Long Island Winery Selling 9/11-Themed Merlot And Chardonnay

Plans To Donate Between 6 & 10 Percent Of Proceeds To Victims' Families

August 22, 2011 7:12 PM

(credit: liebcellars.com)

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9/11 Anniversary, Local, News, NY News, Syndicated Local

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The sale of 9/11-themed alcohol by a Long Island winery is likely to raise some eyebrows and draw ire despite some monetary benefit to charity.

Lieb Family Cellars of Mattituck says it has produced the 9/11 Memorial Commemorative Chardonnay and 9/11 Memorial Commemorative Merlot to mark to the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the opening of the 9/11 Memorial.

The company says it has 247 cases of the Chardonnay and 251 cases of the Merlot and that each will sell for $19.11 per bottle if purchased directly through the winery.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the winery plans to give between 6 and 10 percent of the proceeds from sales to the September 11 Memorial and Museum. That amounts to a donation of $1.15 to $1.91 per bottle.

In addition, Lieb Family Cellars is also offering the September Mission Merlot as part of its “Great Wines For Good Causes” lineup. The Merlot sells for $9.11 per bottle, with 91.1 cents being donated to the September’s Mission Foundation, according to the company’s website.

Do you think that it is simply too soon for such a product? Too tacky? Offensive? Or is it fine? Share your thoughts in the comments section…

Jane Smith

I’m holding out for the Flight 800 Champale.

Jane Smith

Actually, i just popped a bottle of Flight 93 champagne, as 2001 was a banner year for champagne. The grapes used for the Flight 800 champagne were from a poor harvest season.

Tired of Jane Smith

Jane Smith – go somewhere else. You’ve been commenting on this subject for over two straight hours. Doesn’t your Facebook page need updating?
Jane Smith

Nope. Besides, I’m building my new “Death-By-Open-Windows” Memorial Fund. I’ll send you the Facebook page so you can help me spread awareness.

michaelfury

Hey CBS, remember this Dan Rather 9/11 classic?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/black-box/
Al Barrs

Wine has long been a celebratory drink, not a commentary drink. More investigating is needed to definitively determine if this wine sale is really to do what the seller claims or a propaganda scam against the American people to raise money for Muslim terrorists. Six to 10% isn’t much but is a way to legitimize the possible scam on the American people. Muslim terrorists have used other sham fronts to raise millions of dollars for their terror effort in the trusting and unsuspecting United States. Is this another effort? Will Muslim and Islamists use the wine to celebrate their success with 911? I hope it is legitimate, but right now no one knows…

Alex

Muslims don’t drink wine you ignoramus. Alcohol consumption is specifically prohibited in their religion. They may beat the hell out of women and blow up buses but they do not drink.

khamal

you mean like the 9-11 hijackers? i particularly remember them going to STRIP BARS and DRINKING BEER before the attacks. You are the ignoramus Alex!
Jane Smith

The Muslims will hold an Islamic Wine Party in protest, pouring all the wine into Boston Harbor…a Jihadi Tea Party for our time..
L Hull

Killing innocent people is specifically prohibited in their religion too.
Jane Smith

Gotta love that Koran, right? Islam = the “Religion Of Peace”. Terrorists = “Misunderstanders of Islam”. Sure, sure.

Rachel H.

Your whole hypothesis on this wine is really a stretch, dude.

michaelfury

Can anyone explain how these men managed to get arrested twice on 9/11–first in East Rutherford and again hours later at the GWB?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/as-the-crow-flies/
Kathy, New Suffolk NY

Please take into consideration the cost that goes into producing one bottle of wine. Growing, harvesting, producing, and bottling. This does not even include the amount of taxes a winery would have to pay the state of New York. I think it is generous that they are even donating anything to a charity, much less such a charity that has affected the entire country. I have been to every winery on the north fork, most of you could not say such a thing. I believe in going to local places and purchasing local products. Let me guess, most of you responding to this are the same ones that go to Walmart and purchase a Chinese product because you may save 0.10 opposed to an American product?? Living on Long Island you should have been familiar with this practice, as this is nothing new for the Lieb family. I have purchased several bottles of this wine. Not because I thought is was a good wine, but because I knew I would be helping someone less fortunate than myself. Next time you want to be judgmental on how one helps others, please ask yourself what have I personally done to help?

