Ability Bash Charity Dinner for Disabled Sports is a Win-Win for All Participants

We were pleased to contribute to The Ability Bash benefit, the principal fundraiser for Disabled Sports USA Far West. This event honors wounded warriors from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is the conclusion of an Ability Camp that gives specialized instruction in adapted snow skiing and snow boarding for five-days as part of the Disabled Sports Program Center at Alpine Meadows Resort, Tahoe. As a celebration of accomplishment, the Ability Bash included an auction of fine wines, ours included, and a tasting event before dinner at The Lodge at Alpine.

We poured our 2009 Grenache and our 2007 Syrah, Stoney Creek Vineyard.

You know about both of these wines, but here is a refresher on the Syrah: the Skinner family’s Stoney Creek Vineyard is situated on a ridgetop that ranges from 2,610 to 2,740 feet in elevation. It offers aromas of blackberry and cherry pie, interlaced with hints of pepper, dried flowers, cinnamon, chocolate caramels, roasted coffee, and vanilla bean… medium-plus in body with a long, polished, and velvety finish. Click here to buy the wine!



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Junior League Launch Event: Skinner adds to the Fun!

The excitement is building for the biggest charity event of the social season in San Francisco, the Junior League Fashion Show. Skinner Vineyards has made a contribution to the organization to assist in this event; proceeds from the Fashion Show event are used to support and strengthen families in need.

Generating enthusiasm is important to any .

successful function, and the Junior League does a great job at that.
These photos are from the “Launch Party” which was held in late March at One Leidesdorff.

This venue in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district is a beautiful and historical monument to the success of California’s pioneering Gold Rush era trader, landowner and steamboat entrepreneur, William Alexander Leidesdorff, who was also called “the first black millionaire”. (We thought you’d enjoy this historical tidbit… since Skinner Vineyards dates back to that era too! )

(Overview photo credit: Moana Lani Jeffrey)

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Supporting and Strengthening Families in Need: Skinner Vineyards Charitable Giving

Skinner Vineyards is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of a major fundraising event that supports and strengthens families in need in the San Francisco Bay area.  This is the 85th annual fashion show organized by the Junior League of San Francisco, to be held April 8, 2011 at the Fairmont Hotel.  The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc., is an educational and charitable organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. 

The Fashion Show is a breathtaking professionally-produced event orchestrated by Macy's; it is one of the premier fundraising events in San Francisco.  Past events have raised millions of dollars for San Francisco and surrounding communities, and now in its 85^th year,  it is the longest-running event of its kind in the nation.  Approximately 1,500 guests attend each year.

Proceeds from the Fashion Show event are used to support and strengthen families in need.  In 2010-2011, the following  community programs are being supported:  Compass Family Services, the International Rescue Committee, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities.  The JLSF supports families in need via direct service, advocacy and grantmaking. Volunteers provide an uplifting, safe environment for youth development, cultural enrichment, life-skills training, tutoring and after school and mentoring programs.

“We’re pleased to be a sponsor of this event,” noted Carey Skinner, co-owner of Skinner Vineyards with husband Mike Skinner.  “The goals of the JLSF resonate with us, and giving back to the community is an important part of the Skinner legacy.”

Roy Tuscany, Winner of Skinner Wines at Auction, Thrilled with his Score!

Roy Tuscany is Executive Director of the High Fives Foundation, a Tahoe-based non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action sports community.   Roy bid on a "lot" of Skinner Vineyards wines that were donated for the Wines for Wheels charity event held in mid-September at Plumpjack's in Squaw Valley.

"I purchased the lot of Skinner Wines as a community service gesture, but I am thrilled with them.  The Red Wine had an aroma that made me anxious to try the wine and see if it would deliver, and it was just terrific on the palate. I served 3 of bottles at recent dinner party and I was the hit of the party because of the wine," said Roy. 

Another fan!

