Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/333548
1 0 6 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | J u l y - A u g 2 014 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m In 2007, Sonoma County radio personality Ziggy Eschliman ("Ziggy the Wine Gal") created a fundrais- er to benefit the Sonoma County YWCA, called Women, Wine & Cheese. Held annually at the Fair- mont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the event highlights female chee- semakers and winemakers from Sonoma County and neighboring areas, and their products are fea- tured at the reception and lunch. "My initial idea for the event came from the notion that we're already wine-soaked with events out here," Eschliman said. "There are so many winemaker dinners, winemaker lunches, grand tastings, this appellation tasting, that appel- lation tasting. And while all of those are fun, I wanted to create some- thing that is totally unique. "I started thinking about women and wine, about women winemak- ers, women winery owners, promi- inconsistent. The monthly plan soon fell by the wayside. "It was a winning format, but it wasn't like a weekly thing, where I think we would have gotten a lot more trac- tion," he said. Instead of trying to keep up with a regular schedule at the winery, Chaddsford has decided to host occasional afternoon events for women at the Peddler's Village location. Two events are planned for the fall, including one called Wine & Spirits, featuring a local psychic. The theme is a repeat of a sold-out LNO event held at the winery last year. "People like those kinds of quirky events," B e a u c h e s n e s a i d . " We t r y t o make it an experience beyond just, 'Come out for a wine tasting.'" WINE, WOMEN & FUNDRAISING Women-and-wine events have become hot tickets not only for individual wineries, but for charita- ble organizations. nent women in wine. Then I started thinking about all these incredible women cheesemakers that are right here in our community." WW&C raised approximately $40,000 in its first year. In 2013, it raised more than $200,000. "Last year, we had 450 people, and it's been sold out for the last five years," Eschliman said. Funds are generated through ticket sales, along with a spirited live auction. Other than the good feeling that comes from helping local women and children, Eschliman said, win- ery participants gain the opportuni- ty to engage with a highly desirable target audience: affluent women. "A lot of the women who are buy- ing tickets have a pretty substantial income, so they're the demograph- ic that you want in your wine club," she noted. Each table of 10 attendees is hosted by a prominent female in Ziggy Eschliman works the crowd at the 2013 Women, Wine & Cheese fundraiser with chef Duskie Estes of zazu kitchen + farm and Chaney Claypool of Claypool Cellars. Photo: Will Bucquoy