McClain Cellars Gives Back To Communities Through Master's Wine Flight

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — McClain Cellars Winery of Laguna Beach is one of four tasting rooms owned by Jason and Sofia McClain. Their journey has inspired the winery owners to give back to the community through a monthly charitable donation, funded through a carefully curated wine flight.

The winery was founded in 2016 and is the sole Black-owned winery in southern California, according to the owners. Their head winemaker is Dean Guzman and both the wines and labels are unique works of art with such whimsical names as "Staycation," "California Dreamin'" and "Risktaker." All bring to mind the journey of the owners who sold their assets, changed their lifestyle and gave all to bringing the McClain Cellars vision to reality. In Laguna Beach, there are two locations to enjoy - the intimate Forest Avenue tasting room and the larger Laguna Canyon Road location. Their tasting rooms boutique tasting room on Forest Avenue is artistic and intimate — reservations are required. According to the owners, the winery is in a place of growth, with new tasting rooms opening across Southern California, making this the perfect time to give back to others.

Jason McClain recently spoke on the flights for charity program in a news release.

"As the only black-owned winery from Orange County to Santa Barbara County, we have a responsibility to set a standard of excellence for anyone of color and make a statement that giving is just as important as receiving," he said.

Thus far, they have donated to multiple organizations:

• February 2022: United Negro College Fund: supporting the education of young black men and women
• March 2022: Laura's House Domestic Violence Advocacy Center, Garden Grove, CA: fight Domestic Violence
• April 2022: Hidden Wings, Solvang CA: supporting families and people with Autism.
• May 2022: Sean Fleming Memorial Firefighter Scholarship & F-116 injured and Fallen Firefighters Fund, supporting the organization dedicated to helping serve local communities up and down the central coast.

June and July's flight beneficiaries have not yet been announced. Each organization chosen connects to the primary vision of the winery itself, according to McClain.

McClain Cellars is founded on what Jason McClain calls"F4" (Family, Faith, Friends, Freedom). That motto is on every bottle and displayed on the walls of all their wine tasting lounges. McClain says he holds these values at the center of every decision surrounding the tasting lounge and sees wine as a gateway to helping people connect in ways that matter the most.

"It's not just about picking a good cause," he said. "It's about giving our guests a chance to see an opportunity to be a part of something more. Making, serving, and enjoying great wine is one thing. Allowing that wine to become a catalyst for helping others is what really matters."

Known for its award-winning wines and accessible luxury experience, McClain Cellars encourages a diverse crowd to enjoy the finest life has to offer.

"It's part of my belief system that everyone has a purpose, and every purpose should be realized," says McClain. "My purpose is to help every person who enters any of our lounges feel their value through the experiences we create. Giving back to others is the most important part."

For more information, visit www.mcclaincellars.com.