Winery Trip: Marterella Winery

HELP SAVE THIS WINERY!!!
The Marterella Winery is one we've never been to before...it's a bit farther out than we typically go, but they need our help! Lucky for us, they're also open late on Saturdays (til 8PM), so it'll be worth the trek out there! So come on out, enjoy a beautiful day and explore a winery we've not yet visited, and help them to save their winery!! www.marterellawines.com

Here's a note from the owner, and the reason for the visit!

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM KATE MARTERELLA
Marterella Winery, located in Fauquier County Virginia is in jeopardy of losing the right to sell wine from our on-site tasting room. Marterella has been in over a 5 year legal battle to protect our right to exist and to sell our wine.
The Bellevue Landowner's Council Inc. , the managing property owner's association where the winery is located board of directors filed a lawsuit against our family and the winery in January 2008 in order to shut down our on-site wine sales from the property. The POA claims the winery and family are violating the communities restrictive covenants.
Amazingly enough, the Bellevue Landowner's Council Inc. approved the operation and wine sales of Mediterranean Cellars - also a farm winery- in 2003- which is located DIRECTLY across the street from us. Mediterranean Cellars wine sales have not been challenged nor have they been sued by the POA. Mediterranean Cellars has been permitted to continue operations uninterrupted since February of 2004.
We filed a "plea in equity" defense in February 2008 in response to the the POA's lawsuit. A three day, 7 juror trial has been set in Fauquier County Circuit Court for June 29, 30 and July 1, 2009. A jury trial is most unusual in these instances; however, the judge found the case to be worthy of a jury trial based on the fact of the Mediterranean Cellars operation and multiple other businesses that exist in the community that have not been approved by the POA or were approved by the POA.
Legal fees to defend our property and farm winery rights have surpassed the $200,000 dollar mark. It has been a financial nightmare for our family requiring us to liquidatelifetime savings. Estimated legal expenses between now and the trial are $50,000 more.
We are in great need to sell our wine- and lots of it- fast - to pay the legal bills that we have accumulated and will continue to incur the next couple of months.
We are asking for your help- by asking you to buy three bottles of wine - this month - from us.
I have created a SAVE MARTERELLA WINERY three bottle collection- one white, one rose, and one red for a total of $70- this includes shipping and tax. Of course if you want more we are happy to oblige!
If 500 people elect to help us out- we will make enough money to get through the trial.
Below is an order form: Please -Please -Please- help us survive by :
signing up for this three bottle package
OR
by joining our normal Marterella by Mail Club
OR
by coming out to the winery over the next two weekends and deplete our inventory!
A great deal of $$$ is sitting in the warehouse ready for your enjoyment!
If you have ANY questions or can HELP in anyway- by sharing this request with friends or colleagues. I would appreciate it so very much.
Needless to say, this is an extremely difficult time for our family and there are many sleepless nights and tears shed. I can not believe the dire situation I have been thrust into- my dream to have a elegant, boutique premium winery in the heart of the Fauquier County Wine trail has swiftly become an ugly nightmare beyond comprehension.
To simply recover is a hope. To win is a dream. To thrive is the goal.
Please help me.
Sincerely,
Kate Marterella
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