Beloved charity wine weekend, hosted by James Beard Award–winning Chef Charlie Palmer and Clay & Carrie Mauritson of Mauritson Wines, to be held at the new Appellation Healdsburg on August 21–22, 2026
June 9, 2026 (Healdsburg, CA) — Project Zin, the annual charity celebration uniting 21 of the country’s most coveted Zinfandel producers with the cuisine of Chef Charlie Palmer and Sonoma County’s top chefs, will return for its 16th year on August 21–22, 2026. The intimate gathering where world-class wine, exceptional food, and a profound sense of purpose converge, has found its new home at Appellation Healdsburg. Founded by Clay and Carrie Mauritson of Mauritson Wines and Chef Charlie Palmer, the weekend benefits Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area (DSCBA) and has raised more than $4 million to date to advance awareness, advocacy, and lifelong services for people with Down Syndrome.
Recognized as one of the premier food and wine events in California, Project Zin was born when Clay and Carrie Mauritson’s son, Brady, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at the age of two and a half. The family chose to meet the news with purpose, while simultaneously uniting their community to support families and individuals navigating Down Syndrome nuances daily.
“We would be remiss to not acknowledge that this was a jarring diagnosis to receive knowing there would be limitations that Brady and others would face from the public. As a family, we made a promise to never adhere to a stigma but to celebrate the blessings,” says Clay and Carrie Mauritson. “Fifteen years later, Brady is living proof of this promise as he starts his collegiate venture.”
This fall, Brady Mauritson will begin his first year of college at Clemson University in South Carolina through ClemsonLIFE, a selective postsecondary program that stands for “Learning is for Everyone” and only accepts a small number of students with special education needs each year. His acceptance marks a major accomplishment, all made possible by those who advocate for inclusion. “For a long time, people did not think someone like me would get this chance, but my family and my peers never stopped believing in me,” says Brady Mauritson. “Project Zin shows the world what a gift those with Down Syndrome bring to the world. I cannot wait to start college this fall.”
This year also marks a homecoming as the event moves to Appellation Healdsburg, the new culinary-first resort from Chef Charlie Palmer and hospitality veteran Christopher Hunsberger. Nine years in the making and the first ground-up build of the Appellation brand offers on-site lodging, fire-driven cuisine of Folia Bar & Kitchen, Andys Beeline Rooftop, and The Grange, a barn-inspired event space.
A close friend of the Mauritsons and a fixture of the Healdsburg community for more than two decades, Chef Palmer joined Clay and Carrie to co-found Project Zin in 2011, lending his culinary star power to what began as a modest charity event raising $25,000 in its first year. In the years since, the region’s top winemakers and chefs have joined together each year to support the cause.
One of the most decorated chefs in the country, Chef Charlie Palmer is a James Beard Award winner who has earned more than 20 Michelin stars across his career and is widely regarded as a pioneer of progressive American cooking, with Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen and the resort’s new Folia Bar & Kitchen among his celebrated restaurants.
“Clay and Carrie’s commitment to their son, his peers, and this cause represents everything I believe in about hospitality and human connection,” says Chef Palmer. “To welcome Project Zin home to Appellation Healdsburg, a place we dreamed about for nearly a decade, is one of the greatest honors of my career.”
The weekend’s fundraising centers on a spirited live auction followed by a ceremonial paddle raise inside The Grange, led by Franco Finn, NBA “Hype Man” and in-arena host of the Golden State Warriors. Supporters near and far will also be able to bid via an online silent auction throughout the weekend, ensuring that everyone who believes in the cause can take part.
This year’s auction highlights include a progressive “Magical Bridge” dinner uniting Healdsburg’s most iconic chefs and wineries, with proceeds benefiting the Magical Bridge Playground being built at the town’s reimagined Badger Park, a destination designed to welcome people of every ability; an all-access experience at Sonoma Raceway with Spire Motorsports, putting winning bidders alongside the pit crew for a behind-the-scenes day at the track; a TrueWest cinema takeover, an interactive evening where Clay will screen his favorite movie, paired with wines and bites from local wineries and restaurants. Other one-of-a-kind lots will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets and Appellation Healdsburg lodging packages go on sale Wednesday, June 10 at 11:00 a.m. PDT at projectzin.org. A limited number of General Admission ($250), VIP ($350), and Donor ($500) tickets are available; VIP and Donor guests enjoy early admission, with Donor tickets including two Ultimate Project Zin Cellar raffle entries. Guests who live locally may also opt for the new Saturday Pass ($600), which includes one ticket to the coveted Saturday Rockpile lunch and wine tasting with Clay and Carrie Mauritson, plus a VIP Admission ticket to Saturday evening’s auction.
