CULTIVATE PRESS CLIPS

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Wines that Champion Worthy Causes with Every Purchase- Katie Kelly Bell

FORBES - August 2012by katie kelly bell

Charitable giving and wine enjoyment are as easy as a trip to the store these days. [...] Cultivate Wines is the newest venture from Charles and Ali Banks, former owners (along with partner Stan Kroenke) of Screaming Eagle winery.

“When we were part of Screaming Eagle,” observes Charles, “We loved the giving back part of it,” noting the obscenely high bids that Screaming Eagle wines would fetch at charity auctions. The idea of giving back in a more consistent way, and Ali Banks’ passion for social entrepreneurship, formed the soul of Cultivate. Ten percent of every dollar earned is donated to causes that people can vote for on the company website, and funding is open to most causes.

With four wines in the current portfolio: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Malbec and a red blend, ranging in price from $12.99 to $28.99, Cultivate is currently on track to give away over $800,000 this year; remarkable given the fact that the wines have only been in the market seven months.

“I’m going to kick off with my favorite this season.” -Leslie Sbrocco

THE TODAY SHOW WITH KATHIE LEE AND HODA - November 2012 & January 2012

“When the tree gets hoisted in place dominating Rockefeller Plaza, you know it’s holiday time. What better way to celebrate than with wines that help others? These brands all have a charity component that makes it easy to do good while enjoying the season.

2009 “The Feast” Red Blend, CaliforniaA combination of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this silky red (with a label design that symbolizes the spirit of the season) is perfect for imbibing with friends and family. It tops my list of favorite holiday gift ideas.

The give: Founded by Charles and Ali Banks, the Cultivate Wines portfolio was created to inspire connections, celebrate life and give back to those in need. Organizations can submit their story to CulvitateWines.com and fans vote on who receives the funds. In just a few years, Cultivate has distributed

nearly $400,000 dollars to various charities by committing 10 percent of their revenue to the causes chosen.”

http://huff.to/N3ErtX

“Leveraging their industry relationships and blending expertise, Cultivate sources juices from vineyards all over the world.”- Marc Ozburn

HUFFINGTON POST - August 2012by marc ozburn

Charles and Ali Banks fell into the wine business as outsiders. Charles remembers walking into a wine store clueless as the newly married couple prepared for their first dinner party. He naively asked the clerk questions and brought home a variety of wines. He watched closely to see which wines were popular with his friends and instantly recognized how a nice bottle of wine could be the foundation to fun dinner party.

“Early on in our marriage, we realized that we loved throwing big dinner parties as a way to get our friends together, and wine naturally became part of that,” says Ali Banks. “Having wine on the table means you’ll linger a little longer, tell a few more stories and grow deeper friendships over long meals.”

Cultivating this newfound love, Charles studied the industry and became a walking encyclopedia on all things wine. The couple dreamed of dappling in the wine business once they retired, but were unexpectedly offered to plant a wine vineyard in Santa Barbra, CA much earlier and seized the opportunity. Soon, they were running the acclaimed Screaming Eagle vineyard in Napa Valley.

“Our tenure at Screaming Eagle provided us with a catbird seat for observing the power and connectivity between wine and philanthropy,” recalls Ali. “When we donated large bottles, dinners or events to charity auctions, we were captivated not only by how much money was raised for [local charities], but also by the momentum and energy in the room.”

In these charity events, the Banks noticed how many people wished to purchase their wine as a means to give back to causes they held dear, but only the highest bidder could do it. The couple embarked on creating a company where every customer could give back every time he or she purchased a bottle of wine.

Together, Charles and Ali launched Cultivate, a wine company that makes delicious wine at a fair price while reserving 10 percent from every purchase for worthy charities. Leveraging their industry relationships and blending expertise, Cultivate sources juices from vineyards all over the world and blends them without additives for an all-natural and memorable flavor. [cont.]

http://bit.ly/UaHmBk

“The concept of giving back formed the soul of their radically different wine venture: Cultivate Wines.”

- Katie Kelly Bell

DECANTER - September 2012by katie kelly bell

Charles and Ali Banks (pictured) are best known as former owners, along with business partner Stan Kroenke, of Screaming Eagle but their love affair with wine began long before their brief partnership in the Napa estate.

