Great Episode, I can't put into words how much I respect Budge for taking action like this and for Gary to get to word out there. Thank you

I don't see a link to help this guy. I guess I can google it(cleavage).?

Castello,
Here is the website address: http://www.cleavagecreek.com/
Cheers,
CK

Kombucha! Good call.

For those who don't know kombucha, think about all the probiotics of yogurt, with no dairy. Wow, “probiotics” isn't even in spell check, yet antibiotics is. We're so backwards in the West.

http://www.CleavageCreek.com

Here's the Cleavage Creek story from their website:

Budge Brown, successful self-made businessman and farmer, enjoyed 48 years of marriage with his wife Arlene. When she lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005, he was devastated. Devastation turned to anger. Anger lead to action. Budge Brown is mad as hell at breast cancer, and he?s determined to do whatever he can to help find a cure for it. He doesn?t want what happened in his life to happen to anyone else. ?My wife died for no damn good reason. It?s time to do something about this,? stresses Brown.

These are strong, passionate words. Budge Brown is very passionate about his Cleavage Creek wines and using them to fight breast cancer.

Brown has turned to using his fine Cleavage Creek wines to wage his attack on breast cancer. He?s put his money, business acumen, and energy where his passion lies. Ever the astute business opportunist, Brown purchased the Cleavage Creek wine label. On October 15th, 2007, he released the first generation of the Budge Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines. The response was overwhelming. National and international press provided immediate coverage via television, magazines, newspapers, and the internet.

The Cleavage Creek look is distinctive and significant. The label of each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine features the image of an actual breast cancer survivor whose story is told on the Cleavage Creek website. ?Putting a face on this disease and telling the stories of those who are dealing with it personalizes this and hopefully inspires everyone to take on the fight,? offers Brown.

Budge Brown intends to see that Cleavage Creek makes a difference. 10% percent of the gross dollar amount of this operation is donated to cutting edge research to fight breast cancer. That?s gross, not net?a huge difference when determining the amount of money that will be contributed. To date, Cleavage Creek and Budge Brown have donated over $72,300 to breast cancer causes.

?I am delighted about the contributions and efforts to fight breast cancer that Cleavage Creek has funded. A great deal of research went into making these choices. We?re monitoring these closely.?

Cleavage Creek wines have made significant contributions:
$40,000 to establish an Integrative Oncology Research Center for breast cancer.
With this grant from Cleavage Creek, the Bastyr University Integrated Oncology Research Clinic opened in February 2009. Bastyr University is located in Kenmore, Washington. This outpatient facility provides state-of-the-science and state-of-the-art naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine treatment and integrated management of cancer patients. The new clinic offers comprehensive support and treatment for each stage of the cancer patient?s experience, from diagnosis, treatment decisions, and restoration of immune function and health after completion of standard treatment.

Bastyr University will collaborate with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle to do a controlled outcomes study. This study will compare the ?disease free survival? and quality of life in breast cancer patients who are treated in the new Bastyr Integrated Oncology Research Clinic to women living in Washington State who do not include complementary, alternative or integrated therapies in their treatment regime.
$17,500 Payment for care of 2 breast cancer patients
Dr. Lois Johnson, an oncologist in Santa Rosa, Caliornia, specializes in homeopathic and natural medicines to treat women diagnosed with breast cancer. Dr. Johnson works with patients in all stages of treatment as well as with other oncologists so that women can have integrated treatment. Cleavage Creek is sponsoring two woman in Dr. Johnson?s care, purchasing the natural medicines for these patients during her term of treatment since these types of medicines are not usually covered by insurance. The cost for a year?s worth of medicine for each woman is estimated to be $7,000.00 per patient.

$14,800 Sutter Breast Cancer Center, Santa Rosa, California
These funds go towards the purchase of Dedicated Breast MRI Technology, an Aurora Breast MRI System. This MRI technology detects tumors that are not typically identified by mammograms, especially those found in denser breasts of younger women or, in some cases, tumors, which develop in high-risk women or those with a strong family history of the disease. Unlike mammograms, which utilize X-rays, Aurora uses MRI technology to detect breast cancer.

The Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines began with 8 wines in the first year. All were introduced on October 15th, 2007. Among the wines released were a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Cabernet-Syrah, a Merlot, a Merlot-Shiraz and a Chardonnay, all grown in Budge?s own vineyards, as well as a Secret Red and a Secret White. Approximately 2,000 cases of wine were produced in the first year.
The 2nd generation of Brown?s Cleavage Creek wines were released on October 4th, 2008. This release included 6 wines: a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Syrah, a Secret White, and a Secret Red. Approximately 1,600 cases were produced.

The 3rd and most recent generation of Brown?s Cleavage Creek wines was released October 1st, 2009 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Approximately 1,900 cases of 6 wines have been produced: a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Chardonnay, a Merlot-Shiraz, a Secret White, and a Secret Red.

All Cleavage Creek wines are available for purchase on the website and in retail establishments where noted. Gift sets of Cleavage Creek wines are available in 2, 4, 6, and 8 bottle sets. Wines are priced in the $18 – $50 range.

Buying a wine label and creating top quality wines seems like a tremendous amount of work for one person to take on. Budge Brown doesn?t see it as such. ?I didn?t have to do this,? he says. ?I have a passion to do it.? Although making a donation to the charity of his choice might make more sense to some people, Brown believes that Cleavage Creek wines will have much more of an impact. ?The world is full of people who enjoy good wines,? says Brown. ?When they buy Cleavage Creek products, they can select from award winning wines while helping to find a cure for breast cancer. Everybody wins. When people learn about Cleavage Creek and the motivation behind it, well, if it reminds one person to go for a checkup, do a self-examination, or become more informed, we?re accomplishing my goal of saving lives. The cure for breast cancer may not come in my lifetime, but the mere existence of Cleavage Creek could bring it along sooner rather than later. Job done.?

?I am very proud of the quality of our Cleavage Creek wines,? notes Brown. ?Wines from our two years of operation have won a multitude of medals in the most prestigious national and international contests. These are seriously good wines doing seriously good work.?

Our Future

Future plans for Cleavage Creek vineyards in Napa are ambitious, but then Budge Brown rarely thinks small. A tasting room and wine shop are currently under construction just steps from the growing vines. A special meditation flower garden overlooking a lake has been built to honor the late Arlene Brown. Her favorite flowers are planted there, including over 120,000 daffodils, 10,000 iris, California poppies, a host of wild flowers, thousands of tulips, and roses. ?I want people to visit Cleavage Creek and celebrate life and health,? says Brown. ?There?s no better way to do that than with a fine wine and the company of those who are a part of the fight.? Brown looks forward to hosting events and celebrating survival. ?We have to move forward,? he insists. ?The optimal way to do that is by focusing on a cure. It can happen, and it will happen. Cleavage Creek is dedicated to fighting breast cancer. We're in it to win it. We produce award winning wines for a life saving cause.?

Budge Brown speaks with great passion of the Cleavage Creek Wine Club. There is a special category of the club for those who have conquered breast cancer. Brown believes that not only should those with breast cancer survive, but they should thrive as well. Members in this category are called ?Sur-Thrivers.? ?A diagnosis is no longer a death sentence,? affirms Brown. ?Our motto at Cleavage Creek is ?Live to Love Life?.?

Brown does ongoing research to select recipients of his philanthropy. As usual, he thinks outside the box. He seeks information on cutting edge research. He?s interested in potential holistic treatments, and wants to know what has worked for those with the disease. He discounts no approach as long as the results can be verified. ?Who?s to say where the cure will come from,? suggests Brown. ?We don?t rule anything out. We?re open to what works. The time has come for those with breast cancer to have viable options beyond killer drugs and treatments. As it is now, when the treatment can do as much harm as the disease, it?s time to re-evaluate the game plan.? His eyes glisten when he speaks of the horrific side affects that his wife Arlene suffered in her seven-year battle with breast cancer. ?Filling the body full of poisons and hoping that the cancer goes away just isn?t good enough.? Information about research and treatments is posted to the Cleavage Creek website. Brown is proud that the site is a resource for those in need of information. He hopes that anyone diagnosed with breast cancer will explore all of their treatment options.

