Ode to Cleavage

Hey, eyes up here.  :)

I’m talking about Cleavage Creek Winery. Have you heard of them yet?  I have been lucky enough to make the acquaintance of their wines and the powerhouse behind them, Budge Brown, on Twitter.  I believe that people come into your life for a reason, and that reason becomes apparent if you pay enough attention. This was an easy one to figure out.

Breast cancer is a cause close to my heart. My grandmother and my great-grandmother both had it. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with it last year and just finished chemotherapy and radiation right before Christmas. Thankfully, she’s doing well.  My aunt, who was diagnosed and treated three years ago is, as I type this morning, in surgery having a tumor removed from her lung. The doctors believe it was caused by the radiation and don’t know yet whether it is malignant. It amazes me that no matter who I speak to, breast cancer has touched their lives in one way or another.  I pray I see a cure in my lifetime, for my daughter and generations to come.  

Enter Cleavage Creek Winery and Budge Brown.  Talk about a person doing everything in their power to help find a cure. This man is amazing.  Budge was married to his wife, Arlene, for 48 years, until Arlene lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005.  Of course, he was devastated and angry. But he chose to turn those emotions into action, which is what sets him apart.  He purchased Cleavage Creek and started making award-winning wines. The thing is, he doesn’t just make great wine. He makes a difference.  10% of gross sales is donated to research to fight breast cancer.  That’s gross, not net.  According to the website, to date, Cleavage Creek and Budge Brown have donated over $73,000 to breast cancer causes.

The first thing you’ll notice about a bottle of Cleavage Creek wine is the label.  Each label has a picture of a breast cancer survivor whose story is featured on the web site. It’s impossible to pour a glass of this wine and drink it without thinking of the women it represents. It’s also impossible to drink it without thinking of the hope it represents.

“Putting a face on this disease and telling the stories of those who are dealing with it personalizes this and hopefully inspires everyone to take on the fight,” offers Brown. 

 To read more about Cleavage Creek and Budge Brown, and to see how exactly these wines are funding breast cancer research, please check out www.CleavageCreek.com.  You can also do your part to help the cause by ordering wine there.
 

I first bought Cleavage Creek wine this past September, when they were having a sale for “Toast To a Cure”.  Toast To a Cure was a virtual toast that took place at 5:00p.m. on October 1st to commemorate the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. People all over participated. I was in wine country with friends (who also have relatives with breast cancer), so we made sure to open our bottle and toast at the appropriate time.  Since then, I have been lucky enough to try a few more bottles of Cleavage Creek wine and have enjoyed all of them.  The new tasting room just opened at the winery and it is my goal to get up there to thank Budge in person and to taste more of these great wines in the next couple of months.  (If anyone is interested in a meet up, let me know and we’ll put something together!)

So far, we’ve tried and loved three of Cleavage Creek’s red wines.  (We have a bottle of the 2007 Secret White but have not had the opportunity to try it yet.)  The first one we tried was the 2007 Tracy Hills Secret Red.  This wine was fermented in stainless steel with an aged oak treatment, which gives it a subtle oak aroma and flavor. On the nose we got lots of raspberry and cherry, with some vanilla and chocolate.  We had this one evening with some holiday dark chocolate and they went really well together – a perfect pairing!

The 2007 Tracy Hills Merlot-Shiraz is 67% Syrah and 33% Merlot, aged in neutral oak. I've really been loving Syrah recently and this was no exception. It had delicious juicy berry flavors and long smooth finish that went on and on.

The 2006 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was the best of the best. It is well balanced and smooth, with some of  my favorite cab characteristics - cherry, black pepper and coffee, with a warm, smooth finish.  This is a delicious wine to drink on a special occasion with someone special.

I really can’t think of a better way to help support a cause.  You buy and drink some wine, which, let’s face it, you’re going to do anyway. And while you’re sipping, you can know that you just helped a good man fund research for a very important cause.  So why not do something good with your wine habit this Wine Wednesday? Go on, what are you waiting for?