In 2000, Charles Banks was offered a partnership in Jonata. With Andy Erickson as consultant and Matt Dees as winemaker, the first Jonata vintage, 2005, earned encouraging reviews.

In 2006, Charles was offered the chance to buy the Screaming Eagle property but needed a partner to help with funds. He found Kroenke. The alliance was brief but intense, ending four years later. Banks, having accomplished his goal of replanting the vineyards and building a new

winery, parted ways with Kroenke noting, ‘Stan likes to work alone; he’s not a guy who needs a partner. I wanted to do other things in the wine business and Stan wanted to get more involved in Screaming Eagle. He’s the right man for the helm. Stan won’t compromise and the wines will get better and better.’

After walking away from Screaming Eagle in 2009, the couple found themselves with some lessons learned, a clean slate and a tidy sum. ‘It was a great combination,’ says Charles. But, he confesses, ‘There were things we loved about Screaming Eagle and things we hated. We loved the giving back part’ – that is the sums the wines would fetch at charity auctions. ‘But we didn’t like the keeping-up-with-theJoneses aspect, where suddenly you’re

spending too much money for all the wrong reasons and start getting away from the wine itself.’ They were also frustrated at not being able to share their wine. ‘If we wanted to open a bottle for friends, we had to pay retail!’

Altruistic ventureThe concept of giving back formed the soul of their radically different wine venture: Cultivate Wines. ‘Creating a wine program that allows people to give back every time they buy (rather than only at auction) was my goal,’ says Ali Banks. With Cultivate, 10 cents in every dollar earned is donated to causes that people can vote for on the company website, and funding is open to most causes.

[cont.]

bit.ly/STvRgs

“This Montecito couple bottles great wine for a great cause.”

- Mary Ann Norbom

805 LIVING - November 2012by mary ann norbom

They’ve been successful in their professional endeavors, in their 21-year marriage, and in raising three thriving children, so when Montecito’s Ali and Charles Banks decided it was time for a new chapter focused on giving back, they attacked the effort with the same enthusiasm and management skills they pour into every aspect of their lives. The result is Cultivate Wines, which the Atlanta natives launched a year ago this month.

They have what they call a “flying winemaker” who travels the world in search of the best wines to blend under the Cultivate label, with 10% of the gross revenue going back to charity. That’s approximately $100,000 every quarter-- dubbed “The Give” -- and the public gets to vote online for which charities

receive the funds.

Ali says she and Charles went back and forth for six months before settling on how Cultivate would operate. “Connected capitalism” is the catchphrase Charles uses (he was a wealth management specialist prior to 2006 when he turned to investing in vineyard and winery properties around the world). He explained that they wanted to create a for-profit business that gives back to and is connected with the community.

“Supporting education and basic human needs” is Cultivate’s broad mission statement. Among the first charities to receive grants were organizations that promote the adoption of children with HIV, train assistance dogs for the disabled, and provide shelter for the homeless. “We

have already given to 29 different communities,” says Ali.

http://issuu.com/tastemakermagazine/docs/may_june/55%20

“Who could imagine that drinking a great glass of wine can increase your charitable efforts?” - Andrea Janise

TASTEMAKER MAGAZINE - May / June 2012by andrea janise

Who could imagine that drinking a great glass of wine can increase your charitable efforts? Well, the folks at Cultivate Wines make it possible with the purchase of each bottle. Lifestyle Editor Andrea Janise had the pleasure of interviewing the couple and finding out more about how they got their start, their wine blending process, and how the entire community can benefit.

Cultivate Wines is a unique wine brand focusing on bringing its customers delicious, quality whites and reds at affordable prices. It all started when native Atlantans Ali and Charles Banks were a young married couple hosting dinner parties; this eventually piqued their interests in picking the right bottles of wine for their guests. “It was interesting to watch who drank what and why,” Charles said.

For a birthday gift, Ali bought two mixed cases of wine from a specialty shop, each with a handwritten tasting note from the owner. “For the next month or two, just about every weekend we’d open a bottle and read the note and taste the wine, and that started our love affair of wine,” Charles said. From that to eventually working with the most expensive wine brand in California, Screaming Eagle, Charles took his knowledge and experience and opened several wineries including, Cultivate Wines.

