Oregon's Union Wine Co. Teams up with Wildfang Clothing to Benefit Planned Parenthood
Wildfang is a Portland based feminist clothing line with a focus on chic, gender neutral styles. Its founder and CEO, Emma Mcllroy, and Union Wine Co. founder and winemaker Ryan Harms, have been friends since Wildfang launched in 2013, and have worked together on various events and projects. The results of the November election spurred them on to action: they decided to collaborate on a new canned wine line that would benefit Planned Parenthood, with 100% of the proceeds from wine sales going to the organization.
“We wanted to make a clear statement in support of women’s rights and create some kind of positive impact. We also like to drink a lot of wine, so it felt like a match made in heaven,” says Mcllroy. Harms mentions the importance of an act in a male dominated space like the winemaking world, saying “...for our organization to put ourselves out there, to say that we’re supporting this organization, and doing it with Wildfang is a big position for us to take. I want to see more people from our space taking a stand.”
The two decided on a white wine blend that Harms had been developing, a bright and fruity blend of riesling, gewurztraminer, and pinot gris. Mcllory describes Wildfang’s role in the winemaking part of it as “willing accomplices”, with her team trying the wine during development, as well as working on design and writing.
The cans hit stores in Oregon (including Wildfang’s downtown location), Washington, California, and New York, with online orders available as well. Harms and Mcllroy are hoping to sell all of the wine made, which would result in $100,00 raised for Planned Parenthood, with the money going to the state programs that the wines are sold in.
Photo via Union Wine Company on Facebook