Two historic organizations recently joined forces in a unique partnership that elevated wine pairing in a fun new way. Last week, St. Julian Winery and Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan hosted a virtual tasting event. During the experience, four popular Girl Scout cookie flavors paired with award-winning wines from St. Julian. Specifically, the featured cookies included Lemon-Ups, Do-Si-Dos, Caramel DeLites/Samoas, and Thin Mints. Overall, the event marked the latest collaboration between the two organizations, which have partnered on several initiatives in recent years.
During the one-hour Facebook Live event, St. Julian team members Tony Strong and Brian Christofferson guided more than 100 participants through the pairings. Along the way, attendees selected either dry or sweet wine options. As a result, each choice created a personalized and memorable tasting experience.
“The wine and cookie pairing event with St. Julian was a blast,” says Brenna Smith, Communications Manager for Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. According to Smith, participants enjoyed supporting Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan while indulging in delicious treats. Importantly, every dollar raised supports local girls and helps them take part in the world’s premier leadership organization for girls.
At its core, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan empowers girls to build lifelong friendships and develop confidence and courage. Through a wide range of programs and activities, Girl Scouting offers opportunities girls cannot find elsewhere. Ultimately, the organization creates a space where every girl belongs and every girl matters.
“We operate as a farm-to-table enterprise and value strong community connections,” says St. Julian President John Braganini. Those connections, he notes, include growers, supply partners, distributors, customers, and employees. In addition, he highlights the winery’s leadership culture. “We have a strong female presence at St. Julian. Because of that, supporting programs that encourage girls to become confident leaders and team players makes perfect sense for us.”
More broadly, the partnership with Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan represents one of many philanthropic efforts supported by the Braganini family. Beyond this collaboration, additional causes include the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Likewise, St. Julian supports local schools and universities, including Northwood University, Bloomsburg University, and Grand Valley State University.
