For the third consecutive year, a local family impacted by the tragedy of gun violence is rallying the wine community to raise funds in the fight for stricter gun laws.
The event, Wine Country Unites, is organized by Kelly and Noah Dorrance, who lost their 9-year-old niece, Evelyn Dieckhaus, in the Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27, 2023.
This grassroots initiative benefits the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, an organization founded by former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, who survived a mass shooting in 2011. This year’s event will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, with participating wineries donating $10 from each bottle of wine sold that day to the organization.
Other wineries and restaurants will host their own events or contribute in additional ways.
Since its inception in 2023, Wine Country Unites has raised more than $170,000, according to Kelly Dorrance, co-founder of Bloodroot Wines and Reeve Wines in Healdsburg. This year’s fundraising goal is $100,000.
“Evelyn loved community — nothing made her happier than seeing people together,” said Dorrance. “In hospitality and wine, that’s a common thread for all of us, and we see it when we need to support each other. This community is incredible in how quickly people will jump in to help, sometimes to the detriment of their bottom line. That is the humanity we need to see and remember is all around us.”
John Burgess/The Press Democrat
Local winery owner Kelly Dorrance talks about gun violence after the death of her niece, Evelyn Dieckhaus, one of six people killed at a Nashville school March 27th. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Wine Country Unites will kick off with a special happy hour at Cadet Wine & Beer Bar in downtown Napa on Friday, Oct. 24. The celebration continues with a wine-focused event at Little Saint Healdsburg on Saturday, Oct. 25.
At both events, $10 from every bottle sold will be donated directly to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Representatives from the nonprofit will also be present to share information and answer questions.
In the past few years, the Giffords team has become familiar with Sonoma County.
Kelly and Noah Dorrance also founded the annual Ramble music festival in Healdsburg. Following Evelyn’s death, they partnered with Giffords to donate a portion of ticket sales. Past headliners have included Lord Huron and Ziggy Marley.
Laurel Anderson
Kelly and Noah Dorrance of BloodRoot Wines in Healdsburg. (Laurel Anderson)
Giffords executive director Emma Brown expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration.
“Giffords is grateful for this unique opportunity to (turn) tragedy into action and activism,” Brown said in a statement. “We are excited for the opportunity to participate in Wine Country Unites to support our work and raise awareness for gun violence prevention.”
The event has also garnered enthusiastic support from local vintners and winemakers. Mark Wentworth, owner and winemaker at Wentworth Vineyards in Mendocino County, was among the first to sign up for this year’s campaign. He emphasized the importance of addressing gun violence as a pressing public safety issue.
“This crisis is one of the major public safety issues of our time,” he said. “It is entirely man-made and preventable. Beyond the goal of reducing gun violence in our society, the grassroots approach of working together with fellow winemakers to get the word out and raise money for this worthy cause appeals (to me).”
Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat file, 2022
Wine Country Unites will kick off with a special happy hour at Cadet Wine & Beer Bar in downtown Napa on Friday, Oct. 24. The celebration continues with a wine-focused event at Little Saint Healdsburg on Saturday, Oct. 25. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat file, 2022)
Other participants echoed Wentworth’s sentiments.
Taylor Kindred, co-owner of Cadet, noted the significance of expanding Wine Country Unites into Napa, a region that has not previously taken part in the event.
“We admire the momentum Kelly and Noah generated in Sonoma and look forward to activating our Napa community,” Kindred said in a recent email. “We look out for each other, and at the end of the day, that’s what safe communities are all about.”
Nearly 60 wineries, from both sides of the Mayamacas Mountains, have confirmed their participation, with more joining each week. Some wineries are offering special products for the event. For example, Bloodroot and Reeve are part of the Overshine Collective, which is offering a half-case of wine featuring selections from each brand in the collective, including Bloodroot, Reeve, Martha Stoumen Wines, Idlewild Wines, Overshine Wine Co. and Comunita Wines.
Kelly Dorrance explained that this six-pack will be available through the websites and tasting rooms of all participating Overshine wineries. Each pack will generate a $60 donation.
For more information about participating wineries or to purchase wine from the event, visit the Wine Country Unites website at giffords.org/lawcenter/wine-country-unites.
Originally Published: October 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM PDT
Dining and Cooking