Frequently, friends and business associates who have learned of Budge Brown?s commitment to Cleavage Creek offer to make a contribution to his efforts. However, he adamantly turns down any monetary donations. ?I don?t want anyone?s money,? he insists. ?I want to sell great wine, give a portion of our gross to the best sources for a cure, raise awareness, and celebrate survival. Everybody wins.?

Budge Brown has grown crops of grapes, apricots, and almonds for well over 40 years. But his current cultivation, spearheading a search for a cure for breast cancer, may very well be his greatest harvest.

Follow Cleavage Creek on Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/CleavageCreek

Thanks folks! I bought a couple bottles. I there an easy way to just donate?

Gary…I am the biggest Lurker there is. I have watched every episode of your show at least 3 times each. I use all ur terms and sayings at my wine store. I have emailed you 4 times and you have never wrote me back. I understand you are crazy busy and all. You are my inspiration!!! Budge thank you for this show. I am so sorry to hear about you wife. My mom died of lung cancer when i was 6 years old! I totally understand how you feel. She went through useless chemotherapy and just made her suffering worse in my opinion. I think a woman, upon receiving a diagnosis should first gather all her friends and family around and build a strong support group. She should then along with their help do a lot of research and make a huge list of options. Call and literally interview a bunch of prospective doctors and find out what their strategy will be. Then after weighing all these options, along with friends and family make an informed decision based on what she feels in her heart. Then let god and your support group help get you through!!!

If i was diagnosed with cancer I would come and drink your wine, sit in the Napa evening sun and wait to star gaze.

In reality I would freak and google what the hell it's about. And cry, whether it was me or a friend. I don't have a clue.

But yesterday I was a wine library tv lurker and today I know that there are optional methods. And I doubt I will forget your advise to take your time to think about them. Thank you.

Kudos Gary! I've been a lurker for over a year and a half and tho shud have on several occasions posted a thank you for you having educated my palate and expanded my wine horizons, it took the episode with Budge to get me vocal. My hat off to this gentleman. I would gladly support this venture but unfortunately living in Ontario (Canada) the LCBO (aka the wine Kremlin) decides what I can drink…so its not likely I'll be able to see the Cleavage series on our wine shelves anytime soon…maybe that's why my wife and I drive the 4 hours to Duluth MN just to shop the wine stores there…
Again thanks
PS's
* Most Favorite episodes … ones with ur Dad
** ” ” ” … Ms Barrett …
*** Kudos to Mott, not only are his camera skills second to none,but my football playing sons tell me that the NY Giants are a better bet than the other NY team 🙂
****An episode on the (hybrid) (bastard?) varietal baco noir (one of our best kept secrets…a northern pinot noir (sort of…)…
Finally, no matter what ur taste or opinion may be on wine, your assertion that family is everything is key.

All the best to you Gary, Lizzy, Misha and your extended family…cherish your children for they grow up all to soon…

God Bless

John
ThunderBay ON

Hey Gary, I've been lurking again but this show brought me out. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor and I was really glad to see you do a show like this. Kudos to you and kudos to your charming guest.

Powerful show, very touching, if I were in the situation my first impulse would be to read everything I could find about breast cancer, then do everything I can to help stop it.

Give them a call and ask for Barbara. She will set you up.

I don't remember any scores? So maybe in a month's time the Vayner Nation gives their personl scores and tasting notes on the wines they procur from this amazing man?

Loved the show, and it touches me on a personal level because my mother died of breast cancer 5 years ago. Such a great guest, Gary!

