Welcome to Week 2 of the Virtual Tasting for Charity 2025
It’s weird not following FMIII and I miss his leadership in this yearly event, but as they say, the show must go on.
Theme: Shipping Season Wines - Same theme as last year. Tis the season when those wines you purchased during the Spring/Summer get shipped. We all have our favorites that we continue to buy each year and we tend to have a lot of back vintages piling up as well. Choose a producer who shipped you wine this year and surprise us with a selection of a current or past vintage. Could be Sparkling, White, Pink, Orange, Red… lot’s of choices. Pop those corks, grab your camera and let’s help change some lives.
Charity: Russian River Youth Center
Same charity as last year as well. Most of you are aware that I own a tool business in Sonoma County. One of my longtime accounts has been an Auto Repair business called Noel’s Automotive. They were originally located in Guerneville. When Noel retired 20yrs ago one of his employees took the business over and moved it to the small town of Monte Rio. During that time the new owner, Charlie, hired a couple kids to work for him. Chris and Josh came from broken homes and basically raised themselves from their teen years through adulthood. When Charlie was ready to retire he sold the business to Chris and Josh. In the decade since the sale the two have grown the business, branched off a Tire Business and also a Construction Company that brings affordable home repairs/construction to their underserved community. On the idea of giving back to the community, They also started a youth center in Guerneville, where they grew up, serving the youth who are in similar situations to when they were young and homeless. Josh rented a warehouse space, painted the floors, added a basketball hoop and it grew from there. Ping pong, weight training, boxing, wrestling, nutrition, education and just a safe place to hang out.
“Some of the youth we serve are at high risk. They range in age from 10 to 21, and many are from low-income households. Many share unique challenges accompanied by growing up in the rural river area of west Sonoma County. Reliable, stable adult role models are critical in helping them to develop their sense of self and community-wide involvement helps them to discover their place in the world. Being in a remote area with limited public transportation and often overextended parents; R.R.Y.C. provides a trusted safe haven, a reliable home away from home. Here our youth can challenge themselves and dare to dream, while at the same time, experience a break from screen time. In other words, R.R.Y.C matters, because it’s a place where kids can be kids - a critical aspect of their healthy development.”
Donation - I’ll donate $5 for each tasting note, $10 if you post a photo of yourself with the wine to the Russian River Youth Center. Help me help Chris and Josh provide this valuable service to the youth of West Sonoma County. I encourage matching or singular donations as well. Click the link and then click the “Donate Now” button. Any amount helps make a difference. Leave them a note and let them know that the Wineberserkers appreciate their dedication to the next generation of Community Leaders.
Cheers! 
