***Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
The past month or so has been quite emotionally trying for me. I lost a woman who was basically like a mother to me, and then in the midst of my grief, I found out that my best friend's mother's breast cancer had returned in full force. This was absolutely devastating for her, as well as for her family, and she made the very brave decision to undergo a double mastectomy while her cancer was still in its fairly early stages.
She is still recovering from this surgery, and will be visiting Cancer Treatment Centers of America in just over a week to get another opinion about what, if any, further treatment is necessary to ensure a full recovery. She may need chemotherapy or radiation, or she may not. Either way, she is ready to continue to fight this disease in any way necessary. She is a true warrior, and I admire her courage so much. She WILL beat this, once and for all, and this beast called "Cancer" will be nothing more than a conquest she can tuck under her belt.
In the meantime, there is a lot of fear and uncertainty. Cancer is frightening, not only for those suffering from it, but for everyone who loves them as well. So when I hear about companies who play an active role in the fight against cancer, I truly appreciate it. Every effort counts. Every bit of awareness counts. One day this will be a thing of the past, but it will take a lot of heroes to get there.
She is still recovering from this surgery, and will be visiting Cancer Treatment Centers of America in just over a week to get another opinion about what, if any, further treatment is necessary to ensure a full recovery. She may need chemotherapy or radiation, or she may not. Either way, she is ready to continue to fight this disease in any way necessary. She is a true warrior, and I admire her courage so much. She WILL beat this, once and for all, and this beast called "Cancer" will be nothing more than a conquest she can tuck under her belt.
In the meantime, there is a lot of fear and uncertainty. Cancer is frightening, not only for those suffering from it, but for everyone who loves them as well. So when I hear about companies who play an active role in the fight against cancer, I truly appreciate it. Every effort counts. Every bit of awareness counts. One day this will be a thing of the past, but it will take a lot of heroes to get there.
Speaking of heroes, the folks over at HandCraft Wines are just that. As a part of their HandCraft Cares program, they have launched a special Facebook initiative called HandCraft Heroes. The folks at HandCraft Wines are looking for 3 amazing, heroic people who have worked to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. For more information, check out their Facebook page and watch this brief video below.
To help celebrate the HandCraft Heroes campaign, we received 2 bottles of HandCraft Wines to try for ourselves. There was a white as well as a red, which made Dan and I both quite happy. He seems to prefer whites while I lean more towards reds, as long as they're fruity and full-bodied.
The varieties we received are quite unique. They are the red and white Inspiration wine blends. Rather than being one specific type of wine like Chardonnay, these are actually expert blends of amazing flavors that mesh together in a way I had never experienced before.
The Inspiration White Wine was much like a Chardonnay, but with something extra. The crisp, fruity notes played very well on the palate, and had no offensive aftertaste. This wine was amazing with a nice salad and seafood meal! (Okay....So I just ate the salad, since I don't eat sea-creatures. Dan said it was the perfect accompaniment to his fish!)
The Inspiration Red was full-bodied and rich, and was delicious with my almost-famous stuffed chicken parmesan. The red was also quite fruity, which I loved, and even had notes of chocolate. This would be the perfect wine for a romantic evening alone with that special someone. Or at least I think it would be....I don't really know what "alone" means with 2 toddlers and a teen in the house!
The Inspiration White Wine was much like a Chardonnay, but with something extra. The crisp, fruity notes played very well on the palate, and had no offensive aftertaste. This wine was amazing with a nice salad and seafood meal! (Okay....So I just ate the salad, since I don't eat sea-creatures. Dan said it was the perfect accompaniment to his fish!)
The Inspiration Red was full-bodied and rich, and was delicious with my almost-famous stuffed chicken parmesan. The red was also quite fruity, which I loved, and even had notes of chocolate. This would be the perfect wine for a romantic evening alone with that special someone. Or at least I think it would be....I don't really know what "alone" means with 2 toddlers and a teen in the house!
Overall, we were quite pleased with these high-quality, unique blends from the folks at HandCraft Wines. They were a pleasure to enjoy with our meals, and had a delightful complexity that isn't commonplace. Of course we also love the wonderful commitment HandCraft Wines has to the fight against breast cancer. While no one in my own family has had to fight, the past month or so seeing my best friend's mother "fight like a girl" has really opened my eyes to the horrors of this disease. One day soon, I hope a cure is found and no one's mother, daughter, friend, aunt, or grandma will have to fight this battle ever again. Thanks to the folks at HandCraft Wines, we're one day closer to that day.
Connect With HandCraft Wines :
You can check out the awesomeness that is HandCraft Wines on their website.
For information about the HandCraft Heroes Campaign or to nominate your own hero, visit their Facebook Page.
Also, be sure to Follow HandCraft Wines on twitter!
For information about the HandCraft Heroes Campaign or to nominate your own hero, visit their Facebook Page.
Also, be sure to Follow HandCraft Wines on twitter!
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