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One Napa Valley winery is making a difference in the lives of aspiring college students. On Jan. 24, Vida Valiente, a St. Helena-based winery, conducted its third annual Vida Valiente Foundation charity auction in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The Vida Valiente Foundation in Napa pairs luxury wine with educational philanthropy, aiding first-gen Stanford students mentorships and scholarships.

Susana Cueva Drumwright, co-founder and CEO of the Vida Valiente Foundation (vidavalientefoundation.org), helps underprivileged students flourish.

March is Women’s History Month and International Woman’s Day was last week. So, for Wine Wednesday we turn the spotlight on women in the wine world.

To drink better wine, start with these new names

Sam Kaplan has become a star among aficionados.

Vida Valiente, which just opened a tasting salon in downtown Napa, is donating $100 of each bottle of its flagship Cabernet Sauvignon toward funding the Vida Valiente Foundation. The foundation, which partners with Stanford University, fully funds the tuition for 25-35 first generation, low-income students, for all four years. Co-Founder Susana Cueva Drumwright sat down with KTVU's Betty Yu.

Living a valiant life is something for which Vida Valiente founders are aiming. Today, the winery is proud to announce the opening of its tasting salon in downtown Napa. Founded by vintner-philanthropists Hayes Drumwright & Susana Cueva Drumwright and winemakers Sam & Nancy Kaplan, the label debuted in late fall 2021 with its release of 2019 The Movement™, its flagship Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The tasting salon was opened is an effort to meet consumer demand for Vida Valiente following critical acclaim and outstanding accolades for not only their wines, but their mission statement and follow-through as well.

Now in its second year of providing scholarships for underprivileged students at Stanford University, Vida Valiente recently raised over $1.25 million at its annual auction at Montage Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The Vida Valiente Foundation receives partial funding from its flagship wine, The Movement, an acclaimed cabernet sauvignon blend crafted by 100-point winemaker Sam Kaplan. Through leadership initiatives, financial scholarships and annual retreats, the Foundation offers admitted college students unparalleled exposure to professionals for guidance and opportunities. 

The Napa Valley wine brand was created to support first-generation students through its namesake foundation.

From helping his father with his small vineyard in Oklahoma to being consultant and co-owner of multiple wineries across California, Sam Kaplan's 'valiant life' in Napa wine's top tier has grown to the point that now he's ready to start giving back.

Napa Valley's newest winery will donate $100 per bottle of it's flagship Cabernet to fund it's namesake foundation, partnering with Sanford University to support talented first generation low-income students

Wine Spectator's James Molesworth reviews Vida Valiente's inaugural 2019 The Movement  Cabernet Sauvignon

"Winemaker Best Up and Comer - Winner: Sam Kaplan"

"Vida Valiente is a new Napa family wine label, estate winery and philanthropic foundation from tech entrepreneur Hayes Drumwright (co-founder of Memento Mori) and his wife, Susana, as well as winemakers Sam and Nancy Kaplan. Susana is a first-generation American, and the foundation (vidavalientefoundation.org) was conceived by her to help fellow first-generation students find the perseverance and special insights required when navigating the uncharted territory of young careers."

"...Vida Valiente was created with a purpose: to support first-generation American, low-income students on their path through college into the professional world."