Jason, Diana, and the rest of the staff and crew at The Eyrie Vineyards are endeavoring to raise funds to benefit the young family of our cellarmaster, Julio Hernandez. Julio’s wife Lupe has been suffering from renal failure for several years, and has just received a kidney transplant. Despite having insurance, the costs to the family are monumental.

Proceeds from the sale of Eyrie’s Library of Reserve Chardonnays will go to help cover Lupe’s uninsured medical expenses. In addition, winemaker Jason Lett has created special cuvees of “La Luz” Chardonnay and “La Luz” Pinot noir, to benefit Lupe’s cause. We hope you will join our efforts, and enjoy some unique and beautiful wines at the same time.

UPDATE 3/8/10: Lupe is recovering well from her surgery, and is happy to be home with her family! Thanks to your wonderful support, we have sold out of “La Luz” Chardonnay as of today….. but we still have some “La Luz” Pinot noir . This is a one-time limited edition, blended from Eyrie Pinot noir Reserve grapes and grapes from Bishop Creek Vineyards. $35.00/bottle PURCHASE

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PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR AN “EYRIE LIBRARY CHARDONNAYS” PRICE LIST AND ORDER FORM.

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To read British wine authority Jancis Robinson’s tasting notes, go to “Eyrie Chardonnay Retrospective” on the home page of our website.

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Seattle wine writer Paul Gregutt recently wrote in his blog:
http://www.paulgregutt.com/2010/01/wines-for-lupe.html

Wines for Lupe
Thursday, January 21, 2010

I have never met Julio Hernandez, the cellarmaster at the Eyrie Vineyards, but during my visit to the winery yesterday, Jason Lett poured me samples of two new wines crafted on his behalf. The La Luz Chardonnay of Oregon, and the La Luz Pinot Noir of Oregon, are non-vintage, one-time-only wines that offer you the chance to do good while drinking well.

Julio’s wife Lupe, I learned, is on daily dialysis and in urgent need of a kidney transplant. Though much of the cost is covered by insurance, the post-surgery, lifetime cost of anti-rejection drugs is not. In order to build a fund for that purpose, Lett has created these special cuvées.

“The idea was to put something closer to people’s price range and create the biggest impact for Lupe in the shortest time,” he explained. The La Luz chardonnay (la luz means “the light”) is all Eyrie estate fruit, most from 2007. It had been earmarked for Jason Lett’s Black Cap wine program, and would have sold for $60, but is now priced at $35. The La Luz pinot is a blend of estate and purchased (Bishop Creek) fruit, and also sells for $35. All profits from the sale of these wines will go to help cover Lupe’s medical expenses. For purchase information, visit the tasting room or the website.