Funds donated to the Bucket Brigade in Santa Barbara and Ventura, and CA Wine Strong in Northern California.
Organizers also announce the 2019 World of Pinot Noir (March 1-2) will feature Burgundy’s famed Domaine Chanson. Keynote speakers to include esteemed journalist Elaine Chukan Brown, and David Glancy, M.S., founder of the San Francisco Wine School.
May 8, 2018 (Santa Barbara, Calif.) – The World of Pinot Noir (WOPN), the foremost organization dedicated to the education and celebration of Pinot Noir, is proud to announce that a portion of funds raised during the 2018 World of Pinot Noir’s silent auctions have been donated to two organizations dedicated to supporting ongoing disaster relief in California.
Held March 2-3 throughout the seaside Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, the 2018 World of Pinot hosted nearly 3,500 people and featured more than 250 wineries from around the globe.
As it has done throughout its 18 years as a non-profit organization, WOPN held charity silent auctions during the two Grand Tastings. Historically, funds raised are donated to collegiate wine and viticulture programs. But in the wake of the devastating fires and mudslides in wine regions in the Northern and Southern California, this year, the WOPN Board of Directors unanimously dedicated a portion of auction funds to support the Bucket Brigade and CA Wine Strong.
“Just because the fires and mudslides are no longer on the news, the people and communities affected are still struggling,” says WOPN Board President Coby Parker-Garcia. “These two organizations are still working tirelessly to bring relief and rebuild.”
The Bucket Brigade is a volunteer organization that is still digging out homes and yards and trees from the winter mudslides. The funds raised go directly to supplies for digging crews.
CA Wine Strong is the longest-running wine country-fire fundraising advocacy, and works to bring relief and rebuild the affected communities in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
In other news, WOPN is already hard at work on next year’s marquee event, which will be March 1-2, 2019 at Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara.
While more details are forthcoming, the Board of Directors is excited to share that wine journalist Elaine Chukan Brown will be a featured keynote speaker in 2019, as will David Glancy, M.S, founder of the San Francisco Wine School. The WOPN 2019 featured Burgundy producer will be the famed Domain Chanson.
About The World of Pinot Noir:
WOPN, a non-profit trade organization, was established in 2001 by a small, dedicated group of winemakers from California’s Central Coast. The group’s mission is to bring together the world’s foremost Pinot Noir producers, and in a gorgeous setting, celebrate the delicious wine grape. Wineries, potential sponsors and wine enthusiasts interested in learning more, please contact info@wopn.com. Follow and tag us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #wopn #wopn2019
