If you, or someone you know, have a heart of gold and aim to make the community a better place, Markham Vineyards wants to help turn your dreams into reality. Markham is excited to announce its Fourth Annual Mark of Distinction program, and its new online Sip of Service Sweepstakes, both of which reward those that promote positive changes in their communities.

· Markham’s Mark of Distinction program awards two $25,000 grants to community-based initiatives. For example, last year’s Mark of Distinction grants were awarded to a crime-prevention alert system in Erie, PA and a business district affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, LA.

o To enter the Mark of Distinction program, submit a proposal and budget on MarkofDistinction.com, on or before July 31st.

· This year, Markham is extending its program and celebrating individuals who believe that even small changes can make a huge impact, by awarding do-gooders with weekly $200 gift cards. Submissions will be accepted on Markham Vineyard’s Facebook page, and one weekly winner will be chosen now through October 2nd.

· To further honor the grant recipients, Markham will also produce two single-vineyard, limited production Estate Cabernet Sauvignon wines appropriately named The Philanthropist and The Altruist. The 2009 vintage wines, to be released in Fall/Winter 2012, will detail the 2011 recipients’ causes on the wine labels. Markham Vineyards will donate an additional $1 from each bottle sold to the respective initiatives (up to $3,600 for each of the two grant recipients).