Paso Robles wineries, wine grape growers and area businesses have contributed more than $100,000 to support the New Orleans community dramatically altered by Hurricane Katrina last August. Members of the industry contributed in many ways -- through their individual companies, to charities of their choice and in a coordinated region wide effort to support the New Orleans hospitality workers. Last week the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance donated $81,188.81 to the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund on behalf of its members' contributions over the past five months.

Paso Robles wine industry leaders initiating Katrina relief effort
gathered in September. Doug Beckett, Peachy Canyon Winery;
Justin Baldwin, Justin Vineyard & Winery; Gary Eberle,
Eberle Winery; Claire Silver, Tobin James; Jerry Reaugh,
Sereno Vista Vineyards; Dana Merrill, Pomar Junction
Vineyards; and Chris Vix, EOS Estate Winery.

The New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund was established in September 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina by Alex Brennan Martin, partner in the Commander's Family of Restaurants. It benefits employees in the hospitality industry of Greater New Orleans and is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Ninety-five percent the more than $845,000 generated to date has been distributed. Grants received and funds administered averaged $2,000 per applicant. Currently, applications have been suspended as funds were exhausted at the end of 2005. More than 150 applications have been received and are waiting for possible assistance.

"The donation from the Paso Robles Wine community comes as a critical time as funds have been exhausted," said Alex Brennan, founder of the relief fund. "This contribution allows us to help more than 37 hospitality workers as many return to New Orleans to reestablish themselves."

The Paso Robles wine industry quickly came together after the disaster and kicked off the fundraising efforts Labor Day Weekend 2005. The industry responded in a variety of ways -- tasting fee contribution for a period of time, a percentage of wine sales, in some cases wineries contributed 100% of sales on certain days, special events were held supporting the victims of Hurricane Katrina and some donated directly to the charity of their choice.

"The Paso Robles wine community understands the importance of the New Orleans hospitality industry," said Stacie Jacob, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. "It was the first stop during our 2005 Grand Tasting Tour and an important market for many area wineries because of its fine restaurant and culinary scene. We hope our donation helps the hospitality industry rebuild as we look forward to doing business again in New Orleans."

Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California's Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country encompasses more than 26,000 vineyard acres and 100 wineries.

Editor’s note: For more information about Paso Robles, visit the Central Coast listings of Taste California Travel’s Resource Directory.