The two-night Appellation Healdsburg Lodging Package ($3,700) includes luxurious accommodations for two; a welcome wine reception with Clay and Carrie Mauritson (Friday, August 21, 6–7 p.m.); two tickets to the Saturday Lunch, Tour & Tasting at Mauritson Wines (Saturday, August 22, 10:30 a.m.); two VIP tickets to the main event and auction (Saturday, August 22, 5:30–9:30 p.m.); valet parking; and VIP check-in to all events. Bricoleur Vineyards, which hosted Project Zin for the previous five years, will keep the spirit of giving going throughout the weekend. For every two Rooted tasting experiences booked at projectzin.org/events/bricoleur-vineyards-experience using code PZ2026, the winery will donate the value of one tasting directly to the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area.
To receive the most up-to-date information, including the on-sale reminder, guests are encouraged to join the email list at projectzin.org/mailing-list.
Participating Wineries
A. Rafanelli Winery & Vineyards, Bedrock Wine Co., Bricoleur Vineyards, Flambeaux Wine, Gamba Vineyards and Winery, Kokomo Winery, Lambert Bridge Winery, Limerick Lane Cellars, Martinelli Winery, Mauritson Wines, Nalle Winery, Once & Future Wine, Passalacqua Winery, Pedroncelli Winery, Ridge Vineyards, Robert Biale Vineyards, Seghesio Family Vineyards, Turley Wine Cellars, WE KNOW JACK!, Williams Selyem, and Zialena Winery.
Participating Restaurants
Folia Bar & Kitchen at Appellation Healdsburg, Bricoleur Vineyards, Costeaux French Bakery, Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria, Dry Creek Kitchen, Goodnight’s Restaurant, Guiso Latin Fusion, Monti’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes – Santa Rosa, Quail & Condor, Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar, The Matheson & Valette, The Parish Cafe, The Selvedge by SingleThread, and Troubadour, with more to come.
2026 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor: Appellation Healdsburg
Gold Sponsors: American AgCredit, Baker Tilly, and Charlie Palmer Collective
Silver Sponsors: Allen Brothers, Digital Xpress, Encore Events Rentals, Greenleaf, and Tahoe Artesian Water
Bronze Sponsors: Bricoleur Vineyards, Seibel’s Unique Floral and Design, and SEPPI Wines
About Project Zin
Project Zin began in 2011 when Clay and Carrie Mauritson founded the event following their son Brady’s Down Syndrome diagnosis. The annual charity wine event features exactly 21 Zinfandel producers, symbolizing Trisomy 21, and has raised over $4 million to support Down Syndrome advocacy and services. Co-founded with James Beard Award–winning Chef Charlie Palmer, Project Zin has become one of Sonoma County’s most successful charitable events, celebrating both exceptional wine and the power of community support.
About Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area
Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area (DSCBA) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998 dedicated to empowering, inspiring, and supporting people with Down Syndrome, their families, and the community that serves them. DSCBA provides comprehensive services including the Down Syndrome Education Alliance, peer development programs, speech therapy, medical outreach, and family support groups. Following a recent merger with the Down Syndrome Association North Bay, DSCBA now serves families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
About Mauritson Wines
Mauritson Wines represents six generations of grape growing in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, dating back to 1868. Founded by Clay Mauritson in 1998, the family operation encompasses over 350 acres of vineyards and is committed to sustainable farming practices. The winery is known for its exceptional Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Rhône varietals, embodying the heritage and innovation of one of California’s oldest winegrowing families.
For more information about Project Zin and how to get involved in future events, visit www.projectzin.org.
