Drink good wine, do good works

A California wine producer wants wine lovers to sniff, swirl and drink up because it’s for a good cause.

Agent for Change Wines’ mission statement is “Drink Good Wine, Do Good Works” and they back it up by supporting access to healthcare for California vineyard workers. Fifty percent of the profits from each of the wines – 2005 Cabernet-Merlot, 2006 Zinfandel, both from Paso Robles and 2006 Sauvignon Blanc from California’s Central Coast – are donated to community-based organizations that deliver health care to uninsured and underinsured workers in the wine industry. 

(According to the Wine Institute, the charitable contributions from California wineries totaled $101.5 million last year.) 

“Agent for Change Wines is a portfolio of wines produced to create awareness and raise funds for worthy causes,” said winemaker and company owner Greg Martellotto. “Years ago, I was working in the field of public health and became involved in immigrant health issues on the Texas border.”

That experience provided insight through experience and he launched Agent for Change Wines in the midst of the recession last year. According to him, it was the right thing to do.

As the production and distribution business grew so did his passion for sharing his abundance with those less fortunate. 

As an established wine producer, importer and distributor, Martellotto formed alliances with wineries in California, Oregon and Washington that agreed with the A4C (Agent for Change) mission. His grapes are sourced from various California wineries. His “vineyard first” philosophy focuses on sustainable and biodynamic farming practices.

“I am an Italian-American and my style of winemaking was formed by European methods such as blending balanced fruit and acidity,” he said. “Many people who have tasted the Zinfandel have commented favorably because it is not like biting into an oak barrel and it’s not sweet like jelly. It is a balanced wine with a palate bursting with black cherries and a soft and supple finish.

“It’s just good quality wine at a fair value.”

In partnership with BigHammerWines.com, a California-based online retailer, A4C wines are available for sale online in more than 20 states. The Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend and the Sauvignon Blanc both sell online for $12. The Zinfandel is $15. He predicts the program will continue to expand.

“At the end of the day our state’s agriculture stands on shoulders of immigrant laborers,” Martellotto said. “And, as it turns out many restaurant customers also stand on the same labor base.”