Price	$16.95/bottle
	CSPC	+201038
	Region	California, USA
	Format	12 x 750ml
	Availability	SPLTY, Good Stock Available

Big Hearted Healdsburger - Colby Groom

Daryl, Colby and Lisa Groom

Sonoma County Gazette
January 31, 2014
By Gina Riner    

With his irrepressible spirit and twinkling eyes, it's hard to believe that Healdsburg resident Colby Groom, who turns 16 on February 6th, has endured two open-heart surgeries in his young life. Born with a congenital heart defect, Colby had his first surgery when he was eight years old and his second surgery when he was almost ten years old. "Afterwards, he hit the bottom rung of the ladder. He was depressed for about a year, and spent a lot of time crying and being sad," says his parents, Lisa & Daryl Groom.


Colby wrote music and poetry during that time as a way to cope but what helped him bounce back most from his medical hardships was the desire to help heart patients and their families. He regularly sends emails and makes phone calls to support those who are anticipating heart surgery. He participates in the annual walk for the American Heart Association for Sonoma County. He is on the speaking circuit for heart research and last summer he spoke to about 600 people at the Cardinal Newman High School assembly. Soon he is scheduled to fly to Denver, CO to speak to about 1,000 people.

But Colby wants to make an even bigger impact "so no kid has to go through what I went through."
At age 11, when he was in sixth grade, Colby approached his father, well known winemaker Daryl Groom, with the idea of making and selling a special wine to raise money for heart research. After three years of working on the project over $400,000 has been raised with all proceeds from Colby Red wine going to kid's heart camps and heart charities like the American Heart Association and the Hope Heart Institute. Colby Red even supports the City of Healdsburg's "Music on the Square" during the summertime because the Groom family believes it is heart healthy for people to socialize together.

"Recently when we asked 19 restaurants in Healdsburg if they would pour Colby Red wine and donate dollar for dollar to the local American Heart Association, says Daryl, 17 restaurants said yes. We were all united in the cause and everyone forgot they were competitors. I've never seen such a strong sense of community."

This year Colby Red wine sales are targeted to hit $500,000 but that doesn't suit Colby. He wants to reach for the stars and raise at least $1 million in 2014. With Colby's ambition and the help of retail partner Walgreen's, Colby Red wine is becoming a mainstream brand and raising a lot more money for heart research.

"I think I can change the world," says Colby.

I think he already has.

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