SONRISE EQUESTRIAN FOUNDATION AND MURRIETA’S WELL WINERY PARTNER TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL WINE & EQUINE FESTIVAL
(Livermore Valley, CA, July 14)–Building public knowledge and support for the East Bay-based SonRise Foundation, Murrieta’s Well Winery hosted two of the foundation’s miniature horses at a wine release event at the historic winery in the Livermore Valley last weekend. The winery is the presenting sponsor of the Foundation’s 3rd Annual Wine & Equine Festival, to be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, from 1pm to 5pm at the Charles Wilhelm Training Center in Castro Valley. The annual fundraiser provides vital funds to support the non-profit SonRise Foundation’s mission to help children through crisis while rescuing horses in need. Tickets for this fundraiser are $75 per person and may be purchased at sonriseequestrianfoundation or call 925-838-7433 (RIDE). Net proceeds go to SonRise Equestrian Foundation, which is operated by an all-volunteer staff.
“On this single day, we aim to raise 50 percent of our operating budget for the entire year,” said Melanie Buerke, Founder of SonRise Equestrian Foundation. “Our program serves children with social, emotional, or physical challenges, including terminal illness. Our programs help them develop confidence through mentoring and peer relationships centered on the care and enjoyment of horses. By loving the horses, they learn to love themselves.” There is currently a waiting list to participate in the program.
“There is a natural affinity between our winery and this special organization, as we share a love of horses and recognition of their gentle, restorative natures,” said Murrieta’s Well Co-Founder Sergio Traverso. “Helping to raise money for an organization that touches lives in this way is a great honor.”
In addition to sustainably farmed wines from Murrieta’s Well and Wente Vineyards, the Festival will feature a gourmet barbeque, live and silent auctions, a wine cellar raffle and a horse show featuring world renowned horse trainer Charles Wilhelm and the children of SonRise.
About SonRise
SonRise Equestrian Foundation is a volunteer-based non-profit organization making a positive difference for children ages 8 to 18 living with social, emotional, or physical challenges including terminal illness. Participating children develop confidence, integrity and responsibility through mentoring and peer relationships centered on the care and enjoyment of horses.
About Murrieta’s Well
Set in the heart of the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), as well as the greater San Francisco Bay AVA, the winery is 35 miles east of San Francisco. Surrounded by vineyards, the serene, idyllic location of Murrieta’s Well has a sense of timeless romanticism.
Today Murrieta’s Well grows eleven varietals, nine red and two white, on 92-acres of sustainably farmed vineyards. The red varietals originated in France, Spain, Croatia and Portugal, and include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Mouvedre, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Souzao, Touriga Francesca, and Touriga Nacional. White varietals are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The winery produces 5,000 to 8,000 cases of estate wine annually, depending on vintage conditions, with quality as the ultimate determining factor.
About Wente Family Estates
Wente Family Estates encompasses three distinctive wineries, all nestled in the southern foothills of the beautiful Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well and Tamás Estates. These wineries source 100 percent of their fruit from the Wente family’s sustainably farmed estate vineyards located in the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco regions of California. Each winery offers its own unique portfolio of wines, from small-lot rarities to those for everyday enjoyment. Owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations, the Wente family celebrated 125 years of winemaking excellence in 2008.
