June is upon us, and that means Pride Month, when members and allies of the LGBTQ community parade, party, and raise money and awareness in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall uprising in Greenwich Village. You just did the mental math, and that's right: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the riots. So in honor of this pivotal moment in history, wine, beer and spirits brands are doing it up big, commissioning art labels, donating proceeds to charities, even marching in Pride parades. Here's what to look for.
Tank Garage Winery
The California wine company has released 350 cases of a limited-edition white blend called Love & Pride, available online and at the Napa winery. The label design is based on a piece called Closet Door #1 by artist Hizze Fletcher-King.
"At Tank, we believe in making wines that stand for something," James Harder, the winery's co-founder, and Ed Feuchuk, vice president of marketing, told Unfiltered in a joint email. "We deeply believe in the rights of LGBTQ+ people and felt the community to be underrepresented in wine. … Ultimately, we want to help drive progress and think this project will be something both the LGBTQ+ community and our customers will embrace."
Love & Pride is the fourth wine release that will contribute to Tank Garage's new "Tank Cares" charity initiative, which raises money for causes ranging from mental health advocacy to the California Fire Foundation. The winery has pledged at least $7,500 in proceeds from Love & Pride to LGBTQ Connection, a foundation working to promote the safety, visibility and wellbeing of LGBTQ people in Napa and Sonoma counties.
Barefoot
Barefoot always shows up for Pride, and E. & J. Gallo reps caught us up on this year's plans. Fans of the wine can catch Barefoot's "Rainbow Route" at Pride events in major cities around the U.S., including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Orlando and San Diego. The interactive experience teaches revelers about each city's local LGBTQ history, as well as Barefoot's history as a community ally. People can also go to Barefoot's "glam" station and photo booth, then check out the final product: their face on a personalized Barefoot Wine label.
Speaking of labels, the brand is bringing back its "Barefoot Bestie Labels." From June to October, drinkers can choose from three of Barefoot's offerings—Moscato, rosé or Merlot—and customize their own rainbow labels to give to a friend (or keep for themselves!). For every label ordered, Barefoot will donate $1 to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights for AIDS to help provide meals, medication and emergency assistance to those in need.
Stoli Vodka
The vodka brand has put out a limited-edition bottle called the "Spirit of Stonewall," created by artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer, depicting iconic imagery of the LBGTQ movement, including protest signs and a stiletto to represent the trans activists who initiated the 1969 uprisings. "Stoli celebrates the legacy of our gay bars, such as Stonewall, as the original community centers and safe spaces," Patrik Gallineaux, Stoli's LGBTQ ambassador and national brand manager, said in a press release.
Stoli also made a donation of $50,000 this year to the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, an LGBTQ nonprofit that focuses on awareness campaigns and educational programming. "These much-needed funds will help continue the Stonewall legacy, especially in places where equality has been slow to arrive, and full legal protections are not in place," Stacy Lentz, the organization's president, CEO and co-founder said.
Bud Light
For the month of June, Bud Light connoisseurs can drink the rainbow. In honor of Pride Month, Budweiser will be selling rainbow-hued aluminum bottles in bars nationwide. Bonus: For every case of rainbow bottles sold from May 27 to June 30, Bud Light will donate $1 (up to $150,000) to nonprofit LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD, part of the ongoing partnership that Bud Light and GLAAD have had for the past 20 years.
"The way we see it, our beer is for everyone to enjoy, so we are looking forward to seeing Pride bottles at bars throughout the month of June and beyond," Andy Goeler, vice president of marketing for Bud Light said in a press release.
Absolut
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, Absolut commissioned photographer David LaChapelle to create a retro ad that evokes the spirit of the marches and protests of the late 1960s, featuring LGBTQ celebrities like drag queen Sasha Velour, model Amanda Lepore, and TV personality EJ Johnson. The brand has also released its rainbow-flag bottle again, which will now, for the first time, be available year-round. Absolut has also teamed up with GLAAD for a variety of events across the U.S.
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