The Wine Enthusiast Companies have been committed to giving back to local communities, as well as wine industry initiatives for those in need, since inception. Its founders, the Strum family, have long supported organizations promoting health, the environment, gender equality, the arts, and funds supporting the wine- and food worlds during crises.
For years, Wine Enthusiast Media has donated funds to and sponsored events for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation of Greater New York City, and participated in scholarship funds for aspiring wine industry women via the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation.
In the wake of the devastating 2017 wildfires in California wine country, Wine Enthusiast Media partnered with Rebuild Wine Country, a Habitat for Humanity partner dedicated to rebuilding homes for owners and renters most in need in hard-hit Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Lake and Mendocino Counties.
In 2019, Wine Enthusiast Media donated funds to the Sonoma County-based charity Corazón Healdsburg, whose programs for the vital Latino community improve health and wellbeing through innovative partnerships and community-driven programming, with a goal to break cycles of poverty and improve quality of life. That year, the support aided the Kincaid fire relief fund for area citizens most impacted by the Sonoma wildfires.
Responding to the millions of restaurant industry workers impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Wine Enthusiast Companies donated 10% of all retails sales from its wineenthusiast.com website and call center over a two-day period to the The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) fund, ensuring that thousands of unemployed workers received direct and crucial aid.
In 2021, the company partnered with Rethink Food, a nonprofit that works with communities impacted by food insecurity. Wine Enthusiast pledged 10% of all sales made on February 2–3, 2021, to go directly to the organization to support Rethink Certified, a partnership program that feeds communities and keeps restaurants in business, not just in times of crisis.
Also in 2021, Wine Enthusiast Companies joined forces with the Association of African American Vintners—a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of African American vintners, creating a strong community that shares knowledge and educational opportunities for BIPOC professionals, and expands diversity-driven outreach to wine consumers—on a membership matching program and joint events series titled “Paths to Success.”
This year, Wine Enthusiast Companies became a member of the Corporate Accomplices Program with ihollaback.org, a national organization founded in 2005 to end harassment and violence in all its forms. Wine Enthusiast donated $25 to ihollaback.org for each employee-completed virtual anti-harassment training course.
Other initiatives include a cork recycling program with ReCork, launched by the Wine Enthusiast Media Tasting Department, and holiday employee drives for local food banks and animal shelters in need.
Wine Enthusiast Companies recognizes the importance of giving back to the community and industry in which we work and live. To submit a charity or partnership opportunity for consideration, please contact Manager, Special Projects & Events for Wine Enthusiast Media Jen Cortellini.
Please see below for a selection of Wine Enthusiast Companies’ charitable partners.
