Frei Brothers Reserve Joins Food & Wine in Its Initiative to Increase Access to Sustainably Grown Food and Wine

HEALDSBURG, Calif., Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Frei Brothers Reserve has been protecting the gorgeous Sonoma grape growing appellations where their award-winning wines have been produced for more than a century. Today, through a partnership with Food & Wine magazine and its "Grow for Good" campaign, a national effort created to raise money for charitable initiatives and dedicated to increasing consumer access to locally and sustainably grown foods, Frei Brothers Reserve is sharing some of their best practices to help raise awareness around the growing importance of sustainably grown food and wine.

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(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101105/MM94909 )

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For the first time, Frei Brothers Reserve lead viticulturist, Jim Collins, was filmed at Frei Ranch, home to the winery's vineyards and state-of-the-art winery, explaining why protecting the land not only produces the best quality wine, but also protects the environment.

"It's our job to make wine today in such a way that we'll be able to make that same quality of wine 100 years from now, and land stewardship is a big part of that," says Collins.  "Bottom line, we believe that great wine comes from healthy land.  That's why we have practices in place to ensure we're delivering the very best product to consumers today and in the future."

Visual examples of sustainable wine grape growing practices that what you will see in the video include:

• 50/50 Giveback – For every acre of land planted in vineyard, Frei Brothers Reserve sets aside one acre of property to help protect and enhance wildlife habitat.

• Reclamation Ponds – These ponds collect rain and run off and are used to help irrigate the vines, making the most of Frei Brothers Reserve's natural resources.

The video will be featured at www.freibrothersreserve.com and every time it is viewed between now and December 31, 2010, Frei Brothers Reserve will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to Food & Wine's "Grow for Good," a charitable campaign that raises funds for non-profit organizations to support education around and access to sustainable food.

"We are thrilled Frei Brothers Reserve chose Grow for Good as the beneficiary of this important initiative," says Christina Grdovic, VP/publisher of FOOD & WINE. "Through the campaign and the funds raised, we will be able to help increase awareness and access to sustainable food."

About "Grow for Good"

Food & Wine's "Grow for Good" is a charitable campaign that raises funds for non-profit organizations to support knowledge of and access to sustainable foods. Food & Wine selected Wholesome Wave Foundation as its 2010 "Grow for Good" beneficiary and will direct campaign efforts to support "Nourishing Neighborhoods," the umbrella campaign for the non profit's programs, which benefit vulnerable consumers and our nation's struggling small-scale farmers. Double Value Coupon Program, one of its core initiatives, doubles the value of Federal food stamps (called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP), when used at participating farmers markets nationwide.

About Frei Brothers Reserve

Keeping with the tradition established by Andrew Frei in 1890, Frei Brothers Reserve wines are crafted to reveal the personality of the land and bring out the natural expression of the fruit. Grapes for each wine made are carefully chosen from select grapes, ensuring the best fruit from the right growing regions go into every bottle made. Frei Brothers Reserve's family of wines includes Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

SOURCE Frei Brothers Reserve