An increasing number of wineries are
coming out in support of gay marriage.
One winery puts its support right on
the label while raising cash for the movement. Same Sex Meritage's
black label features stick figures of a male and a female gay couple
under a yellow sun. Freedom to Marry receives a $1 donation for each
bottle of the Bordeaux-style blend sold.
“Everyone should have the right to
marry,” vintner
Matt Gold told the AP. “Everyone should have the same rights
as anyone else.”
The French wine Egalite
(Equality), which launched in
January, has already donated $15,000 to LGBT non-profits. The
company sets aside a portion of profits each quarter to be given to a
non-profit organization chosen by their fans on Facebook.
Other wineries are also reaching out to
the LGBT community.
More than 30 Sonoma wineries
participated at various levels in this year's Gay
Wine Weekend organized by Out in the Vineyard.
“Don't think it's a one-time hit and
you're going to get a payback right away,” said Out in the
Vineyard's Gary Saperstein. “You have to show the community that
you care.”
The event, which runs through Sunday,
benefits the Face-to-Face AIDS Project.