With Cultivate Wines, Charles and Ali wanted to bring people the best wine at a fraction of the cost. “With Cultivate in particular, the goal is to essentially make wine from all over the world from wherever we find or feel there is interesting wine to be made,” Charles explained, “the advantage is at a more affordable price point and by not

owning land or being tied to just one vineyard, we can make a much better wine by blending from lots of different vineyards; it’s a wine that is much more complex.”

Also putting a conscious spin on the wine buying process, 10 percent of the sales from each bottle of Cultivate Wine goes towards THE GIVE campaign, a consumer-driven process that provides substantial grants to non-profit organizations focusing on issues like improving education and access to basic needs. “THE GIVE campaign raised over $175,000 for human needs and education last year,” Ali commented. “Since its inception, three Atlanta charities benefited from the proceeds.” [cont.]

http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-restaurants-food/from-prestigious-winery-to-1444783.html

“The GIVE is the tangible result of the belief that for-profit companies with a socially responsible mission can shake the foundations of the world.” - Gil Kulers

Who wouldn’t want to be top dog of Screaming Eagle, one of the world’s most prestigious wineries? And once that position is secured, who would want to give it up?

Charles Banks, that’s who.

Banks, 44, spent 18 years as an investment banker and president of CSI Capital Management prior to jumping into the wine business in 2000. He purchased 600 acres in Santa Barbara, Calif., to start Jonata, a winery focusing on a wide range of varieties, mostly reds.

The University of Georgia graduate co-owned and operated Screaming Eagle from 2006 to 2009. He and his business partner, billionaire Stan Kroenke, bought the property from founder Jean Phillips.Banks pulled out of Screaming Eagle

when Kroenke wanted more say-so in the winery’s operation. “I think a great winery needs one boss,” Banks said.

Hardly lost in the woods, Banks has been busy the past three years. He launched two wine groups, purchased several wineries and started a high-tech wine bar in Hong Kong. One of his companies, Terroir Selections, owns Sandhi, Fable and Leviathan wineries. It recently acquired Mulderbosch, the iconic South African winery.

With his wife, Ali, an Atlanta native, he also created an innovative charity called the Give. The Bankses subscribe to a philosophy called connected capitalism. The Give is the tangible result of the belief that for-profit companies with a socially responsible mission can shake the foundations of the world.The Give generates its funds from

Cultivate Wines, essentially a global wine negociant owned by the Bankses. Cultivate donates 10 percent of its gross revenue to the Give.

The Give in turn has donated more than $150,000 since November to an array of causes -- from building shelters for orphans in Kenya to blindness prevention programs in Atlanta. The Give will fork over another $100,000 at the end of June.[cont.]

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION - May 23, 2012by gil kulers for the ajc

“One of the more inventive philanthropy tools on the planet.” - - Matt Kettmann

http://www.independent.com/news/2012/jun/02/cultivate-wines-grow-charity/

SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT -June 2012by matt kettmann

Already home to an impressive number of nonprofit organizations, Santa Barbara is now headquarters for one of the more inventive philanthropy tools on the planet: Cultivate Wines, a company that sells fine wine from all over the world, sets aside 10 cents off every dollar earned, and then distributes $100,000 each quarter to the charities that get the most votes via cultivatewines.com. Though open to nonprofits everywhere, the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, Santa Barbara Aquatics Club, and Storyteller Children’s Theater are Santa Barbara organizations that have participated in the past. Right now, Child Abuse Listening Mediation, or CALM, is one of the 30 groups vying for this quarter’s cash, with $50,000 going to first place and $10,000 going to each of the five runners-up.

The Give, as this program is called, is the brainchild of Ali and Charles Banks, who moved to Santa Barbara in 2000 when they purchased Jonata Winery but stuck around after selling that property a couple of years ago. The globally sourced wine selling part was inspired by the exotic apparel-finding J. Peterman catalog of the 1980s, but the philanthropy side is an example of “conscious or connected capitalism,” explained Ali, and she hopes the idea, which started last November, is contagious. “Our country as a whole needs entrepreneurs to take responsibility for the future and the revival of the American economy,” she explained. “If we can be successful and be a responsible exercise using wine, hopefully we inspire other businesses to do the same thing.”

