The Women-Owned and Led Winery Pledges $25,000 to Support Initiatives to Empower Women’s Leadership for a More Sustainable World
SANTA MARIA, CA – March 2, 2022 – Cambria Estate Winery, the Santa Maria Valley winery founded in 1986 and known for its single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, today announced its partnership with Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA). Each year, Cambria partners with an organization that works to create a more sustainable world and provide opportunities for women. A champion for women’s empowerment and sustainability efforts in the wine industry, Cambria launches this partnership during Women’s History Month to drive visibility and philanthropic support for the grassroots climate solutions led by WEA Leaders around the world, and pledges to match up to $25,000 in donations.
Since its inception, Cambria has maintained a proud legacy of strong female leadership with owner and winery co-founder, Barbara Banke, and her daughters Katie (Katherine) and Julia Jackson, who now serve as co-proprietors. In the wine cellar, Cambria’s female leadership spans more than 25 years and includes General Manager Denise Shurtleff, who previously spent two decades as Cambria’s winemaker, and continues with the current winemaker, Jill Russell, who joined the winery in 2017, alongside a team largely consisting of women.
Cambria also fosters sustainability initiatives that extend beyond their vineyards and acclaimed wines. The winery holds certifications from both California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) and Sustainability in Practice (SIP). These certifications are holistic in nature and ensure that the winery meets agricultural, ecological, and community requirements, which include reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, utilizing renewable energy, and cultivating an equitable environment for employees.
In partnership with WEA, this donation will support efforts to provide leadership, strategy, and technical training for Indigenous women leaders in the United States to scale their climate and environmental initiatives. WEA’s model identifies grassroots women leaders working on the frontlines to reverse climate change and protect their communities’ natural resources, livelihoods, and health. By investing in long-term leadership through training, funding, and networks of support, WEA supports women leaders to scale the reach, impact, and longevity of their solutions beyond initial project investments – creating a ripple effect that benefits women’s communities, regions, our Earth, and future generations.
“We are proud to partner with Women’s Earth Alliance and support their work to create a more sustainable world and provide opportunities for women,” says Katie Jackson, co-proprietor of Cambria Estate Winery. “Their mission closely aligns with key tenets that Cambria holds, and we encourage others to join us in celebrating Women’s History Month and consider supporting organizations like Women’s Earth Alliance who are actively providing the means to create a better world and a platform for women to succeed.”
To learn more about Cambria Estate Winery and how you can support the Women’s Earth Alliance visit cambriawines.com/womens-day.
About Cambria Estate Winery
Cambria Estate Winery is one of Santa Maria Valley and Santa Barbara County’s most iconic, storied wineries dating back to 1986 when it was founded by wine icon Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke. Today, the winery remains family-owned and operated, with daughters Julia and Katie Jackson serving as co-proprietors. The winery produces exceptional Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that are the truest expression of its single vineyard sourcing from its eponymous Julia’s Vineyard and Katherine’s Vineyard. Every wine bearing the Cambria name is 100% sustainably grown and produced on the estate. To learn more about Cambria, please visit www.cambriawines.com and follow Cambria on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @CambriaWines.
About Women’s Earth Alliance
Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA) is on a mission to protect our environment, end the climate crisis, and ensure a just, thriving world by empowering women’s leadership. Since 2006, WEA has worked at the intersection of women’s rights and the environment, creating impactful programming serving grassroots leaders around key environmental themes of climate change, water, agriculture, land protection, and energy. In partnership with national and global NGOs, WEA co-designs capacity-building trainings to provide leadership, strategy, technical training, and funding for women leaders to scale their climate and environmental justice initiatives while connecting them to a global alliance of peers, mentors, and funders. Through WEA programs, more than 13M people in 24 countries have implemented life-saving environmental solutions within Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Americas, and Indonesia. Learn more at womensearthalliance.org and follow WEA on Instagram/Facebook at @womensearthalliance, and Twitter at @womensearthally.
