Cancer Survivor Branded Wines Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Alcohol use is linked to a leading cause of cancer, but that did not stop Cleavage Creek Cellars from producing a range of wines for breast cancer survivors. The Napa winery’s 2006 Reserve Chardonnay and the Secret White Wines were released long-long ago, like before Facebook, so we are assuming the marketing team just didn’t know any better at the time.

The bottles sold for $15 instead of the usual $30 to $40 and 10 percent of the gross sales of the Cleavage Creek were donated to fund breast cancer research.

Turns out Cleavage Creek Winery closed for good in 2011, after owner Robert “Budge” Brown died in a plane crash.

“Because of the untimely death of Budge Brown, the founder of Cleavage Creek, the tasting room and winery have been closed,” said a statement on the winery’s website.” Although we are saddened by this closure, Budge’s legacy to contribute to breast cancer research and support will be carried on through the Brown Foundation.”

Brown, who was 78 when he died, also owned Lake County’s Tulip Hill Winery.

After his wife Arlene’s 2005 death due to breast cancer, he had pledged to donate 10 percent of Cleavage Creek’s sales to breast cancer research.

In 2013, it was reported that a Chinese group bought Cleavage Creek and had plans for reviving the dormant brand in the Macau casino market. Whether this materialised, we don’t know, as that is the last news we could find online about the brand and its cancer survivor branded wines.