Let’s Raise The Glass to Support California Wine Industry

Let’s Raise the Glass, a national campaign to support those impacted by the devastating California wine country wildfires, was launched today by OpenTable and prominent members of the restaurant industry. The national compaign encourages restaurants to donate a portion of their wine sales through the end of December to the Let’s Raise the Glass Fund, whose proceeds will benefit the Sonoma Resilience Fund and Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. The coalition is also being supported by WPP agencies: MiNY, Wavemaker, H+K and Kantar and OpenTable will build awareness for the campaign by promoting it to millions of diners.

 

Let’s Raise the Glass was inspired by Charleston Grill Sommelier Rick Rubel with the help of General Manager Mickey Bakst as a single restaurant’s effort to donate a portion of the proceeds from every glass or bottle of California wine sold.

 

“Throughout my career, the wineries have always been there to help us with our charitable efforts,” said Mickey Bakst, Charleston Grill GM. “Now, it’s time for the restaurant community to step up and support the industry that is so essential to our businesses.”

 

Bakst, along with Daniel Boulud, Sean Brock, Suzanne Goin, and Danny Meyer, are part of the coalition of restaurateurs and chefs who have joined forces with OpenTable.

“Restaurants are integral to the fabric of every community and play a unique role in bringing people together in times of joy and crisis,” said Scott Jampol, OpenTable Senior Vice President of Marketing. “By building a national coalition of restaurants, chefs, and other industry supporters, we hope to make an impact on helping the Napa and Sonoma communities reclaim their lives and livelihoods.”

 

All restaurants are invited to participate and can learn more and sign up at LetsRaisetheGlass.com.