Vino de Sueños

Vino de Sueños, “Wine of Dreams,” is a wine brand conceived by the non-profit human services organization, Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People (PHP), and a small group of premium Santa Barbara County vintners. This group wanted to make a difference in the lives of vineyard and farm workers who are at the very heart of the County’s agricultural economy and more specifically, the vineyard and wine businesses.

The Vino de Sueños wines will be sold in order raise funds to give workers and their families the assistance they need during difficult economic times. PHP will administer the funds to furnish basic needs (food, rent, and utility assistance) and family support services (counseling, youth after school programs, parent education, and scholarships). Services are directed to giving families a hand-up to achieve their dreams of a better life.

The Vino de Sueños wines will be released at a first of its kind fund raising event on November 1, 2008. The inaugural group of winemakers from Alma Rosa, Buttonwood, Clos Pepé, Feliz Noché, Foxen, Longoria, and Presidio will host a benefit release celebration for the first Vino de Sueños wines, a series of eleven varietal wines from seven local wineries. The event will be held in Buellton, CA at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott from 3-6 PM. Tickets are $50 and will go on sale September 1st on this web site.

In addition to featuring a tasting and sale of the just released Vino de Sueños wines, the release celebration will include appetizers from New West catering, live music, and an art auction.

The art auction is another unique aspect of the Vino de Sueños release and the new brand. Each wine from the brand is labeled with a reproduction of an original art piece specifically created by a local artist for the wine. Karina Puente, a product of the Santa Ynez Valley and its local schools, created one of the art pieces and the dream “icon” at the center of each label that identify it as part of the Vino de Sueños brand. She also recruited six other artists, Ariane Aumont, Darby Holden, Christina Locascio, Lily Nathan, Rise Ochsner, and Seyburn Zorthian to create the remainder of the label art.

Tying the art and wine together on the brand labels is graphic artist, Kros Andrade. Kros, who was working on another PHP assignment, heard of the wine project and immediately volunteered his services. He has created a beautiful collector’s set of individual labels that are representative of a unique brand.

December 5th Wine Sale