Jane Smith

I give nothing to individuals who wish to live their lives as “victims”. Zero percent (0%) should be given to any so-called 9/11 “charity”, as preparedness would have prevented any financial insecurity or hardship which these “victims” and their families have endured. Life insurance would have mended any temporary financial hardships. After that, it’s up to the survivors to “survive”, not skate by on my tax money, your tax money, or any other American’s tax money. If anything, the American government should send a bill to the home nations of these 19 hijackers for cleaning up the mess of their jihad.

Blah Blah Blah

Stupid poll. $9.11 is tacky, ok. So what is $19.11? Both seem pretty lame since only 10% of the profit is given to charity.

Jane Smith

Zero percent (0%) should be given to this ‘charity’. You’re only a victim if you allow yourself to become (or to continue living as) a victim.
mike

If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Same feelings should go towards T-shirts, hats, etc. with the 9-11 logo on it. If I don’t like it or approve of it I won’t buy it. We have enough things in our country to worry about without worrying about this petty stuff.

JH

This seems like something Terrorists would drink.

Jane Smith

Either that or they’ll drink the blood of the non-believers of Islam. You decide.
Blah Blah Blah

Jihad Juice?

Jane Smith

Sour Apple AK-47

Pole Sitter

Give free wine to the fdny!!! We are the heroes of 9/11 and the wine will help us cope.

Jane Smith

That’s silly: What good would a drunken firefighter do for the city of New York?

Pole Sitter

Why is it silly? we drink in the fire house all the time,so we might as well drink for free wine lol

BubbaT

You just can’t fix stupid.
michaelfury

Warner Bros. was exploiting 9/11 in 1999:

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/ghosts-in-the-machine/
tj

Ask yourself what you have done to help 9/11 victims.

Jane Smith

I still fly American Airlines and United Airlines — does that help? Seriously though, survivors need to get off of this “I’ve had a tragic loss so the world owes me for the rest of my life” kick. Buy life insurance. It’s cheap, and will keep “victims” off the government’s teat during events such as this one.

tj

No it doesn’t “help” that doesn’t help children who lost parents, parents who lost children or friends who lost their co-workers. My comment was directed at those who are bashing a company for marketing a product in memory of 9/11 victims and will donate a portion of the proceeds to the victims families. Maybe those small proceeds will help a child who lost one or both parents eat, buy clothing or go to school. I take it you dont know anyone who has lost a loved one in this tragedy and you probably dont have kids of your own. Sorry folks I cant knock anyone who tries to do something to help those in need even if they will profit from it too. You can do the same but dont bash anyone until you do.
Jane Smith

Cry me a river, tj. More people are injured or killed EACH YEAR just by falling out of a window than did all the “victims” or 9/11. Where is the “charity” or “cause” to push for a national Death-By-Open-Windows Memorial??? Think of all the children — and their fathers, their mothers, their parents’ co-workers, their grandmothers & their grandfathers, their aunts, uncles, cousins….even their family’s pet(s) — who are “survivors” of this national epidemic of “man-caused terror”. They’re victims, too. In fact, I’m drawing up a bumper sticker and a magnetic “ribbon” to raise awareness of this form of terrorism. Please support the “Death-By-Open-Windows” Memorial Fund…

Helloseekers

Is tacky illegal yet? What does “too soon” mean? Isn’t this still a free market economy?

Jane Smith

If this is a true free market, then neither ‘tacky’ nor ‘too soon’ should every be legislated to be made illegal. Free market capitalism goes hand-in-hand with core libertarian principles. To legislate would involve government overreach, thereby inhibiting a free market to be ‘free’.
mike

No. Don’t know. Yes.

