Ponte’s Annual Movie Night

“I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”
–Dr. Seuss

Grab your picnic blankets and round up the kiddos, because this Thursday, July 18^th, is Ponte’s annual Movie Night!  Every summer we feature a family-friendly flick and support Team Ponte’s fundraising efforts for Rancho Damacitas, a local home for abused and neglected children.  100% of the proceeds from concessions, wine, beer and a fabulous silent raffle will go towards this organization.  In August, Team Ponte will run the America’s Finest City ½ Marathon, their final event of the year to meet their $25,000 goal for Rancho Damacitas.

For this year’s Movie Night we are proudly showing, ta-da: “The Lorax!”  Tons of fun for kids and adults alike, “The Lorax” is fine family entertainment that also has a fantastic underlying message about the importance of sustainability.  The theme of the movie and the Movie Night event itself is a perfect combination of our “We Care” initiative.  You see, as a business, we believe that we have a responsibility and a unique opportunity to influence positive change in our community; to the people and also the environment.  And so, throughout the year, we are active in local charities (like Rancho Damacitas) and have vigorously worked to become a Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing member.  You can learn more about all of our efforts here.

Before you join us for our event, I’d like to give you something to get you’re eco-minds thinking.

This story focuses on the environmental issue of pollution and exploitation through the conflict between a natural environmentalist and a profit-driven, greedy character.  The character of the Lorax once lived in a natural environment populated with animals and Truffula trees.  His habitat changed when the Once-ler comes along and starts cutting down the trees.  He was warned about the damage that it would have but to no avail.  Eventually, the land becomes degraded to a point of no return where all of the trees are cut down, the animals have fled, the factory shuts down, and the air is polluted.  Through this story, we learn that if we do not change the way we produce and consume natural resources, our fate is like that of the Lorax.

It would be terrible to think of the effects that exploitation and poor environmental practices would have at Ponte.  That is why we practice environmental stewardship and strive for sustainability through our vineyard management and business practices.  And I admit it: I have been called a tree hugger as I work to protect the environment by sharing the messages and suggest practices.

For this movie event, we are asking for your help to appreciate the trees while appreciating wine.  We have partnered with ReCork to ensure that used wine corks are recycled into a new product – shoe soles!  So, when you join us on Thursday, please bring in any corks you may have lying around your house.  The donations will be accepted in these boxes (see photo below) that will be in the Tasting Room and outside by the film.

Check out another way to recycle your corks here

Family Movie Night is this Thursday, July 18^th.  Doors open at 6:30 pm, “The Lorax” will begin at 7:30 pm on the lawn. Concessions, wine and beer will be available for sale with all proceeds going to Rancho Damacitas.  No outside food or drink, please.

–Cameron Snyder