the promo code FBSF while checking out at the Humanitas on-line store, and again, we’ll donate 20% of your purchase to the San Francisco Food Bank.  You might say that Humanitas is the perfect food wine!

Drinking well & doing good.  We’re trying to make it easy for you!  So ‘drink charitably’ and support the San Francisco Food Bank!!

One thing is clear, we will be enjoying several Humanitas wines.  Every wine will be cracked open, sniffed, tasted, paired, discussed, and drained…into our mouths, of course.  Will the Pinot Noir standup to the political jousting between the brothers?  How will the Cabernet taste during the croquet challenge?  And no doubt, we will have several other selections representing as many wine regions as possible.  A good time will be had by all…guaranteed.

And the message?  Well — there are a couple. 

Quantity:  it is critical to consider the quantity.  In college we developed a hypothesis that bordered on law:  If a little is good, more is better.  This seemed to apply to everything.  More = Better.  M=B.  When you think you have enough wine, get some more…it will never go to waste.

Quality:  know your audience and supply accordingly.  If they aren’t into wine — don’t bring plonk!  Use this as an opportunity to turn them on to some mind blowing wine that will convert them.  And if they don’t immediately ‘get it’ – remember from above — More = Better. 

And do me a favor — during this celebration of bounty, please try to remember the two words ‘thanks’ and ‘giving’.  More than likely, if you are reading this, you have a lot for which to be thankful.  Let the people you love know it — tell them.  And raise a glass together, smile, and appreciate your life.  As they say, it is far better than the alternative.  As for ‘giving’ — take this opportunity to help someone else.  Donate food to your local Food Bank or clothes to a shelter.  Give an anonymous gift to Toys for Tots.  Send a letter to a one of our soldiers serving overseas.  And smile — always smile.

The San Francisco Food Bank is one of my favorite charities.  The work they do is beyond belief and during the period between Thanksgiving and the New Year is when they need your help the most.  At Humanitas, we hope you to have a fantastic Thanksgiving and Holiday season.  And if you are interested in helping the SF Food Bank AND enjoy a nice bottle (or two…or more — remember M=B) — if you enter the promo code FBSF while checking out at the Humanitas on-line store, we’ll donate 20% of your purchase to the San Francisco Food Bank. 

Good wines that do good.  This is what Humanitas is all about – and what we mean when we say ‘drink charitably!’  And please, drop me a comment & let me know what you are thankful for this year, what wine you are enjoying this Thanksgiving and what you are doing to help others.  Thanks!

The word ‘Humanitas’ is Latin & translates into words like ‘human nature’, ‘philanthropy’,  and ‘kindness’.  But to me, the logical word is ‘humanitarian’.  And with a winery dedicated to giving back, I am always interested in and fascinated by compelling charitable organizations.  I am particularly drawn to groups that ‘provide a leg up’ to those in need rather than a hand out.  That is, I like it when organizations help others learn to help themselves. 

Habitat for Humanity is like this.  So is Heifer International.  The reality is, there are so many good causes to support — maybe too many — and that world is extremely competitive.  So many good causes vying for money – so many good causes trying to break through with a clear, compelling message.  Hmm — now that I think of it, sounds like the wine business!

Last week, a friend of mine, Walt Spevak asked if I would donate & pour my wines at a small fund-raising event for an organization called Right to Play.  As just about every charity in the world asks me for free wine, I really need to evaluate the cause and stay focused.  But something about this charity intrigued me. 

Maybe it was the story.  The Founder, President & CEO of Right to Play is four-time Norwegian gold medal speed skater Johann Olav Koss.  After winning three of his medals in the 1994 Lillehammer games, Johann dedicated his life to helping kids in truly impoverished countries get ahead — a true ‘leg up’ through soccer.

