Irvine, CA – Jamboree Housing Corporation, one of California’s largest active affordable housing developers, will hold its annual HOMES, Inc. Winemaker Dinner and Magnums for Mental Health Wine Auction this Friday, September 16, 2011 at Kimera Restaurant in Irvine, California. Also believing in the difference that permanent supportive housing can make and with a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, the family-owned Hahn SLH Estate Winery is partnering once again with Jamboree for the world-class dining experience, complete with a five-course menu and wine pairings.
Now in its twelfth year, this year’s dining experience that is sponsored by WNC & Associates, marks the second time it is being held since Jamboree’s September 2010 acquisition of HOMES, Inc. a leading nonprofit provider of housing and support for people with psychiatric disabilities. This new nonprofit partnership is dedicated to the same expanded mission: quality expectations. Jamboree is known for the quality of its housing developments and HOMES is known for the quality of its support services and providing housing for those living with mental illness. In fact, HOMES is currently the only real model of its type in Orange County and its work has proved successful since HOMES original inception more than 25 years ago.
As part of Jamboree’s Resident Services Group, HOMES mission is to provide transitional and permanent housing for the homeless and mentally ill. Supportive services are designed to promote resident well-being with a stable home environment from a “whatever it takes” team that provides emotional and practical support through structured activities, help with job placement and daily living skills, and a commitment to community involvement. Proceeds from this event will help to fund a variety of opportunities that promote healthy living for residents, including such activities as an annual four-day mountain respite camp experience for residents, equine therapy and life skill training such as nutritious cooking classes. It will also help to fund Jamboree’s first community garden for residents at one of its properties that opens next month. In the spirit of healthy living, the dinner auction features an ATV tour of Hahn’s vineyard estate, a winery tour and tasting, lunch for four prepared by Estate Chef Brian Overhauser, and a magnum of 2008 Lucienne Lone Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir.
At a time when nonprofits are particularly eager to engage donors and financial partners for the long-term, these working relationships are especially important. According to Helen Cameron, Jamboree’s manager of Services for Residents with Special Needs and former founding executive director of HOMES, Inc., Hahn SLH Estate Winery has been donating wines for the annual dinner since the event’s inception.
Laura Archuleta, Jamboree’s president, emphasizes that long-term partnerships in the public and private sector are vital to the nonprofit’s ongoing success. “Every part of our business – development with cities, design and construction with architects and contractors, financing sources and philanthropic donors – is marked by strong public/private partnerships. This annual fundraiser is no exception,” says Archuleta.
This year, Hahn Estate Chef Brian Overhauser worked with Chef Paul Gstrein of Kimera so that the Hahn wines would pair perfectly with the restaurant’s cuisine.
The five-course menu features:
- Roast beet and goat cheese bruschetta, paired with Hahn Winery 2009 Pinot Gris
- Bacon-wrapped Jumbo Prawn with Sweet Corn and scallion risotto with a Chardonnay emulsion, paired with 2009 Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay
- Wild mushroom crusted Atlantic salmon with Shitake mushroom caramelized onion and red wine reduction over wilted spinach, paired with Hahn Winery 2010 Pinot Noir
- Braised prime beef short-rib accompanied with potato parsnip puree, charred brussels in a natural reduction sauce, paired with Hahn Winery 2010 GSM Red Blend (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) Flourless chocolate torte topped with fresh berries, vanilla sauce and whipped cream, paired with 2009 Smith & Hook Cabernet
The actual Hahn SLH Estate is a quintessential Monterey wine estate that has been evolving for more than thirty years. Today, the Hahn Family now owns more than 1,000 Monterey County vineyards. In the prime Santa Lucia Highlands appellation alone, Hahn farms 650 vineyard acres, with 400 of those acres planted to Pinot Noir at elevations of up to 1,200 feet. These meticulously planted hillside vineyards produce the grapes used to create the high-end Hahn estate wines.
Still family-owned and operated, this leading winery is one of the first to become certified sustainable through the Sustainability in Practice (SIP)™ Vineyard Certification Program. Hahn practices sustainability through its dedication to its employee’s well being, long time dedication to environmental stewardship and diligent farming practices.
Hahn SLH Estate has also recently launched the first fully integrated culinary program in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Estate Chef Brian Overhauser is keenly focused upon fresh, local ingredients from within thirty miles of the wine estate. Hahn SLH Estate will also soon feature “The Kitchen,” a state-of-the-art culinary center highlighting the best of the Santa Lucia Highlands and the Salinas Valley.
“We have established a legacy of creating good wine, as well as helping to create good in our community. So this annual winemaker dinner which raises such important funds is a highlight and an honor for our winery,” says Bill Leigon, President of Hahn Family Wines. “If we can help provide a place to call home for just one more special needs Californian, along with services to help that individual thrive, it's worth it.”
About Jamboree: Founded in 1990, Irvine, CA-headquartered Jamboree Housing Corporation is an award-winning, broad-based nonprofit housing development company that develops, acquires, renovates and manages permanently affordable rental and ownership housing throughout California for working families, seniors and people with special needs. HOMES, Inc. and Housing with HEART are 501(c)(3) organizations and comprise Jamboree’s Resident Services Group. A leading nonprofit developer, Jamboree is committed to sustaining excellence with high quality affordable housing that is good for the environment, the economy and local communities. It currently has about $250 million in affordable housing projects in its development pipeline and a $1 billion asset portfolio that includes the development of and/or ownership interest in more than 6,700 homes in more than 64 California communities. Currently, Housing with HEART programs and services that foster learning, health and community building are offered at 38 Jamboree communities with designated staff at each location. For more information, go to www.jamboreehousing.com.
About Hahn SLH Estate WInery: Hahn SLH Estate Winery produces a broad portfolio of California wines ranging from the Ultra-Premium Lucienne and Hahn SLH Estate Wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands to the distinctive Hahn winery and Smith & Hook Winery brands primarily from the Central Coast and Monterey County. For more information, or to arrange a visit to the winery, go to www.HahnEstates.com. To download a free Hahn Family Wines iPhone application, go to iTunes.