City Hearts co-founder Sherry Jason, Joe Lando and Jane Seymour at last year's Annual Harvest & Crush Event, which also took place at Saddlerock Ranch, the home of Malibu Family Wines.

LOS ANGELES, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 14, 2006 -- Malibu Family Wines, producer of Semler and Saddlerock Wines, will host its Sixth Annual Harvest & Crush Event on Sun., Oct. 8, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the sprawling Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, Calif., as a fundraiser to benefit City Hearts: Kids Say "Yes" to the Arts. City Hearts is a non-profit organization that provides quality, academic-enhancing arts programs to at-greatest-risk children in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with the goals of broadening their opportunities and encouraging them to be productive, creative and caring members of society.

At the harvest celebration, guests will have the opportunity to participate in the "barefoot grape crush," which event sponsors and Malibu Family Wines owners Lisa and Ron Semler say is a unique, fun experience for participants of all ages. To get the grape stains off their feet, guests can sign up for a botanical foot soak by Bonicca and foot massage by Borrelli salons. There is a wine tasting of the wines produced by Malibu Family Wines and samples of signature dishes donated and served by local restaurants, including Chapter 8, Fin's, Il Tiramisu Ristorante, Malibu Wines, The Melting Pot, MOZ Buddha Lounge, Paradise Cove, P6, Rustico, Riviera, Saddle Peak Lodge, Sam's by the Beach Restaurant, The Sunset, Tuscany and Zin Bistro Americana. Children can enjoy face painting, a moon bounce and hot dog cart provided by Calamigos Ranch. For adults, in addition to wine tasting, there will also be a silent auction, where people can bid for luxury items including a week's stay at the Aspen home of event sponsor John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the John Paul Mitchell hair products empire. During the Harvest & Crush event, people may roam the grounds of Saddlerock Ranch, which is the largest working ranch in Los Angeles County and home to exotic animals, including zebras, buffalo, camels, macaws, Scottish highland cattle and llamas.

Malibu Family Wines has recently been awarded its own American Viticultural Area (AVA) called "Saddle Rock - Malibu," which is a formal recognition by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as an area capable of producing wines of distinction. The vintners at Malibu Family Wines believe the ocean air, classic soil and sunny Southern California weather account for the successful growth of their eight varietals, which allow them to produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Mouvedre, Grenache and Viognier. Wine connoisseurs and novices can enjoy all of the wine produced by Malibu Family Wines at the new tasting room, Malibu Wines.

Actress Jane Seymour, City Hearts Honorary National Chairperson, will attend the celebration. She has been very involved with City Hearts programs for over 18 years, sharing her love, commitment and concern for City Hearts' target population. Since 1984, City Hearts has taught the arts to over 22,000 children with such programs as The Shakespeare Challenge, Fresh Focus Photography, Dance for Life and ALITE (Arts & Literacy for Tomorrow's Education). Many former City Hearts students have gone on to college and have become successful professionals, attributing their confidence and motivation to their experience with City Hearts.

"If we don't help these children, who will?" asks City Hearts co-founder Sherry Jason. "This event gives people an opportunity to have a great time and actually help children who need it most so we can raise a generation of thoughtful, productive people."

About City Hearts:

Founded in 1984 as a program of prevention by criminal defense attorneys Sherry and Bob Jason, City Hearts now reaches over 2,000 at-greatest-risk children each year, ages five to 18, through unique and inspiring, free after-school programs in core arts disciplines. City Hearts is committed to using the arts to intervene in a loving, supportive and nurturing way to break the cycle of poverty, neglect, abuse and violence that destroys the lives of so many of our community's children who face everyday challenges of gangs, drugs and crime. The programs are designed to show these most disadvantaged children an alternate path of social involvement and life-affirming success.

Tickets for the Sixth Annual Harvest & Crush Event can be purchased online at www.malibufamilywines.com or www.cityhearts.org . Or call The New Philanthropy Group at 310-899-9191. For information pertaining to City Hearts, call the City Hearts office directly at 310-455-2898.

Contact: CONTACT: Lisa Elia Phone: 310-479-0216 Fax: 888-548-5950 e-mail: Email Contact Source: City Hearts