Caren and Nick Orum are not the most ordinary of vintners. Readying to launch their premium wines under their Arborum Napa Valley label, the duo are as interested in philanthropy as they are in producing their extraordinary 2021 Proprietary Red Wine and their 2022 Proprietary White Wine, crafted by well-known winemaker Andy Erickson. The Orums have pledged $1 million upon the release of their wines to charities that support Napa Valley vineyard workers and their families, as well as to organizations focused on environmental conservation. Additionally, 100% of the net earnings from the sale of their Arborum wines in the future will be donated to organizations such as The Napa Valley Farmworkers Foundation, Collective Napa Valley’s Forest Health Initiative, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, 10,000 Degrees, and the Point Reyes National Seashore Association.
Originally from the south (Caren grew up in Arkansas and Louisiana, and Nick in Texas) the Orums worked in New York and San Francisco before acquiring a home in the Napa Valley in 1999. After a detailed, decade-long search for the perfect vineyard, they fell in love with the location, history and significant potential of the oasis that would become Arborum. The historic 20-acre St. Helena property, set on the steep, east-facing slopes of Spring Mountain in the Mayacamas Mountain range and surrounded by esteemed winery properties, dates to 1871 when it was established by Bavarian immigrants John Weinberger and his wife, Hannah Rabbe who planted olives and grapes and built a successful winery. Hannah is credited as Napa Valley’s first female winemaker, winning medals for her wines at international competitions.
Over the decades, the once verdant property languished, until the Orums’ 2013 purchase and subsequent revitalization. They hired Renteria Vineyard Management to farm entirely by hand, with vine-by-vine attention to detail, precision pruning, canopy management, and the use of extensive technology to maximize quality and conserve resources. And in a nod to the property’s roots, the Orums revived the historic olive orchard. In their quest to maintain the land’s health for future generations, the Orums worked to ensure that that the vineyard and olive grove be CCOF-certified organic, an achievement realized in 2021.
“Even the smallest acts of kindness can plant seeds that sprout and spread.” Caren Orum
The soon-to-be-released Arborum 2021 Proprietary Red features 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hidden Key estate vineyard and 5% Cabernet Franc from Pritchard Hill. It’s a blend of delicate aroma and rich texture. The 2022 Proprietary White is a Bordeaux-inspired, vivacious blend of Sauvignon Musqué, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon from Coombsville. A Hidden Key estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon will soon join the portfolio.
The Orums’ societal commitment extends beyond financial philanthropy; Nick, a Stanford University graduate and co-CEO of a San Francisco-based investment company, volunteers weekly with a restorative justice program within San Quentin, while Caren, an Emory University graduate and former investment bank manager, serves in leadership roles with several nonprofits. “Our family’s personal motto is In the acorn sleeps a forest,” says Caren. “It’s displayed on every bottle of Arborum wine, reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness can plant seeds that sprout and spread. And we believe the best place to start is with the community and the natural world surrounding us. That’s why we actively support nonprofit organizations that enhance educational opportunities, environmental preservation, and the betterment of life in the Napa Valley and beyond.”
Photos courtesy of Suzanne Becker Bronk