Kautz Family Makes $100,000 Donation To Hurricane Katrina Relief

Lodi, CA — One local winery is stepping up to make a significant donation to the relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Pam Graviet of Ironstone Vineyards says the Kautz family, who owns the company, is making a donation of $100,000 to the relief effort through a consumer participation program.

Graviet says that the program involves placing “neck hangers” on the bottles of Ironstone brand wines that tell the consumer that $1 will be donated to the relief efforts with the purchase of each bottle.

The hangers will be on all three Ironstone wines, which include the Ironstone brand, Leaping Horse and Sonoma Creek wines.

She says the company will make the $100,000 maximum donation, even if fewer than 100,000 units are sold.

Graviet says those neck hangers should be in stores nationwide by next week. She says the funds will most likely go to immediate relief such as food, water and temporary shelter for the victims.

Chairman John Kautz says “In looking at the number of corporations that have contributed time, money and necessary supplies, we´re proud to be a part of this tremendous relief effort.”

Ironstone is the 8th largest family owned winery in California with distribution throughout the United States and 50 international markets.