Let's Raise a Glass to Social Responsibility

A Napa Valley winemaker has joined a socially responsible project that takes its inspiration from the New Testament passage where Jesus turns water to wine. Michel Rolland has partnered with CNN Hero Doc Hendley, founder of Wine To Water, which has provided water to approximately 100,000 people in twelve countries, and Montesquieu Wines, a California winery and importer. Together, they are selling a wine called Bonne Nouvelle to raise funds for clean water projects in Ethiopia.

There's a water crisis in that country. Every day millions of people struggle for their lives due to drought and contaminated water. WTW says one billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. "We are devoted to fighting this epidemic. Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. Our goal is to give the fortunate population an opportunity to fight for those who can't fight for themselves," the charity says on its website.

Proceeds from the sales of Bonne Nouvelle (which means 'good news' in French) will go directly to Wine To Water to dig deep bore wells in the Dale region of Southern Ethiopia, where 6 out of 10 people lack access to clean water. The project's initial goal is to raise $40,000, which is enough to fund four wells, providing permanent water access for over 8,000 people.

For each bottle sold, US$20 will go to the project. Bonne Nouvelle is hand-crafted from vines on a mountainside vineyard in the famed Stellenbosch region; the 2003 Bonne Nouvelle is a beautifully rendered reflection of South African terroir. It is described as a "perfectly-matured blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Pinotage" with "an alluring bouquet of black currants and forest pine, a complex palate layered with dense cherry, graphite and delicate smoke, and an enduring finish that coats the mouth with mint chocolate and fine tannins."

Montesquieu Wines' founder Fonda Hopkins, who works separately with Michel Rolland and Doc Hendley on several other projects, brought them together to forge this partnership. "Michel and Doc come from completely different backgrounds," said Hopkins. "But both men are so passionate about life and committed to excellence that this project came together as a natural fit." Montesquieu is facilitating the partnership by importing and distributing the wine at no charge.

"It's wonderful to see some of the top players in the wine community step up to the plate to make such a difference," said Hendley. In 2009, Hendley was named a CNN Top 10 Hero for his work. He is currently touring the nation discussing his new book Wine to Water: A Bartender's Quest to Bring Clean Water to the World, published by Penguin.

Image credit: WTW