Maybe it was the vision.  I love clear vision and compelling, actionable missions.  The RTP Vision is to create a healthier and safer world through the power of sport and play.  The Mission is to improve the lives of children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

Maybe it was the simplicity.  Millions of kids are displaced by war, poverty & disease worldwide — especially in Africa, Asia & the Middle East.  Right to Play uses Olympic, Paralympic & professional athletes from more than 40 countries to inspire these children, act as role models for healthy lifestyle choices & help train local coaches & teachers to establish foundational community building.

Whatever it was, I believe Right to Play is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to find a meaningful cause & help.  This international charity has grown to a $30 million budget this year — yet it is almost unheard of in the United States…and is just in the nacent stages here in the West.  I was moved by a wonderful story told about a local Mill Valley kid’s soccer group who, upon learning of RTP, elected, in lieu of trophies at the end of the season, to give the money that would have been spent on the trophies to Right to Play.  A small gesture, but a significant one — not only for the good of the kids in need, but for the kids who gave.

This spirit of social responsibility is so important and I know it is hard to choose between all of the charity choices.  I think the most important thing is to do something — anything to help someone – get involved.  WineDiverGirl wrote a very nice post on the topic in her post entitled ‘Responsibility Revolution.’  Don’t delay — take the leap and get involved today helping somehow.  And I highly recommend looking into Right to Play as an excellent start.

Bob & Barbara Frick

Imagine you were 71 years old, retired and smack dab in the middle of your golden years - relaxed and content.  You’ve had a great life and life is good.

Bob Frick is no ordinary 71-year old.  True, he is retired…but he is not relaxed.  After learning of the great work of Habitat for Humanity, their mission of building affordable homes, and giving people in need a ‘leg up’, Bob decided to put his own legs to work.

Bob picked up his bike and started riding.  Not just around the block.  Not just around the track.  No, he is riding his bike across the entire country!  That’s right — Bob started in Lafayette, California on September 3rd and will finish up sometime in late November/early December in Florida intent on raising at least $71,000 along the way for the East Bay (Oakland, CA) Habitat for Humanity.  He is riding to raise money, but also stopping to help build homes across the country, attend fund-raisers, and creating awareness for affordable housing everywhere he goes.

I encourage you to donate directly to Bob’s cause by clicking here: Cycle of Hope.  This is Bob’s website and includes his blog with an account of his travels as well as the link to donate.   And Humanitas is thrilled to help Bob as well.  If you’d like to his cause simply by sipping some wonderful wines, click here: Humanitas Cycle of Hope Gift Pack to purchase a 6-pack of wines.  We’ll donate 20% of your purchase to the Habitat Cycle of Hope as well.  It is a great deal – you get to drink wine and help Bob build houses.  Drinking charitably is what Humanitas is all about.  Cheers to Bob!

I admit it…I’m an idealist.  And that idealism is firmly behind the creation of Humanitas.  I have a fundamental belief in the ‘good’ of mankind.  Naive, I’m sure — but it is who I am.  Two of my favorite movies of all time, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ and ‘Field of Dreams’ should give you some indication of just how sappy I am.  No apologies.

Recently, my family & I rented ‘Pay It Forward’ — a movie I remember loving the first time I saw it back in 2000 (I believe).  And although I had dreamed up the idea for Humanitas, a winery dedicated to ‘giving something back’ in 1997, it was in August of 2001 that I actually started the operation.  I can’t help but think this movie was one of the inspirations.

In seeing the movie again, I thought I’d do a little more research, and lo & behold, I discovered that it has an entire movement behind it.  The Pay It Forward Foundation, as it says on the website, “…was established in September 2000 by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and others to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and provide them with opportunities to do so. By bringing the author’s vision and related materials into classrooms internationally, students and their teachers are encouraged to formulate their own ideas of how they can pay it forward.”

It seems each and every one of us can find the time to ‘pay it forward’ in our own way.  Even if it is simply turning someone close to you on to a good bottle of wine and stimulate some interesting…and positive conversation.  So please, feel free to forward this post on to someone as a first step.  Let me know if you have any good stories about yourself or anyone you know doing random acts of kindness.  And as always, drink charitably!