Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction

Debra Eagle, General Manager of Alma Rosa, a leading Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills AVA, is excited to announce that the winery’s fourth annual “Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction” fundraising walk will return to the estate on Saturday, July 22 at 9:00 a.m. Registration to participate is now open and will run through Friday, July 21. To sign up, donate or start a fundraising campaign for the upcoming event, visit the link for more information: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Buellton/PeaceofMind10000StepsintheRightDirection

Alma Rosa’s proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich launched the annual Peace of Mind fundraising walk in 2020 to support mental health community services, as well as fund research on the causes, treatment and potential cures for anxiety and depression. All funds raised from the walk will benefit both One Mind and Mental Wellness Center of Santa Barbara. To amplify the efforts of the event, the Zorichs will be matching individual donations dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000 for each organization, for a total of $70,000. To garner greater community support, the Zorichs have also announced a corporate sponsorship matching incentive, and are grateful to have kicked off 2023 fundraising efforts through a generous donation from local Rio Vista Chevrolet in Buellton, CA. Over the last three years, the winery has raised over $545,000 for mental health organizations.

The 10,000-step, or approximately 4.5-mile walk, will take place across the rolling vineyards of Alma Rosa’s 628-acre estate property off Santa Rosa Road in Buellton. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine and other non-alcoholic refreshments at the top of the estate, while taking in the sweeping hilltop views of the region. Following the walk, the winery will host an intimate reception at the historic Ranch House with cheese and charcuterie, Alma Rosa’s newest releases from Winemaker Samra Morris, along with wines from Santa Ynez Valley’s Brave + Maiden. In conjunction with the walk, tickets for a private luncheon will be available for purchase.

“Returning for its fourth year, we are excited to welcome guests back to the Alma Rosa estate to participate in this year’s Peace of Mind walk,” says General Manager Debra Eagle. “We are proud to continue our commitment to supporting One Mind and Mental Wellness Center and hope to inspire people to join us in supporting these two organizations and the critical work they do.”

The Zorichs have long supported mental health-related causes, Bob currently is an Emeritus Board Member of the Hope and Healing Center & Institute and previously served on the board of the WorkFaith Connection of Houston. The Zorichs are also supporters of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation in New York City.

About Alma Rosa Winery

Alma Rosa Winery, a leading wine producer from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills, is dedicated to making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that express the unique terroir of the appellation. Alma Rosa’s wines are layered, vibrant and balanced, reflecting the cool climate impact of the Pacific Ocean breezes that are funneled through the east-west transverse mountain range of the region. The winery was founded in 2005 by Richard Sanford, who was the first to plant Pinot Noir in the Sta. Rita Hills in 1971. Today the winery is owned by Bob and Barb Zorich, who purchased the winery in 2014. In 2019 Samra Morris took the helm as winemaker, becoming the first Bosnian American winemaker in California.

For more information about Alma Rosa Winery, please visit almarosawinery.com.