Whilst I cannot claim that what sparked this idea was entirely philanthropic, we are after all a new small company grasping for low cost marketing strategies, the more work I�ve put into researching this has made me more determined it should succeed. After all, to use one of those ghastly city/politics euphemisms, it�s a �win win� situation. OK, here�s how it started: as a Wine Events company we�ve been asked to �do� an event (cater for, supply wine, provide wine related entertainment and fun�) for the International Club of the Riviera in July.

We went to a couple of their events in 2008 � when I knew our plan was for me to leave VSF (Vins Sans Frontieres) and give up my role selling stupidly expensive fine wines to millionaire yacht owners & charterers, we thought it was time to come out our shell and spread our social wings a bit here on the Riviera. I mean, one of the main reasons which triggered us setting up FineWineWorks was that we had decided that we couldn�t envisage returning to �Blighty� and so if the Riviera was going to be our home for the foreseeable, its time we made a few more friends and got ourselves out of Vence occasionally and create a small business from which we could cover our living costs. We gradually got to know both Jill Pirdas, the Club President (who has spent the last 3 months out in India helping out at the charity) and the lovely George (Kasiliyake), of �Curry & Spice� fame, who modestly calls himself Publicity & Promotion Officer, but does so very much more for the Club and to cut a long story short, have been asked to �do� their Summer Event on 11th July � details are on the Calendar here.

As we�re about to launch our own small Wine List, I was keen to make the most of the opportunity with the Event and began thinking of ways that this could be realised. Then it clicked � a lot of the Clubs, Groups and Associations along the Riviera, have chosen Charities which are dear to their hearts, and so to propose something which gives the subscriber / purchaser pleasure, good value and a fairly painless means of giving something to Charity looked like it could work. I gather (and am not surprised) that most fundraisers are bracing themselves for the worst as the Global Economic Crisis worsens and peoples philanthropy dwindles and their pockets �shrink� as they strive to keep their own heads above water.

So, a Charity Wine Box � a range of International wines, in this instance, to reflect the mix of nations in the Club, which over-deliver in both flavour and value, represent wines which you can�t (frustratingly) find here in the South of France, and which most importantly give a donation to Charity. It�s hardly a new concept � Jancis Robinson launched Wine Relief as part of the Comic Relief movement in the UK, a number of years ago, with various big retailers donating a �1 from every bottle of certain wines. Alas, we haven�t quite the purchasing muscle of a Tesco or a Carrefour BUT with selecting the wines carefully and putting a bit of a squeeze on our suppliers too, by drastically reducing the delivery logistics and costs of stock holding (every Box needs to be pre-ordered and pre-paid) we have been able to produce a Wine Pack of 6 International Wines which will give 1� per bottle to the International Club�s chosen charity of Arogya Agam. For a much more lucid and detailed description of this small charity�s work, take a look at www.internationalclub.fr/charity but in brief, it provides Medical & Social Programmes � initially for Leprosy & TB but now with Aids Prevention and also Self Help Groups for �Untouchable� Women.

Now comes the tough part � tasting and selecting the Wines (well, it is my job!). Seriously, I was determined to reach a price-point which would be within reach of most people�s pockets. We toyed with the idea of Packs of 3, but the only cartons available were the gift pack types with handles � great, but not at 2.50� a throw! We�re still hunting down sturdy yet inexpensive 6 packs (standard cases really with inserts), but these are much more readily available. It does seem bonkers in these supposedly �greener� times that the packaging for 6 glass bottles is so costly and cumbersome. But when we do track down the outer, what�s inside will be truly exciting:
Whites
I�ve gone for a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc � all citrus and tropical fruits; an exuberantly appley Chenin Blanc from South Africa; and a brassy blonde voluptuous Sicilian Chardonnay / Viognier from Italy.
Reds
A silky soft and strawberry scented Pinot Noir from the Languedoc (soooo difficult to find drinkable and yet inexpensive examples of the infamous �Sideways� grape � US film which follows two wine obsessed friends on a life road trip in a quest to find the best Pinot Noir � I�m getting seriously Side-tracked here!!); a juicy, fruity Bonarda from Mendoza, Argentina; and a heady, heavenly Californian Zinfandel.

My loquaciously verbose (but such fun to write) Full Tasting Notes for all the wines from our new list will be on our site www.finewineworks.com in the next few days. As to my Notes � I always have Food Match recommendations as to me the two are inextricably linked, the odd Recipe too is finding its way on to the list and my plan is to include these plus more information on each wine, as a Factsheet with each pack.

Finally, the idea is still evolving and has probably just past the �diaper� stage and is starting to toddle, but if any TRW member has feedback, ideas, comments on this as a concept, I�d be grateful. Indeed if other Clubs or Groups out there think this may be a way of raising cash for their own Charity � get in touch � there maybe something we can do together? So, it�s �Wine Wine� rather than just �win win�!!!

Details of the �We Are The World� Event for the International Club of the Riviera on 11th July can be found on the website www.internationalclub.fr and information about the Wine Packs (and how to get your hands on them) within the next few days.

Helen Brotherton