Community

Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers

Supporting Community Need

The next time you enjoy locally produced wine or fresh fruits and vegetables, take a moment to appreciate the people who brought this bounty to your table. In San Luis Obispo County, we rely on thousands of workers to plant, care for and harvest the wine grapes, fruits and vegetables grown here.

Established in December 2004 by Brian and Johnine Talley, The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers provides grants to organizations that assist these important agricultural workers throughout San Luis Obispo County. With the community's help, the Fund's initial goal of $100,000 was raised by the end of 2005 and the first grants were awarded in the spring of 2006. The goal of The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers is to raise $100,000 every year and to award grants to organizations each spring, just as we continued to do in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

One of the major fundraising efforts for The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers is the annual release of Mano Tinta wines. Mano Tinta ("Red Hand" in Spanish) was chosen to signify the pride and commitment of farm workers. All of the grapes, materials and services used to make Mano Tinta wines are donated and 100% of the sales of Mano Tinta wines benefit The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers. To date, the following Mano Tinta wines have been released:

2004 Mano Tinta Syrah (500 cs. produced)
2005 Mano Tinta Syrah (500 cs. produced)
2005 Mano Tinta Pinot Noir, East Rincon Vineyard (125 magnums)
2006 Mano Tinta Red Wine, San Luis Obispo County (500 cs. produced)
2006 Mano Tinta Pinot Noir, Rosemary's Vineyard (125 magnums)
2007 Mano Tinta Red Wine, San Luis Obispo County (200 cs. produced)

Grapes for the 2007 Mano Tinta Red Wine were donated by Sinor LaValle Vineyards, Ranchita Canyon Vineyards and Talley Vineyards. Fruit for the 2006 magnum bottling of Rosemary's Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from Talley Vineyards.

Growers and vintners from across San Luis Obispo County are encouraged to become involved with the Mano Tinta project, either by donating grapes or by producing their own Mano Tinta wine, with proceeds to benefit The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers. For more information, please contact Eric Johnson, Winemaker at Talley Vineyards: eric@talleyvineyards.com

For more information about The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers, please contact Brian or Johnine Talley: 805-489-0446 or Janice Fong Wolf at the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County: 805-543-2323.

Donations to The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers may also be made online via the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation website. Please select the link below, and find The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers under the "Donor Advised Endowment Funds" category:

• SLO Community Foundation Website
Thank you.