Puttin On The Ritz: Skinner Vineyards a Sponsor of Benefit for The FUTURE Foundation of Sacramento

Skinner Vineyards was one of the important sponsors of the second annual fundraiser gala, “Putting on the Ritz”, hosted by the Fab500 on Sept 18, to benefit the The FUTURE Foundation of Sacramento.  This was a wonderfully magic event where guests experienced a glamorous evening sampling local top restaurants and enjoying specialty drinks and wines while dancing the night away to the live music of All-4-One and Hip Service.  The gala was held at the Patrick Willis (former Eddie Murphy) Estate in Granite Bay, CA, a location that was generously donated by the owner.

The FUTURE Foundation of Sacramento, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that provides both volunteer mentoring and funding to students in support of their college education. Qualified students are selected their freshman year in high school and are appointed a volunteer to become their mentor. During the final three years of high school the student will be guided by the mentor in order to meet admission requirements for college. The Foundation’s mentoring program is a key component to achieving success. The mentor not only guides the student through the college application process but assists in life’s everyday complicated and hard decisions to help motivate, encourage and guide the student toward college graduation.

Biking for a Better World

Plumpjack’s at Squaw Valley was the magnanimous host for the September charitable event, a  Wine Auction entitled  "Biking for a Better World".  Some great wines were quaffed, discussed and bought.  Skinner wines were among them!
Several wonderful bottles donated to the auction included Skinner White Rhone Blend “Seven Generations” 2008 El Dorado. This is a blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier, with tropical aromas of pineapple and papaya, hints of flowers, hazelnuts, banana bread and nice minerality.  

The Skinner winery is known for its Syrah, and two of them were auctioned.   The 2007 El Dorado Syrah is redolent of ripe blackberry, boysenberry and blueberry, with spiciness and a lengthy finish.  The Syrah “Stoney Creek Vineyard” 2007 El Dorado is sourced from mountain fruit grown at 2700 feet, and it’s magnificent!  Aroma of blackberry, cherry pie and tastes of cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, flower, pepper.  The addition of 3% Viognier gives it a medium body and a long velvety finish.

Of course the Plumpjack Executive Chef Ben “Wyatt” Dufresne and the entire kitchen team produced a wonderful menu for the event.
Biking for a Better World (bikingforabetterworld.org) is headquartered in Olympic Valley, CA, the location of Squaw Valley ski resort.  This group raises money for schools and bicycles for students in remote villages in Nicaragua.

The Executive Director of the Tahoe-area charity High Fives Foundation was the happy bidder for the lot of Skinner wines.  We won't reveal how much he paid, but suffice it to saw that dozens of kids in Nicaragua will be riding bicycles "fueled" by Skinner wines!

Supporting Local Causes and Charities - an Important Part of the Skinner Tradition!

Since Mike and Carey Skinner started the Skinner Vineyards enterprise in 2006,  they've embraced the community spirit that's so important to the vineyards and wineries in Fair Play and other parts of El Dorado County, California.   The list of events and organizations to which Skinner Vineyards has contributed became a long list in a very short time ... and it is getting longer every month.  We believe in being part of the community, and in the Skinner tradition, we respect the environment, support the people, and welcome the stewardship that comes with our vines and their gift to the world.

OUR GIVING ROSTER TO DATE: 

Aids Walk American Cancer Society Boys & Girls Club of Torrance Boys & Girls Club of West Valley Breast Cancer Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation Children's Cancer Research Fund Corpus Christi Parish Corpus Christi School Dolan Mediation, Inc Dr Susan Love Research Families of SMA Friends of Tapulanga, Inc. Giftberry Give 2 Asia Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation Independent Seed Foundation Knights of Columbus LA Sports Council Foundation Lymphoma Research Foundation Movies in the Park Pacific Palisades Multiple Sclerosis Society National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Pacific Heart Institute Pacific Palisades Baseball Palisades Charter High School Palisades Community Center Palisades-Malibu YMCA Pioneer Volunteer Firefighters Association Rescue Volunteer Firefighters Association Revlon Walk/Run Santa Clara University Santa Monica Church Shrine Auditorium Sigma Chi Sigma Chi Derby Days Sister of St. Louis League Soldiers Angels Sound Body Sound Mind Student Movement for Real Change Support Our Troops Together in Mission Troops Christmas University of Southern California University of Southern California Athletics Dept Venice High Alumni Westside Center for Independent Living