Charitable Gift Giving

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Charity Wine: Give OneHOPE Wine for charity

November 9th, 2010 · 11 Comments · AIDS, Autism, Breast Cancer, Children's Charities, Conservation, Veterans and Military

OneHOPE Wine for CharityWhen visiting someone’s house for a dinner party this holiday season, there are few gifts that are both as practical and as meaningful as a good bottle of wine. There’s something about a bottle of wine that makes any dinner special. That 2-liter bottle of Coke doesn’t have nearly the story to tell as those grapes from far away that have been sitting in a oak barrel waiting years to be opened up and enjoyed. A good bottle of wine makes the heart happy. And when you pair the wine perfectly to the meal that’s being cooked, it just makes the evening complete.

The world seems to be split into two halves: those who know everything there is to know about wine and those who have no clue. I squarely in the latter half. I’ve been on wine tastings and I know the basics (swirl and sniff, red wine goes with red meat, and so on), but ask me what the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, and I’ll just smile and nod.

A few weeks ago, OneHOPE wine contacted me and told me about their products. They’re a company that partners with some of the best wineries in Northern California to produce their own wine label. They sell six varietals (Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir), each of which donates 50% of proceeds to a different charity (Breast cancer, AIDS, Conservation, the Troops, Autism, and Children’s Hospitals respectively).

Giving a random bottle of wine from the local Target is one thing. But when you give one of these wines, you’re not only assured a great, high-quality wine–you can also show your recipient how much you care about these importance causes, and bring awareness (and perhaps some good dinner conversation) about them.

White Wines:

  1. Chardonnay: This is a California white with hints of fresh apple blossom and honeysuckle, with vibrant crisp pear and apple on your palette. This is a wine that is absolutely perfect when paired with broiled or grilled seafood, poultry dishes, and cheese. 50% of profits benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
  2. Sauvignon Blanc: This light, refreshing, crisp wine has a pale, golden color. You can taste subtle flavors of pink grapefruit and bright, grassy undertones.  It’s perfect with salmon, halibut, light pasta dishes, fresh fruit, and cheese. 50% of profits benefit the American Forest Foundation, which works to protect the forests of the United States.
  3. Pinot Noir: This wine comes from Force Canyon Vineyard in the Arroyo Seco Canyon, next to the cool breezes and bright sunshine of Monterrey Bay, which give it a very uniquely Californian flavor profile. It’s aged for seven months in French and American oak; sniffing the wine, you can sense aromas of raspberries, blackberries, and roses. Wonderful when paired with lean meats, dishes cooked with early flavors like truffles and mushrooms and mild, creamy cheeses such as brie and camembert.   50% of profits go to The Children’s Hospitals, which treat 17 million children each year.

Red Wines:

  1. Merlot: This wine is an extremely diverse wine with a bright cherry color. It is very versatile as far as food pairings go–it goes well with poultry, pork, pastas, and salads. 50% of profits go to AIDS/Lifecycle, a bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles which brings education and awareness to fighting AIDS.
  2. Zinfandel: This wine has an extremely rich red color with luscious dark flavors such as plum and black cherry. It pairs well with foods such as pizza, barbecue ribs, and lamb. 50% of profits go to Snowball Express, a great organization that supports families and children of those in the military who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
  3. Cabernet Sauvignon: This is the red wine that most people think of when they say “red wine”. It has a dark, ruby red color and rich flavors that evoke lush black cherry, cassis, and a hint of tobacco. It is fantastic with roasted and grilled meat, such as roast lamb, prime rib, or porterhouse steak. 50% of profits go to ACT Today, a fine organization which helps autistic children.

Are the wines really high quality? OneHOPE sent me a bottle of Chardonnay to sample. The bottle was beautiful, with a sleek black label and a ribbon emblem tied around the neck. The wine was fantastic. It was a beautiful gold color, and true to its description, had a light fruity feel about it, which would be fantastic with lobster or grilled chicken.

Bottom line, it’s a wonderful bottle of wine that makes a fantastic gift and helps some  great causes.

Visit their online store to buy your wine gifts for this coming holiday season!

OneHOPE has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader a $50 Gift Card to their online store! This is enough to buy at least two bottles of wine. To be eligible for the drawing, just click the brand new Facebook “Like” button on the right side of this page and then post a comment here saying which wine you’d choose and why. I’ll announce a winner in a few weeks!


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11 Comments so far ↓

  • Toni

    I’d choose the Pinot Noir, one of my favorites, but more importantly where the proceeds go, nothing saddens me more than sick children, so it’s a great cause!

  • Holly C.

    My first pick of a One Hope wine would be the chardonnay. You can’t go wrong with hints of fruit and flowers and what better cause than finding a cure for breast cancer!

  • Trisha Hollingsworth

    This is a great gift idea which I had already planned on doing for Christmas. I would choose the Pinot Noir, the proceeds goes to Childrens Hospital. My dear friends daughter is 18 months old and was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. The LA childrens hospital has been amazing in helping her but its going to be a long road. The Childrens Hospital can use all the charity us wine drinkers can buy!!

  • Pat Woods

    My favorite One Hope Wine, is there a bad one?
    Then to know they are giving 50% of the profits to help people in need, now how much better can it get. A good bottle of wine and helping a charity, too. I also like the arm bands!!
    I guess my favorite is the chardonnay. I love the light refreshing flavor, just the right touch after a long day at work!!!

  • Pat Woods

    My favorite one hope wine, is there a bad one?
    good wine and help a charity, too, how can you lose? 50% of the profits help people in need, so enjoy your glass of wine and feel good in more ways than one. LOL!! cute wrist bands, too.
    I guess my favorite is the Chardonnay. so light and refreshing after a long day at work. my screen saver is a bottle of one hope wine and a glass filled with good vino!!

  • Megan

    I would be excited to try the Pinot Noir, followed by the Zin. Love this company, love the wine, love giving it as a gift.

  • Courtney

    I would most definitely try the Chardonnay. I prefer whites over reds, but another reason is because of the cause. Breast cancer has touched my family and many families close to me. Helping in the fight against breast cancer is a good reason to pour a glass and toast to a cure!

  • Judy

    i would definitely try the pinot noir. i love gift giving wine around the holidays, it seems most appropriate if going to a holiday dinner party or needing to find a quick gift for someone. also love the cause!

  • Brian

    The Onehope Zin is amazing. Just had it this past weekend and the San Diego Food and Wine festival. Great idea and a great team behind it. Cheers.

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