Looking Back & Forth, Near & Far

Struck with overwhelming gratitude as 2019 draws to a close.  

There’s always a lot to recall, so we pause between Christmas and the New Year to reflect back, & look ahead. What have we learned? And how can we best steward the challenges and opportunities that 2020 will bring? 

Our audacious mission has always been to put Maryland wine on the world map -- and we believe we can achieve it by making delicious wines comparable with the best in the world. 

But also by using our wines to address world needs like lack of water, nutrition, and education. 

Since the very start, we set aside $1 from each bottle of wine retailed for philanthropic work. The tasting room facilitates retail sales of 30,000 to 50,000 bottles annually -- so we are overjoyed to report that YOU contributed to $46,600.00 in 2019 donations to people with dire needs. 

As many of you know, we use earmarked funds to support organizations both nearby and around the world. A few I'd like to highlight...

  • In Uganda, contributions install rainwater harvesting systems, build classrooms, feed & sponsor students, supply books, and pay teachers in their socio-economically challenged region. 

  • Locally, we contribute to a youth mentorship organization and another that provides cancer treatment. 

We talk a lot about the importance of buying local and supporting small farms -- a worthy cause! But there are many more issues facing our world like thirsty children without access to education. We believe we’re selling ourselves short if we don’t leverage our resources to help. Not as an obligation, but as an opportunity. 

We want to produce wines that speak for themselves. We want to cultivate a community of customers who purchase our wines because they love them. All while contributing to pressing causes. 

We hope this inspires more people to discover a way to give back to their communities and leverage their influence to meet the needs of others. The world is counting on us!

Here's to looking forward to meeting the New Year and discovering the opportunities it presents us. 

Cheers!

Ashli Johnson