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Brown has turned to using his fine Cleavage Creek wines to wage his attack on breast cancer.  He’s put his money, business acumen, and energy where his passion lies.  Ever the astute business opportunist, Brown purchased the Cleavage Creek wine label.  On October 15th, 2007, he released the first generation of the Budge Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines.  The response was overwhelming.  National and international press sought immediate coverage via television, magazines, newspapers, and the internet. ABC’s Good Morning America traveled to the Pope Valley vineyard in Napa, CA to film a feature piece that aired to a national audience.

Budge Brown intends to see that Cleavage Creek makes a difference.  Ten percent of the gross dollar amount of this operation is donated to cutting edge research to fight breast cancer.  That’s gross, not net—a huge difference when determining the amount of money that will be contributed. To date, Cleavage Creek and Budge Brown have donated over $37,000 to breast cancer causes.

The label of each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine features a photograph of an actual breast cancer survivor whose story is told on the Cleavage Creek website. 

The Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines began with 8 varietals in the first year. All were introduced on October 15th,  2007.  Among the wines released were a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Cabernet Syrah, a Merlot, a Merlot-Shiraz and a Chardonnay, all grown in Budge’s own vineyards, as well as a Secret Red and a Secret White.  A total of at least 2,000 cases of wine were produced in the first year. 

The 2nd generation of Brown’s Cleavage Creek wines were released on October 4th, 2008.  There are 6 varietals, including a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Syrah, a Secret White, and a Secret Red. A minimum of 1,600 cases will be produced. These wines are priced in the $18 - $50 range and are initially available for purchase via internet and phone. Other purchase possibilities will be updated on the Cleavage Creek website. Gift sets of Cleavage Creek wines are available in 2, 4, 6, and 8 bottle sets.

Buying a wine label and creating top quality wines seems like a tremendous amount of work for one person to take on.  Budge Brown doesn’t see it as such.  “I didn’t have to do this,” he says.  “I have a passion to do it.”  Although making a donation to the charity of his choice might make more sense to some people, Brown believes that Cleavage Creek wines will have much more of an impact.  “The world is full of people who enjoy good wines,” says Brown.  “When they buy Cleavage Creek products, they get a world class wine while helping to find a cure for breast cancer.  Everybody wins.  When people learn about Cleavage Creek and the motivation behind it, well, if it reminds one person to go for a checkup, do a self-examination, or become more informed, we’re accomplishing my goal of saving lives.  The cure for breast cancer may not come in my lifetime, but the mere existence of Cleavage Creek could bring it along sooner rather than later.  Job done.”

Future plans for Cleavage Creek vineyards in Napa are ambitious, but then Budge Brown rarely thinks small.  A tasting room and wine shop are to be built just steps from the growing vines. A special meditation flower garden overlooking a lake has been built to honor the late Arlene Brown. Her favorite flowers are planted there, including over 20,000 daffodils, 10,000 iris, California poppies, a host of wild flowers,  thousands of tulips, and roses.   “I want people to visit Cleavage Creek and celebrate life and health,” says Brown.  “There’s no better way to do that than with a fine wine and the company of those who are a part of the fight.”  Brown looks forward to hosting events and celebrating survival.  “We have to move forward,” he insists.  “The optimal way to do that is by focusing on a cure.  It can happen, and it will happen.”

Budge Brown speaks with great passion of the Cleavage Creek Wine Club.  There is a special category of the club for those who have conquered breast cancer.  Brown believes that not only should those with breast cancer survive, but they should thrive as well.  Members in this category are called “Sur-Thrivers.”   “A diagnosis is no longer a death sentence,” affirms Brown.  “Our motto at Cleavage Creek is ‘Live to Love Life’.”

Brown does ongoing research to select recipients of his philanthropy.  As usual, he thinks outside the box.  He seeks information on cutting edge research.  He’s interested in potential holistic treatments, and wants to know what has worked for those with the disease.  He discounts no approach as long as the results can be verified.  “Who’s to say where the cure will come from,” suggests Brown.  “We don’t rule anything out.  We’re open to what works.  The time has come for those with breast cancer to have viable options beyond killer drugs and treatments.  As it is now, when the treatment can do as much harm as the disease, it’s time to re-evaluate the game plan.”  His eyes glisten when he speaks of the horrific side affects that his wife Arlene suffered in her seven-year battle with breast cancer.  “Filling the body full of poisons and hoping that the cancer goes away just isn’t good enough.”  Information about research and treatments is posted to the Cleavage Creek website. Brown is proud that the site is a resource for those in need of information. He hopes that anyone diagnosed with breast cancer will explore all of their treatment options.

Frequently, friends and business associates who have learned of Budge Brown’s commitment to Cleavage Creek offer to make a contribution to his efforts.   However, he adamantly turns down any monetary donations.  “I don’t want anyone’s money,” he insists.  “I want to sell great wine, give a portion of our gross to the best sources for a cure, raise awareness, and celebrate survival.  Everybody wins.”

Budge Brown has grown crops of grapes, apricots, and almonds for well over 40 years.  But his current cultivation, spearheading a search for a cure for breast cancer, may very well be his greatest harvest.

Find out more about Budge Brown & The Cleavage Creek Story.

1. ABC’s Good Morning America
   

2. Today Show Coverage at MSNBC.com
   

3. ABC’s Money Matters

P.S. You may recognize one of the inspiring breast cancer survivors on the Cab Syrah label as our very own Hayley Townley, Co-Creator of There Is Life After Breast Cancer.com.

Budge Brown, successful self-made businessman and farmer, enjoyed 48 years of marriage with his wife Arlene.  When she lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005, he was devastated.  Devastation turned to anger.  Anger lead to action.  Budge Brown is mad as hell at breast cancer, and he’s determined to do whatever he can to help find a cure for it.  He doesn’t want what happened in his life to happen to anyone else.  “My wife died for no damn good reason.   It’s time to do something about this,” stresses Brown.

LIVE TO LOVE LIFE!

LIVE TO LOVE LIFE!

*The opinions, statements, services, advice, judgements, offers, and other information offered by these third-party organizations are those of their author(s) and are not necessarily those of There Is Life After Breast Cancer.com. We are posting these for your convenience only.