The California Wild Heritage Campaign has recently embarked on an unprecedented outreach effort: Wild Vintage - Winemakers Working to Protect California's Last Wild Places. This campaign will finally put the two best things about California (wild public lands, rivers & wine) on the same table with each other!

In March of 2004, Sally Ottoson, owner and operator of Pacific Star Winery north of Fort Brag on the Mendocino coastline, traveled to Washington, DC, advocating for the protection of wild places along the North Coast. In each of her meetings, Sally presented a bottle of wine with a picture of the Lost Coast on the label. Needless to say, nothing gets a congressional staffer more excited about wilderness than a bottle of wine! (more info on Sally's winery below)

And Pacific Star is not the only winery that has joined us in this effort to blend wine and wild places! In the final days before Senator Feinstein signed on to Rep. Mike Thompson's North Coast bill, her office received a flurry of faxes from wineries throughout the district, all asking for her support because wine and wild places complement each other - and we all know how well that worked!!!

So as a HUGE 'Thank You' to the wineries who participated, and as a service to all the great volunteers and interested parties out there looking for good environmentally-minded wine, here is a list of wineries that have helped protect wild places in California. Print it out, and bring it to your local wine shop the next time you need a bottle, or order online. Don't forget to tell them, "Wild Vintage sent me!"

Thank you to all of our Wild Vintage champions (in alphabetical order):

Ceja Vineyards - Amelia Moran Ceja, www.cejavineyards.com
Started 18 years ago from a family of Mexican immigrants, Ceja is making some of the most exciting wines in the Carneros region. They offer multiple varietals. Order online.

Heitz Cellars - Kathleen Heitz Meyers, www.heitzcellar.com
Since the 1960âs, the Heitz family has been crafting some of the most legendary wines in Napa Valley. Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignon and others. Call: (707) 963-3542

Muir-Hanna Winery - Michael Hanna, www.muir-hanna.com
Michael and his family are the living descendants of famed naturalist and conservationist John Muir. The three-generation family winery offers a fruity, well balanced Chardonnay and a soon to be released Pinot Noir. Order Online.

Pacific Star Winery - Sally Ottoson, www.pacificstarwinery.com
Wine Opens Doors! Pacific Star gave gifts of the tasty Charbono 2000 and Barbera 2001 during Sallyâs recent lobby trip to DC on behalf of Californiaâs last wild places. Available to you too, via pacstar@mcn.org!

Paradigm Winery - Ren Harris, www.paradigmwinery.com
Paradigm is a premier winery from Napa's Oakville District, who is also affiliated with the 1% for the planet program. Ren and his crew offer tasty reds from four varietals. Order online.

Robert Craig - Robert Craig, www.robertcraigwine.com
Consistently producing some of the highest ranked Cabernet Sauvignonâs in Napa Valley, Robert Craig invites you to their tasting room on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley. Order Online.

Stoney Hill - Willinda McCrea, www.stonyhillvineyard.com
Tucked away from the bustle of Napa Valley, Stony Hill has been crafting delicate white wines for fifty-one years. Order online & download recipes!

Turley Vineyards - Larry Turley, www.turleywinecellars.com
Sadly, no information was available by the time of this writing. Please call 707-963-8683 for more information.