Bob Raegen

This is awful, but I find the anti-semitic comments even more offensive.
Silly winery,

Only politicians can profit off of 9/11.

Jane Smith

And labor unions.

Weepy

And fdny family
Jane Smith

and attorneys.

Jane Smith

So, by that line of thinking, is it only the Japanese electrical companies making money by selling power that’s produced by nuclear energy?
DogWithoutSlippers

How do you know it’s owned by Jews, jerk! It doesn’t matter who owns it. Unless its muslims! Anyone who profits by this or other means such as the sale of t-shirts is a scam – they should be jailed!
Billbo

Cut the Jewish remarks. You people make me sick. It’s a bad decision, that’s all. Race has nothing to do with it. Do you think no Jews were killed in 9/11? It’s the small minded that would think to take this story and use it to their racist advantage. If a company owned by a black man was selling BBQ sauce to raise money for 9/11, you people would weigh in on that too, right? Idiots.

Shlomo

Jews are a Race now?

Wino

Why not give 9.11% of the proceeds to charity? This is really tacky.

Jane Smith

because 10% is more than 9.11%. duh.

Wino

Uh, yeah, but it kind of misses the theme – dunce. You bought some of this didn’t you? Drink in moderation.
Jane Smith

Golly gee whiz. Ouch! That’s hateful rhetoric! I didn’t mean to steal your dunce cap ;-( The amount of 10.00% is slightly less labor-intensive to calculate than 9.11%. And from a marketing perspective, the price points of $19.11 and $9.11 are what’s meant to be commemorative and catch the (sober) eyes of wine-loving, eager-to-help-the-”victims fund” consumers or alcohol. Further on the marketing, the 10% has a better “ring” to the ears of the general consumer. Here’s your dunce cap back.

Rhonie Briley

So, when you buy your 9-11 T-Shirt, you 9-11 bumper sticker etc… You are fine with that, oh, but don’t buy the wine. It is all of the same. I bet I will see thousands of 9-11 memorabilia articles on TV. I guess all of the companies that produced it made nothing off of that either. I wonder if any donated any percentage to the 9-11 fund?
Joe

Once again a rich Jewish family is trying to make money from the suffering of others. If they really were doing this for charity, they would donate ALL of the profits to the 9/11 Memorial. This is disgraceful.

Mildly Amused Jewish Guy

Were you guys raped by Jews as a child or do you just have your panties in a bunch because they’re more successful than you and live in houses that aren’t on wheels? Who hurt you? It’s ok you can tell me you’re safe now.

But seriously despite this having nothing to do with religion, 10% proceeds is not charitable for something like this. They should donate 100% of profits (around 33%).
Joe

I just want to apologize for this remark. I realized after I wrote it that it was insensitive. I apologize to the Jewish community. I realize that sometimes I make really stupid statements and that this was one of those times. Please forgive me. I’m an ass.

Jane Smith

Unbelievable. The owner of the winery is a Protestant. Last time I checked, Protestants believed in Christ and were not of the Jewish faith. Am I misunderstanding my faiths/religions? If so, please correct me.
Joe

Sorry. Basically I make comments on this board (and others) before I think. My family is extremely racist, and I shoot from the hip. We live in Alabama, in a trailer park. Because of my limited education, I don’t often research stuff before I comment, so I didn’t know that the owners are Protestants. I hate them too, so it wouldn’t make much difference anyway.
Joe

I do not apologize for this remark. Jews are the root of most of the terrorism going on. Osama early on specifically stated that his major beef with the US is their support of Israel. I haven no beef with Jews, but the US should not support Israel as look what is has brought us. Despite its ultra colonial origins Israel should have a right to exist, but I dont agree with the US supporting them, it angers the entire arab world.
Jane Smith

I don’t care. I don’t know if the owner is a Protestant, a Catholic, a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist, an atheist…what does it really matter anyway? The Jewish people and the Jewish state of Israel are the last beacons of decency in the Middle East. Do you really think that the “Arab Spring”, the return of the 12th Imam, and movement for global Islamic socialism is really going to bring peace, love, and harmony to the world? The two factions of Islam (Sunni and Shi’a) will continue to fight between themselves, all the while your American head is being used as a soccer ball by the Islamic children playing in the streets of the Islamic States of Shariah. Wake up and smell the morning jihadists…or the remnants of the World Trade Center…your choice.
IgnoranteElephante

Really Jane, Protestant? Lieb Family Cellars is the name. Lieb is as Jewish as gifilte fish with matzo soup.

