SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsTalley Vineyards program assists Farm WorkersThursday, April 27, 2006The Talleys in 2004 embarked on a 10-year program to generate up to $1 million to assist farmworkers and their families. An exciting new wrinkle is the May 6 release of Mano Tinta, a wine in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward this cause. A Cinco de Mayo celebration is planned to honor this novel idea. Several hundred people are expected at the winery, with a mariachi band, abundant food and drink bolstered by a world of good sentiment. More than 500 cases of Mano Tinta have been produced, which could raise up to $50,000 for the cause.This is the latest effort for the Fund for Vineyard and Farmworkers, which provides grants to local non-profit organizations that assist those who work in the fields. Areas of greatest need include housing, health care and education. The Talleys established the fund, seeking a way to provide a legacy to the memory of their grandmother who had just passed away and to help the workers who are fundamental to their success. "Farmworkers really are the backbone of my family's business," Brian Talley said. "Since I've been working here going on 30 years, I have come to know and appreciate what these people do for us. I also thought it's a great way to bring together the agricultural community in San Luis Obispo County, to support this kind of an effort." Mano Tinta costs $18 a bottle and is a blend of three robust red varieties: syrah, petite syrah and tempranillo. The result is a big, rich wine that goes down smooth and offers something extra--a sip of social consciousness. "Agriculture in California could not exist without the important contribution that these folks make," Talley said. "Farmworkers are literally responsible for getting all kinds of food products out of the field and onto our table. It's often wrongly classified as unskilled labor. In fact, there is quite a bit of skill associated with the various jobs that we do here." Excerpts above from an article by Jim Morris at the California Farm Bureau Federation: Unique wine gives back to farmworkers Read More
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