Supporting our troops through wine
Joseph Carr, Founder and Winemaker at Joseph Carr Winery, created a second label as a tribute to his father
Need a feel good story? Read on.
A Dad encourages his son to follow his dream to learn about wine. The son does, going from bus boy to world-class sommelier to, finally, producer, creating his own wine.
Joseph Carr is a chill, humble guy. He spent years sleeping on winemaker’s couches, entrenching himself in the business, and eventually formed his family-owned wine company, Joseph Carr, in 2005. All thanks to the encouragement and support of his father.
So it's no surprise, soon after Joseph Carr wines took off, he set out to create a second label as a tribute to his dad, who was nicknamed Josh.
Together with friend Tom Larson, Josh Cellars was established. Carr says it’s a wine that “embodies his hardworking dad, who served as a soldier and volunteer firefighter, and in his spare time tinkered in the garage or played cards with his buddies. Its qualities – approachable and unpretentious yet bold and classic – reveal characteristics of a man who instilled small town values and big ideas in his children.”
Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits took it over in 2011 and has really amped up the distribution. They expect it to be a 300,000-case brand by March, up from 150,000 cases last year and 30,000 in 2011.
But even better than watching the wine dedicated to his dad succeed, Carr is supporting causes his father would be proud of. Josh Cellars recently kicked off a second-year partnership with Operation Homefront -a nonprofit that assists military families. So for every bottle bought now through December 31, the brand will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to the group. The bottle retails for about $15. Go buy one for our soldiers.
Josh Cellars has also partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation in the past to support America’s first responders.
A glass of wine always makes my head feel good. Knowing the story behind this one makes my heart feel good too.
Cent’ Anni.
Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more.