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SONOMA VALLEY | WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEKGloria Ferrer, WillMar Partnership Invests in Kids’ FutureArtist Series Pinot Noir Barrel Tasting,Original Posters and Bluebird Boxes Raise FundsFor almost a decade, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards haspartnered with Sonoma Valley’s WillMar Family Grief & HealingCenter to raise funds for bereaved children while promotingsustainable agriculture. This year, in addition to the annual sales ofthe bluebird boxes constructed by the Gloria Ferrer vineyard crewand painted by the WillMar children, futures will be sold of thespecial vintage Gloria Ferrer 2011 WillMar Artist Series Pinot Noirat a Barrel Tasting and Vineyard Tour on Saturday, June 23rd, 1:30to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are scarce so call or register online to purchasetickets in advance.This special event will include a tour in Gloria Ferrer’s privatebarrel cave with Winemaker Steve Urberg including an exclusive“futures” barrel tasting of the WillMar Pinot Noir, complementedby a walk in the vineyard with Vineyard Manager Mike Crumly.Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. This limited-productionwine will be sold at a special case price one time only. Ticket cost is$25 and all wine and ticket sale proceeds go to the WillMar Center.With only 100 cases to be bottled, this exclusive, handcraftedPinot Noir yields from carefully tended estate Carneros Vineyards.Family, friends and community are invited to pre-taste this estatewine and purchase futures to be released in 2014. Original art willgrace the bottles with label artwork designed by young, talentedWillMar artists. Posters of the artworks are available for sale in thetasting room.Nurturing Hope One Nest at a TimeThe one-of-a-kind hand-painted bluebird boxes are alsoavailable in the Gloria Ferrer Tasting Room for $40 each, with100% of the sales and/or additional donations going to theWillMar Center. “When the children paint the nest boxes, they feelthey are building a safe home for the baby birds,” says BarbaraCullen, program director at WillMar. “This type of therapeuticwork is what our program is all about – helping to create a safe,loving home for grieving children.”WillMar became part of the Gloria Ferrer family many yearsago, when children of one of their vineyard workers benefited fromthe loving support of this unique, nurturing communityorganization. The power and importance of the work being done atWillMar has left a lasting impression.WillMar Family Grief & Healing CenterWillMar Family Grief & Healing Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofitorganization designed to serve children and teenagers whohave experienced the death of a loved one from illness, accident,suicide or homicide. As an important component of its program,WillMar facilitates art projects to encourage healthy selfexpression,as well as personal healing. WillMar’s support servicesare extended to the family, caregivers, schools, community, and to56children living with a family member who has a life-changingillness.Gloria Ferrer Caves & VineyardsThe Ferrer family of Spain established Gloria Ferrer Caves &Vineyards as the first sparkling wine house in California’s Carnerosregion 25 years ago. In creating exceptional sparkling and stillwines, blended to pair perfectly with a diverse array of food, GloriaFerrer embodies Spanish winegrowing history, time-honoredtradition and centuries-old sustainable practices. True to tradition,the Ferrer family’s culture of generosity is expressed in theircommitment to high quality, affordable wines for everyone toenjoy. Come and celebrate Spain in Sonoma. Visitwww.gloriaferrer.com.Follow us on Twitter @WineCountryTW