Staff Report

The 12^th annual Vino de Sueños (Wine of Dreams) benefit wine release celebration will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton.

The public is invited to attend the event, which raises money to support services provided to farm, ranch, and vineyard workers and their families by the nonprofit People Helping People (PHP).

Vino de Sueños debuted in November 2008, was organized by a small group of local premium winemakers to specifically help farm and vineyard workers. PHP was selected as the beneficiary because of the large number of farm and vineyard workers the group assists. Founding wineries were Alma Rosa, Buttonwood, Clos Pepé, Feliz Noché, Foxen, Longoria, and Presidio.

Vino de Sueños (VDS) is the brand name for People Helping People’s wine series released each year at the annual event.

“This year, twelve of the best Santa Barbara County wineries are donating wines bottled under the exclusive VDS label. These wines will be available for tasting and sale at the release celebration,” said Becky Barieau, VDS event chair.

The lineup of 2019 wineries are Alma Rosa Winery, The Brander Vineyard, Buttonwood Farm & Winery, Dierberg Vineyard, Foxen Winery, Ken Brown Wines, Kita’ Wines, Lincourt Vineyards, Longoria Wines, Refugio Ranch Vineyards, Riverbench Vineyard & Winery, and Stolpman Vineyards.

There will be individual white and red wines for every taste and budget. All VDS wines are specially discounted for this fundraising event. White wine and red wine six-pack samplers and individual cases will be available for further discounted prices.

Dean Palius, PHP CEO, said that the agency serves nearly 800 farm, ranch, and vineyard workers and their family members each year in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos Valleys.

“All in, the services cost in excess of $260,000 and we simply could not afford to serve all of those in need without the donations of our winemakers and lead sponsors, the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Foundation, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation, Coastal Vineyard Care Associates, All American Label, Fund for Santa Barbara, and Uva Design Studios,” Palius added.

Another unique aspect of the Vino de Sueños wines is that every year each winery’s VDS bottle label includes the “dream” icon originated by artist Karina Puente and a reproduction of an original art piece.

“We have been extremely blessed each year to have so many local artists willing to contribute to this effort,” Barieau added.

This year’s original labels will be based on the art of Peggy Brierton, Chris Chapman, Jim Farnum, Kevin Gleason, Rebecca Gomez, Suzan Hamilton-Todd, Patricia Hedrick Duncan, John Iwerks, Renée Kelleher, Sharon Tate, and Seyburn Zorthian.

The artists’ original works will be prominently displayed at the event and will be available for purchase via a silent auction. Art lovers can obtain a preview of the art at www.vinodesuenos.com.

This is the 12th straight year that Kros Andrade, owner of UVA Design Studios, is designing the unique Vino de Sueños wine labels.

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to volunteer for this event, give back to farm and vineyard workers, and support a very worthy nonprofit like People Helping People,” Andrade said.

In addition to the wine tasting, wine sale, and art auction, the release event on Nov. 9 will feature a silent auction of upscale lifestyle items and select wines, live music by the Complicated Animals (https://www.complicatedanimals.com), and appetizer stations catered by some of the top chefs on the Central Coast, including Jeff Olsson of Industrial Eats and New West Catering, Brett Stevens of High on the Hog, and K’Syrah Catering.

PHP will also host an exclusive event within the event, the VIP and Patron Lounge. In addition, Decadence Fine Cakes and Confections will provide special desserts and Cailloux Cheese Shop will furnish gourmet cheeses.

General ($50 each or $45 “early bird”), VIP, and Patron tickets are now on sale. To purchase tickets or read more, visit www.vinodesuenos.com or contact Kristina at kristina@syvphp.org or 805-686-0295.