Washington’s First Carbon-Neutral Winery to Give All Profits to Charity

Eleven’s Matt Albee turns passion for green winemaking into force for the greater good

Bainbridge Island, Wash., March, 26, 2009 – Matt Albee has been making good “green wine” at Bainbridge Island’s Eleven Winery for six years, and for six years his wines have been “making good” via in-kind donations to local charities and, more recently, through the winery’s annual monetary contribution to World Bicycle Relief. But a new business model, designed to coincide with the winery’s impending profitability in late 2009 or early 2010, may soon increase Eleven’s “do gooding” exponentially. Under the new plan, Albee will donate 100 percent of the winery’s after-tax profits to charitable organizations that focus on ending the cycle of poverty in the U.S. and abroad.

“Winemaking is my calling,” says Albee. “I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else, but I’m also passionate about making a difference in the world. Donating all of the winery’s after-tax profits to charity will enable me to marry my two passions in a sustainable way.”

How can Eleven give away all of its profit and sustain itself? Albee explains:

“Giving away all of our after-tax profits is not the same as giving away all of our money. Our after-tax profits will be the money that remains after we’ve taken care of the expenses necessary to run the business, which will fuel the philanthropic engine. This includes purchasing grapes (our raw materials), paying the electric bill, and putting food on the table for my family – yes, I will draw a reasonable salary. We’ll also use a percentage of our annual proceeds to grow the business. The more wine we can produce and sell, the more profits there will be to give away.”

“I felt that it was important to make a public commitment now,” Albee adds, “early in our development, so that we can incorporate this philosophy into everything we do as we grow. Also, it would become impossible to switch to this path later on, if we tried to do so after investors were involved and the profits were already flowing in.”

New Brand Will Drive Philanthropic Giving

Currently, Eleven’s annual wine production stands at 1,000 cases. Generating significant after-tax profits for charity – Albee hopes to one day donate millions – will require dramatic growth. Albee has a plan.

“In the near future, Eleven will launch a new brand of affordable, custom-blended wines targeted to supermarkets. We’ll start small, but eventually I would like to be nationally, and even internationally distributed. My goal is for Eleven to one day be a multi-million case winery, generating millions of dollars in annual profits. It may take us awhile to get there, but we’ll get there eventually.”

In the Meantime – Good and Green

Until Eleven turns its first profit, Albee, a former bicycle racer, will continue to contribute through an annual $1,000 donation to World Bicycle Relief. The mission of this international non-profit organization, recently featured on The Today Show, is to provide access to independence and livelihood through “the power of bicycles.” This simple, sustainable mode of transportation is an essential element in disaster assistance and poverty relief. Eleven’s annual donation pays for nearly 10 bicycles, which provide access to healthcare, education and economic development in countries around the world.

Eleven also plans to stay “green.” The winery uses only natural cork to seal its wine bottles rather than ride the wave of wineries that have switched to screw-caps or plastic corks. Natural cork comes from the bark of Portuguese cork-oak trees found in old growth forests. The trees provide a habitat for many birds and animals, some of which are endangered. Natural cork is both biodegradable and renewable. The tin capsules covering the cork in bottles of Eleven wines are printed with water-soluble ink. The manufacturer will buy discarded capsules for scrap from consumers who send them in, or Albee will take care of this for customers that drop them off at the winery. Further, Eleven is Washington’s first carbon-neutral winery. All of the operation’s on-site energy usage is electric, no gas, which means most of it comes from hydro-power. Albee purchases carbon credits to offset Eleven’s on-site usage, as well as all the driving required to truck-in grapes and deliver wine.

Sustainable Giving in Tough Economic Times

Asked if his plan to give away all of Eleven’s profits is truly sustainable in tough economic times like the present, Albee exudes confidence.

“People always buy wine. Our sales have not declined in the current economy. The model is built on profits, so the question is the same as asking if the winery can be successful as a business in tough economic times, and the answer to that is definitely yes! If you look at the wine business as a whole, it continued to grow throughout 2008 and is growing still.”

About Eleven Winery

Eleven is a small winery housed in the converted garage of the Albee family’s Bainbridge Island residence. The tasting room is located five miles from the winery, within walking distance of the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry dock in Winslow. Eleven produces approximately 1,000 cases of handcrafted wines on site annually, including two signature blends, La Ronde and La Primavera. Washington’s first carbon-neutral winery, Eleven is committed to sustainable philanthropic giving. Upon reaching profitability in late 2009 or early 2010, the winery plans to donate 100 percent of after-tax profits to charities working to end the cycle of poverty in the U.S. and abroad.

Find out more about Eleven by visiting the winery’s website at www.elevenwinery.com, or by calling 206.780.0905.