GrEAT wInE, worThY cAUSES cellar Angels brings together hidden wine gems and charitable giving Cellar Angel’s Martin Cody (right) sets up a shot at a client winery oin napa’s northeast corner sits “Land numerous lakes. “I’ve been coming to Napa for nearly twenty years, andook at this place,” Cody exclaimed as he stood next to a two-acre “postage-stamp” vineyard tucked at the base of Howell Mountain amidst rolling hillsTheountainmanch.rowellheibelhn the back side ofpicturesquethe rugged terrain, hillside lakes and a until recently, never knew it existed. It has the beauty of the Alps, plus the rocky small, meticulous vineyard are far away outcrops and boulders of Burgundy, and it produces exceptional fruit. This is a place wine lovers need to see, and we’re delighted to share it with them.” from the hustle and bustle of most napa wineries, but exactly where, on a Cody and a group of wine-loving friends founded Cellar Angels in 2010 with the intent crisp April morning, cellar Angels was of introducing exceptional Napa wines to a growing list of wine lovers. These wines are rarely seen in retail locations, and are seldom available outside the winery. What else did he preparing to film the story of heibel hope to accomplish? ranch Vineyards (hrV). hrV is among the ninety percent of napa county With Cellar Angels he combines saving and giving—and it works. “I’ve yet to encounter someone who doesn’t enjoy saving money. It doesn’t matter if they’re purchasing wineries that produce under 5,000 a second home or a pair of shoes —we all like getting a deal. People also like to support cases annually, and precisely the type of causes which resonate with them, and Cellar Angels allows you to do both.” winery cellar Angels’ founder martin How? Once each week, the Cellar Angels members receive an email announcing that cody seeks to feature to the quickly week’s discounted wine offer. Members log in, purchase their wine and then personally growing cellar Angels membership. select from among eighteen charities that Cellar Angels will donate portions of proceeds cellar Angels is among the most unusual towards. The wine is shipped directly from the winery to the member’s home or business, wine-buying sites in the country, and and often with extra special perks not found anywhere. Among these perks include signed they’re quickly changing how people bottles by the winemaker, complimentary private tours and tastings, or Cody’s personal buy and become educated about wine, favorite, a direct phone call from the winemaker. specificallynapa Valley wine, while also It’s stunning to realize that eighty-five percent of the 900+ wineries in just Napa have donating to charities. little to zero distribution outside California. This means the only way wine enthusiasts can discover these incredible wines is to taste them at the winery, or perhaps at a major B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E restaurant. Cellar Angels wanted to change that, and their model provides access nationally. Additionally, in order to help the wine lover truly learn about the winery and wine, Cellar Angels produces a professional-quality video that accompanies each weekly wine offer. Cody feels the internet is the single greatest tool for both these small wineries and the consumer who wants to find out about them. “There are thousands of young wine lovers getting more and more interested in wine each day. We provide the connection to the great wineries of Napa and allow them to learn, enjoy and give from the comfort of home. It’s truly a virtual tasting each week, or as one of our Angels put it, ‘charity giving on steroids with a wine celebration.’ That works for us, especially when the wine is among the best in the world.” As the Heibel Ranch Vineyards shoot wraps, Cody is once again on his cell phone, where most of his business is conducted. He turns and, with a twinkle in his eye, excitedly informs the crew, “Wait until you hear who contacted us from Pritchard Hill!” For more information and to sign up to receive one email per week, visit www.cellarangels.com 64 w w w . n A P A V A L L E Y L I F E m A G A z I n E . c o m
NVLife_JulyAug_2012
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