Only a bunch of Jews would do such a thing. They’re a breed of coffin riders profiting off of misery and death. This is just like their pimping of the Holocaust to make money off of thousands of Holocaust museums, all Jewish owned.

Well, fine. I’m as capitalistic as the next. I want to create a Holocaust themed wine called Zyklon Plum. I’m sure all of these people defending this ghastly winery would have no problem with it as long as I donate one dollar to a charity.

rjm2238

Hey Joe,
There is only one way to introduce religion into this and that is to get a rope, a tree and a muslim, see what I mean?
However it seems you have something in common with the muslims, your apparent dislike or perhaps envy of Jewish folks. That’s food for thought.
Rich in New Mexico.

Shame on Them!!

In the end, must we ALWAYS look like money hungry a$$es?? Wat a shame to disgrace the memory of all that died and how our souls were shaken on that day. I love our way of life and fought for that very way of life. I feel like my wife’s memory is being ridiculed by this vineyard in some way. Who the Hell is going to break open a bottle of this wine at Sunday dinner or on Christmas Eve??? This is just WRONG!!!

Jane Smith

Thank you for your service.

IrishEyesAreBlue

FIRST OFF — WHO edited this piece???? Which is the price $19;11 – OR $9.11??? THIS is the thing that IRKS me – there isn’t ANYONE CAPABLE OF EDITING ANYTHING ANYMORE!!!!

Jane Smith

…and second?

IrishEyesAreBlue

SECOND – WILL NOT PASS CENSOR!

Al Koholic

What really irks me is people who can’t read and then comprehend what they have read. It is obvious from the article that there are two different wines.(actually three) Two sell for 19.11 and the third sells for 9.11. First…don’t fully read the article. Second…stick foot in mouth. Third…Blame it on someone else. Got it.

Jane Smith

No, I do not “got it”. Please clarify your position for me. Thank you.

Dogmaticus

Learn how to read! The 9/11 Memorial Merlot is $19.11 the September Mission Merlot is $9.11. Isn’t anyone capable of reading anything anymore????

Jane Smith

Great — that’s TWO things of which I am incapable — reading AND driving. This morning, my karmaticus ran over your dogmaticus.

beth

For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed to be a Long Islander.

Jane Smith

You should be ashamed of everything you do. You are a shameful shamey person. Shame on you.
derp

really? for the first time?
Bruce Springsteen

Only someone from the Hamptons would say that.

Lazybum

They could have donated money from general sales without making any fanfare. Then it would not be tacky at best.

Jane Smith

Survivors need to get off of this “I’ve had a tragic loss so the world owes me for the rest of my life” kick.

Karl

Amen!!

Jay Twila

The 10.00% donation to the victim’s families is the EXCUSE to profit off of 9/11. My free market capitalist response is: BOYCOTT these people.

Jane Smith

capitalist or communist?
IrishEyesAreBlue

Jay, why don’t you pull your head out and take a look at the real world???? YOU, my ignorant friend, sound like a SOCIALIST!!!!!! IF you really want to ‘BOYCOTT” something … how about WELFARE????

Jane Smith

Totally right, IrishEyes.
Paddy’s Pig

Easy there M-I-C-K

rjm2238

Jay,
Come on, it has been ten years since these folks were caught up in this attack. If you wish to contribute to someone give to a service related organization. The service men and women at least chose to be involved.
The victims of 9/11 sure did get a short deal, no arguing that, but I feel it is almost as though those organizing the charities at this point are starting to do it as a livelyhood.
Let’s give those who suffered a lose a chance to move on.
Rich in New Mexico.