The response from the nonprofit community has been “incredibly positive,” said Banks, but she warned that it does require a full-scale campaign. “You cannot wine depending on just the public to choose your cause and vote,” she advised. “You have to spread the word.”

And it’s turning heads in the wine world too, with more than 100,000 visits to the site each month. “There’s not a lot of wineries getting that kind of traffic,” said Banks. “Every winery tells the same Mad Libs — your aspect and your soils and your stainless steel tanks — but, really, every winery story is almost the same. With Cultivate and The Give, we put a story in the glass, but we really want the story of Cultivate to happen after. What do you do with those wines? What does The Give inspire in other lives? It’s much more of an ongoing story of us and our wine.”

http://www.modernluxury.com/the-atlantan/articles/tasters-choice

“The idea of giving back, and Ali’s passion for social entrepreneurship, formed the soul of their new company.” - Katie Bell

TASTER’S CHOICE - May 2012by katie bell

Walking away from ownership in Screaming Eagle winery, which produces Napa’s most coveted cult wine, came with its share of challenges, but native Atlantans Ali and Charles Banks have recently landed on their grape-stained feet with a radically different wine venture. After leaving in 2009, the couple found themselves with some lessons learned, a clean slate and a tidy sum. “It was a great combination to work with,” quips Charles.

“There were things we loved about Screaming Eagle and things we just hated,” confesses Charles. “We loved the giving back part of it,” enjoying the dizzying heights Screaming Eagle wines would fetch at charity auctions. “We didn’t like the ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ aspects, where suddenly you’re spending too much money for all the wrong reasons and start getting away from the wine itself.”

The pair attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta (each dating the other’s best friend at the time); Charles later graduated from the University of Georgia and Ali from the University of Virginia. Currently based in San Francisco, the two often return to Atlanta to visit family and introduce their new wine project: Cultivate Wines.

The idea of giving back, and Ali’s passion for social entrepreneurship, formed the soul of their new company. “Creating wines that allowed people to give back every day (rather than only at an auction) was my goal,” notes Ali. Ten percent of every dollar earned is donated to causes that people can vote for on the company website, and funding is open to most causes.

With four wines in the Cultivate portfolio: pinot grigio, chardonnay, malbec and a red blend, Cultivate is

currently on track to give away more than $800,000 this year; remarkable, given the fact that the wines have only been in the market five months. Ranging in price from $13 to $29 they’re available at Sherlock’s stores, “We get it,” Ali notes. “There are plenty of wines in the marketplace, but not wines that give people that opportunity to give with each sip. So, cheers to that!”

atlantamagazine.com

“Definitely a reason to raise a glass!” - Atlanta Magazine

For the last ten years, the Cultivate team has produced more than twenty wines rated at ninety-five points or higher, and their latest venture is already resulting in sought-after vino after only a year into the launch. Founders and Atlanta natives Charles and Ali Banks are excited to offer fantastic, well-priced bottles to wine enthusiasts in their hometown. Even more moving than the spectacular value and superior juice is their commitment to charity in the area, with 10 percent of gross sales (not profits) going directly to worthwhile causes. Definitely a reason to raise a glass!

THE CULTIVATE BRAND - WINES WITH A WHY - April 2012

http://www.cultivatewines.com/images/uploads/general/C_Magazine.pdf

“Though crafted by the same winemakers as its exclusive sisters, Cultivate wines aren’t $750, and they’re intended for a younger, style-conscious consumer.” - Allison Clare Steingold

Twelve years ago, Santa Barbara-based Charles Banks was brought in as managing partner of a transformed cattle ranch in Santa Ynes. That winery, Jonata, would earn 98-100 point ratings and the rare praise of critic Robert Parker: best Cab Franc in the New World. Impossible, Banks topped this feat in 2006 when he acquired (with partner) Screaming Eagle, the 100 point Oakville cult Cabernet with a wait-list rival only to Lakers floor-seats for relative lifetime span.

One might raise an eyebrow to learn that the just-launched passion project of Charles and his wife, Ali, is boxed and table wine. For every sale, Cultivate returns 10% of all sales to charitable endeavors. On the interactive website, buyers click on a world map to vote for a cause. Each quarter, the most popular

charity receives $50,000. Runners-up get $10,000 each.

