Internationally Renowned Jazz
Saxophonist and Six Time Grammy® Nominee, Dave Koz,
Launches KOZ Wine
First time collaboration with Whole Foods Market® and
Napa’s Vinum Cellars to Benefit Starlight Children’s
Foundation
Making Wine for a KOZ
Los Angeles, CA August
17, 2009 – Internationally renowned saxophonist
and six-time Grammy® nominee Dave Koz has captured
the hearts of millions of fans around the world over
the past two decades through his recordings, radio
shows, annual tours, cruises and now his wine – KOZ
Wine. In his travels, Koz continually observed the
strong connection between people’s love of jazz and
their love of wine, echoing his own two passions.
While hosting an annual Smooth Jazz cruise in 2008,
Koz met one of his fans, Patrick Bradley, the President
of Whole Foods Market for the Southern Pacific region.
They shared their passion about wine and, on the open
seas and the idea to start a wine brand was born.
This is the first time Whole Foods Market has collaborated
on a project such as KOZ Wine from start to finish
– The company was involved from researching the vineyards,
tasting the wines, developing packaging, shipping the
product to the stores and the marketing. In fact,
Koz accompanied Whole Foods Market team members to
Santa Ynez, Mendocino and Napa to interview winemakers
before they selected Chris Condos of Napa Valley’s
boutique winery, Vinum Cellars. “Chris has an intense
passion for the winemaking process, creativity and
openness that I felt was really important in this collaboration,”
says Koz. “I’m certainly a student in this whole process,
but I love it --I’ve learned so much in such a short
amount of time and the more I learn the more I want
to know. I plan to be involved in the blending and
winemaking process…as much as Chris will let me,” says
Koz.
“Whole Foods Market is thrilled to
be partnering with KOZ Wine, Vinum Cellars, and Starlight
Children’s Foundation in launching 3 types of KOZ Wine
exclusively at our stores in Southern California, Arizona
and Nevada,” says Bradley. “We are proud to be welcoming
Dave and his wines into our stores and to be a part
of Starlight’s mission to help brighten the world of
seriously ill children and their families.”
Koz kicks off a series of bottle signings
at Whole Foods Market stores after his headlining performance
at The Hollywood Bowl with Tower of Power and Peabo
Bryson on August 24. The bottle signings are scheduled
for:
8-24-09 Venice/Los Angeles 5:00
– 7:00 pm
8-29-09 Hillcrest/San Diego Noon-2:00 pm
9-23-09 Fairfax/Los Angeles 4:00 – 6:00 pm
As a humanitarian, Koz has served
as global ambassador for the last 17 years to the Starlight
Children’s Foundation and will be donating all his
proceeds from KOZ Wine to help Starlight continue their
vital mission. “With 17 years of steadfast support
for Starlight under his belt, Dave’s impact on our
children and families is truly unmatched,” said Paula
Van Ness, CEO of Starlight. “He continually comes up
with creative ways to support our organization, and
this cause-marketing concept enables him to join forces
with Starlight and Whole Foods Market to let seriously
ill children and their families know they are not alone."
KOZ Wine is now available at all Southern California
Whole Foods Markets as well as in Nevada and Arizona.
There are 3 different varietals:
KOZ 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Retail
Price: $29.99
An intense 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
comes from low yielding, dry farmed, hillside vineyards
in the Napa Valley. Aged exclusively in French
Oak barrels for 20 months, only 200 cases have
been produced.
KOZ 2008 Napa Valley Sauvignon
Blanc: Retail Price: $16.99
This Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
is 90 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 10 percent Viognier.
Aged in 50 percent stainless steel and 50 percent
French Oak Barrels. 600 cases have been produced.
KOZ 2007 El Dorado “Red
Alto” Blend Retail Price: $16.99
This Rhone style blend consists
of 48% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 21% Mourvedre, and
10% Petite Sirah. All the grapes were grown in
red volcanic soils between 2500 and 3300 feet in
El Dorado County. It was aged exclusively in French
Oak barrels for 20 months and 600 cases have been
produced.
# # #
Contact:
Burditch Marketing Communications
Paul Burditch, President
paul@burditchmc.com
415.874.9696
Marin Levi Sklar, Account Coordinator
marin@burditchmc.com
323.932.6262
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market
(www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural
and organic foods industry and America’s first national
certified organic grocer, was named “America’s
Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 by Health magazine. The
Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People,
Whole Planet”TM captures the company’s mission to
find success in customer satisfaction and wellness,
employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder
value, community support and environmental improvement.
Thanks to its more than 50,000 Team Members, Whole
Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best
Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine
for 12 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the
company had sales of $8 billion and currently has
more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada,
and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and
Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole
Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats® and
Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by
Wild Marks, Inc.
About Starlight Children's Foundation
When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition,
everyone in the family is affected. For 25 years, Starlight
Children's Foundation has been dedicated to helping
seriously ill children and their families cope with
their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment,
education and family activities. Starlight's programs
have been proven to distract children from their pain,
help them better understand and manage their illnesses,
and connect families facing similar challenges so that
no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and
offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children,
parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian
provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based
and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally
through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United
Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org. |
