Impact Program Events Will Focus on Issues of Sustainability and Consumer Empowerment
LARKSPUR, Calif. – September 21, 2017 – Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners is proud to announce its support of the 2017/2018 James Beard Foundation (JBF) Impact Programs. As the exclusive wine partner of the JBF Impact Programs, wines from the Distinguished Vineyards portfolio, which include MacRostie Winery and Vineyards in California, Argyle in Oregon and Wither Hills in New Zealand, will be poured at the Eighth Annual JBF Food Summit on October 23 and 24, and the prestigious JBF Leadership Awards Dinner the evening of October 23. The summit will explore the evolution of consumer power and sustainability issues, with the goal of empowering consumers to affect positive change in our food system. Distinguished Vineyards will also be the exclusive wine partner at an array of Impact Programs throughout 2017 and 2018, including multiple JBF Gulf Seafood Issue Summits, the signature JBF Chefs Bootcamp for Policy Change, an Issue Summit on Sustainable Meat, and multiple Local Advocacy Trainings that educate chefs on the most effective way to leverage their voices to drive change in the food system.
“From Wither Hills in Marlborough, New Zealand, to Argyle in the Willamette Valley and MacRostie on the Sonoma Coast, our wineries are defined by their roots in some of the world’s most exceptional wine regions,” says Steve Myers, the North American managing director of Distinguished Vineyards. “We believe that crafting wines with a deep and authentic sense of place involves thinking long term in how we steward our vineyards. This also means being good neighbors and positive forces in our communities. This partnership is a fantastic way for us to contribute our knowledge and experience to the important dialogue about sustainability in food and wine.”
“Our Foundation’s work to engage the culinary community in the process of creating a more sustainable food system that provides nutrition and delicious food for all is only possible with the generous support of committed partners like the team at Distinguished Vineyards,” said Kris Moon, vice president of the James Beard Foundation. “Their acclaimed portfolio of wines and strong commitment to sustainability make them the perfect partner for delivering on the age-old marriage of great food and wine while we work together to empower our country’s culinary thought-leaders to drive change in the food system.”
Wither Hills, Argyle and MacRostie all have comprehensive sustainability programs that address all areas of operations, from water conservation to energy efficiency, composting, waste reduction, civic responsibility and more. As a result of these programs, Wither Hills has held Sustainable Winegrowing NZ accreditation since 2003, and its Ben Morven and Taylor River estate vineyards have been certified organic by BioGro NZ since 2012. Argyle earned the Oregon Certified Sustainable certification in 2008, and since 2012, the Argyle Winery and Tasting House, along with all three Argyle vineyards: Knudsen, Lone Star and Spirit Hill, have been Low Input Viticulture & Enology (LIVE) certified. MacRostie earned the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) designation in 2012, and in 2015, MacRostie expanded its CCSW certification to its Wildcat Mountain Vineyard and Thale’s Estate Vineyard.
“More than just believing in the idea of sustainability, we believe in rigorous third-party certification,” adds Myers. “Not only is certification the best way to evaluate our sustainability efforts, it is the most transparent and meaningful way to share these efforts with our trade partners and the public.”
About Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners
Formed in 2008, Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners represents a unique collection of traditional and contemporary wine brands from some of the world’s most coveted wine regions. The domestic portfolio includes the highly acclaimed Argyle Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and MacRostie Winery in Sonoma, California. Imported wines from New Zealand include Wither Hills, Huntaway and Première Soleil from Marlborough and Sophora Sparkling wines from Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, and Inkberry from Central Ranges. For more information, please visit www.dvwinepartners.com.
About the James Beard Foundation
Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation celebrates, nurtures, and honors chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, the late James Beard was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts, instilling in them the value of wholesome, healthful, and delicious food. Today JBF continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit jamesbeard.org. Get food news, recipes, and more at the James Beard Foundation’s blog, or subscribe to the free digital newsletter Beard Bites. Follow @beardfoundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat. Watch the James Beard House Kitchen Cam, James Beard Awards, and more on the Foundation’s Livestream channel.
