Queen Anne Road Wine Retailer Helps In Clean Water Campaign

A Queen Anne Road wine store is one of a group of retailers showing they not only care about the quality of drink found at their stores, but that also care about the quality of drinking water around the world.

From now through Earth Day (April 22), nearly 40 independently owned wine shops throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts that make up a consortium called WineMasters will donate $1 from every bottle of wine sold to A Drink for Tomorrow (ADFT), a nonprofit that raises funds and awareness about the lack of safe drinking water in developing countries.

Kevin Roche, owner of  in Teaneck, and Jim Treanor, owner of in Wayne, are two of the wine retailers taking part in the Turn Wine Into Water campaign. Both are also founders of WineMasters, whose merchant-members are all certified sommeliers and who guarantee the quality and value of the wines they sell to consumers.

“ADFT is helping needy people, and we want to help also,” Roche said. “We’re able to give back, which we feel is the right thing to do. Anytime you can save a kid's life, it's something worth doing.”

And sadly, many children and adults face diseases and death as a result of drinking dirty water.

According to statistics found on ADFT’s website:

• One in eight people – nearly 900 million worldwide – lack access to clean water
• Water-related diseases are the No. 1 cause of sickness and death in humans
• Every 20 seconds, a child dies from water-related illnesses

ADFT founder Stephanie Weaver said the Turn Wine Into Water campaign started in 2009 on a smaller scale with one wine merchant, Mark Stagliano, who now is a part of WineMasters. Weaver said when she bumped into Stagliano a few months ago, he asked for more information about the campaign to share with the WineMasters group.

“There will certainly be incredible benefits to A Drink for Tomorrow that will come from partnering with WineMasters,” Weaver said. “First and foremost, it will raise money and awareness for clean water, which is central to our mission. We think there is potential to raise enough funds for two water projects through this campaign.”

That potential to produce results is what appealed to Treanor.

“This was a good fit for our organization because the concept of the campaign is perfect for the business we’re in,” he said. “And the fact that we could work with our consortium of wine retailers and raise enough money to do one well or more for those in need is great.”

Those interested in taking part in the Turn Wine Into Water campaign can make their purchase at any WineMasters retailer or via the WineMasters’ website. Treanor and Roche said customers can find a bottle of wine to fit any budget: from $6.99 to $199.99.

 “Every wine we carry has the lowest price in the United States, and our seal of approval is a guarantee of the quality and price,” Roche said.