- Raise $50,000 for the American Heart Association -

While many studies declare that wine is good for health, one winery went straight to the heart of the matter by donating $50,000 to the American Heart Association (AHA). Walnut Crest collected twenty-five cents for each bottle of Walnut Crest wine sold for a total donation of $50,000. The check was presented recently to AHA Vice President of Corporate Relations, Kathy Rogers.

“Our customers really responded to this idea and we met our $50,000 goal more than a month earlier than anticipated,” said Alicia Angione, senior brand manager for Walnut Crest’s US importer, Banfi Vintners of Old Brookville, New York. “Both Walnut Crest and those who enjoy it can feel good about supporting causes like the AHA.”

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. With programs and publications on a vast array of topics such as CPR training, lowering cholesterol and heart healthy diets, the AHA strives to provide education and research for a more informed and healthier population.

The Walnut Crest line of wines provides the consumer with a full selection of well-known wines at appealing prices, around $6.00 for 750ml bottle. Along with a newly introduced Pinot Grigio from Italy, Walnut Crest offers a White Zinfandel from California and Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc all from Chile.

 The American Heart Association was careful to stipulate that acceptance of this donation is not an endorsement of wine drinking or Walnut Crest wines, while the winery makes no curative or therapeutic claims regarding the health benefits of moderate wine drinking.

Walnut Crest wines today rank as the second most popular Chilean wine sold in the US, and one of this country’s top imported wines. The producer, Bodegas y Viñedos Santa Emiliana of Santiago, Chile, uses grapes grown in its own vineyards, 3,500 acres in Chile's Maipo, Casablanca and Rapel valleys.