For the second year in a row, Distinguished Vineyards, which includes MacRostie, Markham, Argyle and Wither Hills, will serve as the wine ambassador for the James Beard Foundation’s Impact Programs.
LARKSPUR, Calif. – March 12, 2019 – Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners is proud to announce its continued support of the James Beard Foundation’s Impact and Women’s Leadership Programs. Building on the groundwork established by its 2018 partnership with the Foundation, the wineries of Distinguished Vineyards will continue to serve as the exclusive wine partners for these progressive and effective initiatives. Designed to create a more sustainable food system through education, advocacy, and thought leadership, the James Beard Foundation’s Impact Programs include the Leadership Awards, Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change, Issue Summits, Full-Use Kitchen online curriculum and Smart Catch Program. It also includes the Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Programs, which are committed to advancing women in the culinary industry and correcting the gender imbalance that is pervasive in restaurants by cultivating, training, and supporting women throughout their professional careers.
“Whether in food or wine, our Foundation’s mission of championing sustainability is most effective when it is led from within the industries we are trying to change,” said Katherine Miller, vice president of Impact at the James Beard Foundation. “With their acclaimed portfolio of wines, and a deep commitment to sustainability, Distinguished Vineyards is an ideal partner in our mission to empower the country’s culinary thought-leaders to drive change in the food system.”
Distinguished Vineyards has established an acclaimed portfolio, with a focus on iconic wineries from some of the world’s most prestigious wine regions, including the recent acquisition of Markham Vineyards in the Napa Valley. The company has also earned praise for its diverse workplace, principled leadership, and environmental stewardship. Currently, Wither Hills holds Sustainable Winegrowing NZ accreditation, Argyle is Oregon Certified Sustainable, MacRostie is Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, and Markham Vineyards is certified Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming.
“We believe that the best way to make great wineries even better is by empowering our employees, and creating a culture that advocates for equality, social equity and environmental stewardship,” says Steve Myers, managing director of Distinguished Vineyards. “These are the things that matter to us, our employees, and our customers, and it is why our partnership with the James Beard Foundation and its pioneering Impact and Women’s Leadership Programs are so exciting. We aim to make exceptional wines, while making a meaningful and lasting difference in our workplace and our communities.”
About Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners
Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners owns and represents a collection of iconic wineries worldwide. The wineries and its people are committed to programs and partnerships that support cultural sustainability with a focus on well-being, sociability, diversity and inclusiveness in both its workplace and the communities in which they operate. Recognized as benchmarks for their regions with a longstanding and pedigreed history, the US portfolio includes Argyle Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, MacRostie Winery and Vineyards in the Russian River Valley, and Markham Vineyards in the Napa Valley, while the import wines include Wither Hills from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. For more information, visit www.dvwinepartners.com.
About the James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation’s mission is to promote good food for good™. For more than 30 years, the James Beard Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives. Through the James Beard Awards, unique dining experiences at the James Beard House and around the country, scholarships, hands-on learning, and a variety of industry programs that educate and empower leaders in our community, the Foundation has built a platform for chefs and asserted the power of gastronomy to drive behavior, culture, and policy change around food. To that end, the Foundation has also created signature impact-oriented initiatives that include our Women’s Leadership Programs aimed at addressing the gender imbalance in the culinary industry; advocacy training through our Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change; and the James Beard Foundation Leadership Awards that shine a spotlight on successful change makers. The organization is committed to giving chefs and their colleagues a voice and the tools they need to make the world more sustainable, equitable, and delicious for everyone. For more information, please visit jamesbeard.org and follow @beardfoundation on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
