Rachel Martin and Oceano Wines: Making a Difference.

Learn more about this unique premium wine and the woman leading the change. Oceano Wines makes giving back one of the pillars of their business.

 

Rachel Martin

Rachel is well-suited for the wine industry lifestyle and possesses the commitment needed to build an award-winning winery from scratch. She began her career at the inception of Boxwood Estate Winery in Virginia in 2005 as the Executive Vice President of Winery Operations.

From there Rachel followed her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts with a degree in Viticulture and Enology from Napa Valley College and completed the Sensory Evaluation program at the University of Bordeaux School of Enology.

Her extensive education and years of experience in the wine industry gave her the skills needed to successfully build Oceano Wines.

On top of her busy career, Rachel is dedicated to giving back to her community and the wine industry through a number of organizations and events.

WEBNC

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of female-owned businesses in the United States. Their main goal is to advocate for female business owners and entrepreneurs.

They work to provide women with the certification, opportunities, resources, and engagement necessary for their businesses and ideas to flourish.

Oceano Wines was WBENC certified April of 2019.

Women of the Vines and Spirits

Oceano Wines is a corporate member of the Women of the Vines and Spirits organization. The organizations goal is to provide its members with education, networking, mentorship, training, and tools for personal and professional advancement.

Les Dames d’Escoffier

Rachel is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) New York and Washington D.C chapters and was the first woman to be inducted into the District of Columbia chapter of the International Wine & Food Society.

Les Dames d’Escoffier International is a philanthropic invitation only organization of women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.

This organization looks to share knowledge, support members and those in the industries, and provide leadership and educational opportunities.

Rachel supports the organization by sponsoring wines by Oceano and Boxwood for LDEI NY and DC Chapter Events. Most recently was the NY Chapter Member Holiday dinner. Next will be April 29 the LDNY Scholarship Dinner honoring LDEI founder Carol Brock.

A Scholarship Program Fundraiser
Reception & Dinner At New York City College of Technology

http://ldny.associationsonline.com/site_event_detail.cfm?pk_association_event=18667

Oceano Wines will also be a Patron Sponsor at the 2020 LDEI annual conference from October 24-27th, 2019

Philanthropy

Oceano Wines was the exclusive white wine sponsor of Steven Tyler on Music’s Biggest Night to support Janie’s Fund.

The goal of this fund is to raise our voices (and glasses) to help bring hope and healing to abused and neglected girls.

Rachel and the rest of the Oceano Wines team are dedicated to philanthropy and making the world a more united place for everyone.

Rachel and the Oceano Wines team has also participated in many other charity events and causes:

• Heart’s Delight Wine Auction Heart’s Delight raises money for the American Heart Association


• MCC Theater- Oceano donates wine for the MCC Theater Gala. MCC Theater encourages the production of plays and musicals that focus on hard to talk about issues and ideas


• City of Hope –Oceano donates wine for the City of Hope Gala. City of Hope is a leader in the research and treatment of cancer, diabetes, and other serious diseases


• AIM at Melanoma- AIM focuses on Melanoma education, research, and advocacy


• Exposed - Revealing the Need for Melanoma Awareness and Research


• James Beard Foundation – Oceano Wines participated in the 2018 dinners: Carla Hall and Shepherd + Friends


• Middleburg Film Festival- Founding Board Member and sponsor. Oceano Wines and Boxwood Estate Winery are both heavily involved in the Middleburg Film Festival


• Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum – Wine donation for the Boating Party Annual Fundraiser


• Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation – Oceano Wines donated to The Grand Auction

Projects for the future

Oceano Wines continues to practice philanthropy and is excited for the upcoming events of the organizations they support. Oceano plans on doing a concert series by partnering with Kurt’s (Rachel’s husband) record label, Ghostlight.

For the winery’s future projects, Oceano Wines just harvested their first vintage of Pinot Noir. The vines have been planted at Spanish Springs for 13 years. Both the Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir are grown in the same vineyard.

April 17, 2019

James Beard House – Southern Spring, Dinner with Kevin Johnson of The Grocery, Charleston SC (Boxwood Estate wine donation)

May 5, 2019

Jazz at the Ballroom featuring Byron Stripling – Wine sponsor

May 30, 2019

Bottling our first vintage of Pinot Noir (v. 2018) and our third vintage of Chardonnay (v. 2018)

Summer 2019

Poolside at Jazz at the Ballroom with TBD – Ghostlight / Oceano Concert

August 14, 2019

Society of Wine Educators Conference – Seminar “Come Hell or High Water” – Rachel Martin

October 17 – 20, 2019

Middleburg Film Festival- Wine and Venue sponsor, Boxwood and Wine Sponsor, Oceano

November 7 - 9, 2019

Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic

Consumers who support philanthropic and socially responsible companies like Oceano Wines allows us to continually reach out to organizations and support non-profits by donating our time, wine, and money.

Combining the industry that we love and the act of giving to some of our favorite organizations keeps our hearts full as we continue to grow Oceano Wines.

This article is also featured on the News & Features section of the ilovewine.com blog