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SDRI’S SIGNATURE FUNDRAISER RAISES OVER $200,000

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute (SDRI) is pleased to announce that the 14th annual Taste of the Vine raised a total of $206,625 for the Institute to continue its important mission.

Taste of the Vine has always been a popular in-person, wine-themed event, but like last year, due to the pandemic, SDRI organized a hybrid Taste of the Vine which gave sponsors options of either virtual or small in-person gatherings, catered meals, and fresh produce boxes. Ticket purchasers had wine delivered to their door and an online auction ran from August 21 – 23, providing more opportunities to support SDRI.

Thank you to the generosity of 133 Taste of the Vine sponsors, donors, wine ticket purchasers, in-kind donors, and dozens of bidders in our online auction, which sold such incredible packages as a private winemaker dinner, group tours of various local vineyards, a yacht cruise, a condo stay at Mammoth, and many lots of outstanding wine.

“I am deeply grateful for the generosity from our community in support of the work done at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute through the Taste of the Vine event this year,” said Board Trustee and Taste of the Vine Committee member, Joan Arnold. “It is incredible to see that despite a global pandemic, diabetes research is still on the top of the list for so many. The work SDRI does, both locally and globally, is life changing for so many, and to be able to continue this work is so important.”

Very special thanks to our 2021 Taste of the Vine top sponsors: The Redman Family Trust; Brian and Kate Groat; Norman Kurland and Deborah David; Montecito Bank and Trust; Tandem Diabetes Care; and Insulet Corporation.

Thank you to the many wineries and other in-kind donors for their generosity: 101 Wine Tours; Alma Rosa Winery; Au Bon Climat; Babcock Winery; Beckman Vineyards; Bien Nacido Vineyard; Buttonwood Winery; Casa Dumetz Wines; Deovlet Wines; Fess Parker Winery; Fiddlehead Cellars; Foley Estates; GoGi Wines; Grassini Family Vineyards; Grimm’s Bluff; Wes Hagen; Hospice du Rhône; Jaffurs Wine; Kenneth Volk Vineyards; Ledson Hotel; Ledson Winery; Lindquist Family Wines; Longoria Wines; Melville Winery; Christian Menard; Miller Family Wine Company; Paul Lato Wines; Pence Vineyards; Riverbench Vineyard; Rockets Red Wines; Rusack Vineyards; Santa Barbara Vintners; Skyenna Wines; Jim and Amy Sloan; Serenity Farm Wines; Storm Wines; Talley Farms; Talley Vineyards; Verdad Wines; Visit Santa Maria Valley; Windrun Wine Co.; and Wine Stone Inn.

The tireless Taste of the Vine organizing committee included the following volunteers: Wendy Thies Sell, Chair; Sherrill O’Neill, Wine Chair; Joan Arnold; George Burtness; Phil Carpenter; Deborah David; Laura DePaoli; Joan Estes-Lindskog; Deb Gibson; Yvette Giller; Amanda Girdler; Wes Hagen; Mike Karmelich; Christian Menard; and Nancy Newman. Committee member Wes Hagen deserves special recognition for his enormous contributions to Taste of the Vine this year!

We are thrilled with the success of Taste of the Vine, but even more so, immensely grateful for such overwhelming support from the Santa Barbara community and beyond.

Throughout the pandemic, SDRI’s focus has not changed – we continue to improve the health and quality of life for men, women, and children who are impacted by diabetes.