Chavez Family Cellars Healdsburg • orders@chavezfamilycellars.com • chavezfamilycellars.com • (707) 431-9920
Artisan winery focused on giving back
C
havez Family Cellars is a small artisan winery in Healdsburg with its roots based firmly in family, community and a deep belief in helping others. Linda Mayberry-Chavez and her husband Carlos Chavez began their winery while owning a risk management and human resources company, helping vineyard owners and wineries comply with the law and ensure the health and safety of their employees. Linda appreciates the way her winery business can help others. She regularly volunteers the winery to help raise money for important causes. “It’s a labor of love. I've had a passion for volunteer work since I was a little kid,” Linda says. Linda has been an active member of Soroptimist International of Healdsburg for 9 years and is a Past President and a current Board Member and Grant Committee Member of CFSC-HA. Selected to pour at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Sonoma County 25th Anniversary of its scholarship program, as well as other events, including the launch of Scholarship Sonoma County, Chavez Family Cellars has become a much-sought-after winery for community events. Linda poured their Carlin’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon and Elsa’s Blend Sauvignon Blanc at Taste of Sonoma this summer, which raises funds for multiple charities. She was also selected to pour at the successful Wine, Women & Shoes event, where local philanthropists gathered to raise funds for Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County. “We were honored to be a part of such a special event.” Despite her focus on philanthropy, Linda recognizes that Chavez Family Cellars is a business. Her goal is to grow it and assure that it will be here for years to come, so the family can continue to help others. In May, the Sonoma County Economic Development Board created the inaugural Business Appreciation Week to acknowledge successful local businesses. In Healdsburg, Chavez Family Cellars was selected by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Sonoma County to receive that recognition. “We’re starting to realize that this little dream is going somewhere.” Linda says. Linda and Carlos created the “Cha-Cha-Cha” Wine Club as a direct way to introduce their wines to people who want to make a connection with their family business. They are happy to announce that their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Carlin’s Blend Alexander Valley won a Gold Medal at the 2013 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. "I have so much gratitude for so many people who have been instrumental in helping us fulfill our dream.” Linda says. "First, and foremost, Ray and Lori Teldeschi. We are eternally grateful for their years of friendship and for helping us plant a stake in Healdsburg as a newly married couple. It was because of them that our primary business, SECA, LLC flourished. They opened their doors to us and introduced us to key people in Dry Creek Valley, but were clear we had to do the work on our own. No one gets anywhere all by themselves and the gratitude we have for them is immense." “There are so many people who helped us along the way. I wish I could name them all! I would like to extend a special thanks to people I admire in the
6 Women in Business • October 10, 2013
linda mayberry chavez and her husband carlos own and operate chavez family cellars and take every opportunity to support the community that supports them. wine industry, like Susie Selby, Jim Murphy, and the Ellis Alden Family." Perseverance is important to the Chavez Family. Linda and Carlos were the first in their immediate families to graduate from college and currently maintain a successful risk management firm while cultivating the growth of their artisan winery. Their initial passion of caring for the people who tend the vines and those who make the wine is still very relevant. And that fortitude gives Linda the courage to pour wine with already established Alexander Valley wineries at events, to build on that momen-
tum and be recognized. She says, "OK, we can be at that table. We have a quality product and we can help people along the way.” They are also creating a second label, Lupe Luna, after her grandmother and portion of the proceeds will be given to charity. “You get these moments in time and you have to grab them or they may not come again, and I think we’re at one of those moments now and you’d better believe we're grabbing it. We know there are going to be setbacks, but if you just have that belief, that starts with yourself, great things can happen.”