78 years young Budge Brown lost his wife Arlene, after 48 years of marriate. She battled breast cancer. To honor her memory, raise awareness, and fight the disease, his era of Cleavage Creek Cellars win was born in 2007.
Budge Brown released his first Cleavage Creek Cellars wines on October 15, 2007. His second wine release took place on October 4th, 2008. Cleavage Creek wines have won numerous awards in international, national, and regional competitions – 40 medals won thus far. These are seriously good wines doing seriously good work. The latest release of new wines was October 1st, 2009. The next wine release date will be set in coming months.
Dedicated to fighting breast cancer, Brown and Cleavage Creek Cellars donates 10% of gross wine sales to breast cancer research (funds are donated before any profit is taken). Over $72,000 has been contributed to date to efforts to fight breast cancer. Most recently, Cleavage Creek has funded a new Integrative Oncology Research Center for breast cancer at Bastyr University.
On each bottle of Cleavage Creek Cellars is the image of a breast cancer survivor — her story is told at the Cleavage Creek website. Carson Daly’s mom Pattie Daly Caruso appeared on 2 bottles of Cleavage Creek wines in 2007. Former Entertainment Tonight producer Noreen Fraser is on one of the latest bottles. These ladies are not paid to do this, but they lend their time and experiences to fight the disease. A total of 20 breast cancer survivors have appeared on the Budge Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines.
At the Cleavage Creek Cellars vineyard in Pope Valley, Napa, there is a special garden by a lake. Thousands of flowers are planted there. Budge Brown had this built in memory of his wife Arlene who lost her battle with breast cancer. On a large boulder is a plaque reading Arlene’s Garden, honoring her courage and struggle. Vineyard visitors are invited to celebrate life and wellness in this special place.
The Cleavage Creek motto is Live to Love Life. If Budge Brown has his way, Cleavage Creek wines will help lots of breast cancer survivors do just that.
It’s amazing what one determined 78 year old man can do!
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