Caritas is the Latin term for Charity- one of the three theological virtues, the other two being Faith and Hope. We will use the definition of Charity as selfless, unconditional, and voluntary loving kindness such as helping one’s neighbours.

Charity and wine have always gone together: think of all the wine and cheese events held annually by all of the island’s service clubs to raise funds for their various causes. This did not begin with us: many stories exist around causes and motives for wine producers and others to dig deep and give.

Vendanges du Coeur

Several years ago one of France’s top Rhône valley winemakers Michel Chapoutier was moved by the picture of a little girl he saw in the newspaper. “She had the face of an angel,” he said. “… She reminded me of my own little girl.” The girl in the newspaper was suffering from leukaemia and in desperate need of a bone-marrow transplant. Moved to do something, Chapoutier issued a call for help. “If you help me pick grapes for free for one day, I will donate your wages plus some of my own money to help fund bone-marrow transplants.”

Scores of persons turned up, lots of them total strangers. They worked extremely hard, hundreds of pounds/kilos of grapes were harvested; Vendanges du Coeur – “harvest from the heart” was launched. It is now an annual two-day event attracting hundreds of volunteers from all over the world. Chapoutier did not stop here; he has since taken his campaign much further raising funds and awareness for his charity, even producing a very special limited edition wine along with one of the world’s most famous consulting winemakers, Michel Rolland. This wine was auctioned to raise funds for his charity.

In every major wine-producing country, wine-related businesses are involved in giving back to the community and to major charitable causes. Activities range from wine auctions, wine dinners and simple wine-tasting fund-raising activities. At one point in time in Italy, the government was confiscating Mafia vineyards and turning them over to charities.

Wine-Tasting Benefit for Haiti

This massive earthquake in Haiti was caused by friction along the boundary of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates along with their associated micro-plates and related faults, the same that causes all major earthquakes in Jamaica – in other words, it could have been us. Our crew associated with Bin 26 Wine bar rallied our wine importers at very short notice to help us with a Wine-Tasting benefit event last Saturday night where 100% of proceeds went to the Haiti relief. Very special thanks to Chas E Ramson, Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Lascelles Wines and Betco Premier for their generosity. The guests enjoyed Fat Bastard Shiraz 2007, Fat Bastard Chardonnay 2007, Mommessin Cuvee Saint Pierre Blanc, Mommessin Merlot 2007, J Moreau & Fils Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Etchart Rio De Plata Chardonnay 2004. We met our target and were able to raise over $100,000 for the very worthy cause. The Haitian Embassy’s Chargé d’affaires Max Alce was on hand to bring us some of the stark realities of what we cannot see on TV.

Thanks to all who came! Dig deep to help our brothers and sisters in neighbouring Haiti today.

Chris Reckord is an independent wine consultant who operates DeVine Wine Services with his wife Kerri-Anne. Chris & Kerri are also part owners of Jamaica’s first and only wine-only bar -Bin 26 Wine Bar. Please send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com . Follow us on twitter.com/DeVineWines