This sizeable donation strategy (“subject to increase!” says Ali Banks) includes a shift away from the big-ticket partnerships under global umbrella Terroir (the Bankses and winemaker Andy Erickson moved on from Jonata and Screaming Eagle in ‘09 and ‘11, respectively). “We started Cultivate with no investors, just stickies on the dining room wall. That’s totally different than the incredible capital cost to build the others,” says Ali of the overhead. Essentially, production follows the J. Peterman model: “Find the best juice at the best price around the world.”

Though crafted by the same winemakers as it’s exclusive sisters, Cultivate wines aren’t $750, and they’re intended for a

younger, style-conscious consumer. The team enlists artists to create each label. There’s the flair of Chez Panisse events menu designer Cynthia Warren (Copa Cabana 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon) and LMNOP Creative (Dream Walking, 2009 Chardonnay) to the sharp eye of iconic S.F. photographer Fred Lyon (The Gambler 2010 Malbec, $15). The “Behind the Brand” blog also blends design with entertaining tips and chic party decor.

For 2012, “The Give” is projected to reach $750,000. Adds Banks, “These really do become house wines for Tahoe, book club, dinner parties. It’s 16 cents an ounce, and it’s fabulous.” Best of all, no wait-lists.

A GENEROUS POUR - March 2012California’s boutique wine luminaries look to make a difference with new project Cultivate by allison clare steingold

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“... a winery with ties to Tennessee that gives back to those in need in wonderful ways. ” - Stephanie Stewart-Howard

Red, white, sparkling, rosé; the nose, the palate, the finish; what is it about wine? It’s an eminently grown-up drink in some ways - something you might start off “liking,” but grow to truly appreciate. Maybe we can measure adulthood from the moment when we graduate from thinking a little White Zinfandel is “nice” to asking for a glass of Pinot Noir, because we’d rather savor the underlying spices and red fruit notes than get giggly.

But regardless of when we first discover the joys of the wine world, and what varietals we favor most, once we do it’s a passion for life.

It’s nothing new in the history of the world: Humans have been making wine in some form for at least 8,000 years. The Greeks and Romans

turned it into an art and the ancient world approved. Even Homer has Odysseus carrying amphorae full of his own superior vintage in the Odyssey, and from the ancients to Shakespeare to Dickens, great authors and artists and poets have celebrated the gifts of the vine.

Here in our offices, we remain true to the literary and artistic appeal of wine. We’re an office of wine lovers, whether it’s Liz with her bubbly, Lauren and Errine with their Pinot Grigio, Katie and her beloved Shiraz or me with a glass of deep red Cabernet, pouring over my Netbook while writing at home. And as you’ll see in this section, Stacie has become a devotee of Cutlivate Wines, a winery with ties to Tennessee that gives back to those in need in wonderful ways. You can find all the staff ’s specific

favorites in you’re interested online at NashvilleLifestyles.com.

We’ve tried to create a wine section that’s distinctly Nashville. You’ll find details on wine events; a listing of favorites like A Vintage Affair (see more in Cityscape) and I’Eté du Vin; an interview with rock star winemaker Jonathan Cain; notes on how to taste wines from our expert James Hensley and a look at what local wineries are worth the visit. We’ve even got recommendations from some of the city’s best known sommeliers. So even if you’re a beer or a bourbon on the rocks drinker regularly, there might just be something in this feature to draw your attention - or even make you crave a glass of wine.

WINE ISSUE - March 2012by stephanie stewart-howard

http://dailycandy.com/everywhere/flipbook/116681/Recipes-and-Party-Ideas-for-a-Crowd#slide=4

“Keep them happy with a box of Cultivate’s Copa Cabana cabernet.” - Daily Candy

http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2011-12-21/elin-mccoy-s-top-10-wine-experiences-of-2011.html#slide5

ELIN MCCOY’S TOP 10 WINE EXPERIENCES OF 2011 - December 21, 2011by elin mccoy

Why: This box wine, a bright, fresh, spearminty chardonnay from Chilean grapes, delivers superior quality for the price and has a social conscience, too. Ten percent of the price goes to good causes, which you can vote for on the website. Master-minds behind it are ex-owner of cult Screaming Eagle Charles Banks and wife Ali.

Cultivate Wines+800 928 1803info@cultivatewines.com