Lompoc Wineries Give Thanks with Wine to Hospital Workers

This week, more than 400 employees of Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Comprehensive Care Center, and Lompoc Health will receive a donated bottle of wine from appreciative winemakers in the Sta. Rita Hills.

Flying Goat Cellars Proprietors Kate Griffith and Norm Yost launched a campaign to donate wine to local frontline healthcare workers and support staff with their own wine donation. Jeremy and Michelle Ball from the Facebook show “Good Morning Lompoc” and Barbara Satterfield from Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance, a total of 18 wineries joined in the effort. Donations were made by Alma Rosa Winery, Ampelos Cellars, Chanin Wines, Fiddlehead Cellars, Flying Goat Cellars, Garcia, Kings Carey Wine, Kita Wines, Longoria Wines, Loring Wine Co., Pali Wine Co., Piedrasassi Wine and Bread, Sandhi Wines, Santa Barbara Winery, Sea Smoke Estate Wines, Sweetzer Cellars, Temperance Cellars, and Transcendence Wines.

Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance is comprised of members growing and producing wines from the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticulture Area, renowned for fine Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wine, Griffith said.

In light of the current COVID-19 pan-demic, Yost and Griffith felt it was important to recognize the increased health risk and stress at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

“We recently delivered our local wine club allocations and came to realize how many of our members work in the essential industries, especially health care. We want to recognize all their tireless work and express gratitude for all they do in our community with some liquid sunshine,” said Yost.

Flying Goat Cellars was established in 2000 and produces premium handcrafted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and sparkling wines from Santa Barbara County vineyards. It is located in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto adjacent to LVMC, as are many of the wineries.

The Balls, founders of Bottle Branding, started “Good Morning Lompoc” to showcase the community during the pandemic and time of social distancing. The encouraged wine donations on their Facebook show and filmed the delivery to LVMC.

“Our staff are moved by the outpouring of support from the community,” said LVMC CEO Steve Popkin. “This recognition of their hard work from our neighbors in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto and the Santa Barbara County wine industry is a delightful surprise for our employees. We are grateful for their generosity.”

The recipients of the wine will be chosen in a drawing from the names of the more than 800 employees at LVMC, Lompoc Health and the Comprehensive Care Center.