Wineries Support Mental Health Awareness Month

$100,000 — that's the amount Chase Renton of L'Angolo Estate in Oregon hopes to raise for the Kevin Love Fund with his limited-production Willamette Valley pinot noir, Resilience. Renton is donating 100% of the proceeds to the nonprofit, which aims to change how the world thinks about mental wellness. May 1 marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, and Renton's release of Resilience is no coincidence.

Renton's mission is personal — he's open about his own struggles with anxiety and depression, which he says have been more challenging than his battle with cancer. "Mental health struggles are far more common than we acknowledge, yet they remain difficult to talk about," Renton says. His goal with Resilience is to create space for conversations about mental health and raise funds for organizations doing the work every day.

On the other side of the West Coast, Bob and Barb Zorich, owners of Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards, are hosting their seventh annual "Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction" fundraising walk on May 31. The event benefits two mental health organizations: One Mind and Santa Barbara's Mental Wellness Center. This is not the first time wineries have used their resources to support mental health initiatives, Napa Valley Vintners, for example, host events and auctions to raise funds for local charities and wine industry workers.

The Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy has been holding an annual wine auction since 1859 to support the local hospital. It's a long-standing tradition of wine being used as a tool for philanthropy. Renton's Resilience pinot noir is a prime example of this tradition continuing in the modern era. The wine is made from his family's organically farmed estate vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA.

Renton's journey with wine began in the Bay Area, where his family had a small vineyard in St. Helena. He later studied at the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy, and worked harvests with exceptional producers in Burgundy and Sonoma. Before founding L'Angolo in 2012, he worked with acclaimed winemaker Isabelle Meunier in Oregon. But in 2017, life took a turn when Renton was diagnosed with cancer. Following surgery and chemotherapy, he entered remission and began hosting charity events.

The fund founded by NBA All-Star Kevin Love will receive the proceeds from Resilience, using the power of education, research, and sharing stories to change how the world thinks about mental wellness. Love's initiative is just one example of the growing awareness and support for mental health issues. Renton's Resilience pinot noir is a tangible representation of this support; a wine that can spark conversations and raise funds for those in need.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close on May 31, the Zorichs' "Peace of Mind" walk will take place, benefiting two mental health organizations. The Zorichs' event supports a broader effort to increase awareness of the opportunities available for those in need of mental health assistance. Make no mistake, the wine industry's support for mental wellness initiatives is not limited to these two events - it's a growing trend that will continue to make a difference in the lives of those affected by mental health issues.

The short version: wine is being used to support mental wellness initiatives, and it's working. Renton's Resilience pinot noir and the Zorichs' "Peace of Mind" walk are just two examples of the wine industry's efforts to raise awareness and funds for mental health issues. Worth watching: how these initiatives will continue to grow and make a difference in the lives of those affected by mental health issues. Read that again: 100% of the proceeds from Resilience will go to support mental wellness, a cause that aims to change how the world thinks about mental health.

In the Western Slope, folks around here are no strangers to the importance of mental health support. The question is, what local initiatives will follow the lead of Renton and the Zorichs? The community will be watching to see how these efforts unfold and how they can get involved. For now, the focus is on the impact that wine can have on mental wellness initiatives. and it's significant.