QOTD: In my experience we got all of my mom's family and friends together for support. We made sure she knew that we were there for her and we journeyed with her every step of the way. I'm so glad that there are people like Budge out there who are not just sitting back and letting an experience like this own them. Budge, you are a truly remarkable human being.

Julia Lawson Cobane Smith – “LIVED”

Seriously you have done some harm giving a farmer this kind of internet-based platform. At the very least you have REAL board-certified Oncologists on your forum you could have invited to dispel some of the absolute inaccuracies Budge spewed in the 37 minutes you gave him.

Leanna J. Standish, N.D., Ph.D. went to Downstate and Emory, just like yours truly! Somehow I graduated with an actual M.D. and yes, I treat breast cancer regularly according to guidelines supported by The National Comprehensive Cancer Network. While my heart goes out to Budge I would be curious to know his wife's stage at presentation. We all know lumping the entirety of breast cancers into one group is truly meaningless, and anecdotally disingenuous in this case if Budge's wife in fact had advanced stage breast cancer at presentation.

I lost my mom to lung cancer and can detail how she made some bad decisions with very aggressive oncologists that caused her harm – but those decisions were hers. IMO she would have done better with other more “global” oncologists but that isn't what she wanted. She did live 4.5 years beyond the time of her diagnosis and I'll support the overall Western care she received.

Everyone recognizes mammography is far from perfect. It is nationally affordable and a very useful screening tool. I wish, and every surgeon wishes, we had even better/cheaper screening imaging available without a really substantial false positive rate – but right now we don't. BTW, current recommendation is annually past 40 and mammography remains the gold standard whenever new imaging modalities are discussed.

In closing let me implore people to consider the following about cancer: When we diagnose an early-stage cancer that is easily treated with a documented, high success rate alternative options should be discouraged – even when brought up by patients seeking all information available. When we come across a late-stage cancer with a poor expected survival then alternative options are fine to explore and many oncologists in our country will help patients do just that.

Nice show. Great cause.

QOTD: Mom recently went through a bout of breast cancer… all going really well. I think a second opinion and talking with others who have gone through it are important steps.

QOTD: educate yourself and try to make the right individual position on what to do next

glad to see a show for such a great cause

Self identified lurker, so first time commenter. Freaking AWESOME guest and show, the GF could barely get through it, she had to pause it a couple of times. We will definitely be supporting Budge's cause by ordering a couple bottles. Keep up the good work with the show.

QOTD: No idea what I would do or how I would handle it, but the take away is that there are options, so explore them.

It's unusual to see Gary so quiet and supportive. There are things that are more important than wine and business and Gary got it right. Good job.

Some random thoughts.

In my opinion it's the new #1 show. Not just for the obvious emotional reasons but also for the wine and the personality and not least that we got to see a side of GV that is pretty cool.

Also in my opinion the “Supporters Club” is definitely the way to go. It is 2 bottles 4 times a year for $50 a quarter. Retail price is at least $90 per shipment and GV already pointed out that the QPR is good from jump street. Plus you get a 20% across the board discount for the year. I'm in for the membership, a case of the 2004 Merlot-Shiraz at $60 a case and 6 of the 07 Secret Red for $18 a pop (minus my 20%).

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/de…

QOTD: My mother passed away from ovarian cancer a while back. For the first time in my life I couldn't answer that basic question: What now? I have always been the entrepreneurial, quick to take action kind of guy but I didn't have a clue. Searching the internet left me more hopelessly confused by the different viewpoints that are held by seemingly equally knowledgeable people. Because it seems like Budge is helping some families answer that question, he gets my order above, as well as my pledge that, within 60 days, he will get at least $1000 in additional orders from my friends and family or I will right him a check for the difference.

Glenn your final point is well taken. Would you not agree however, that many of the alternative therapies can easily be applied adjunctively? I ask because, while I support western medical practices, I also believe that western medicine too often presents an either/or choice. Many who make the statement you just made, are really saying that they don't want patients to seek out alternative therapies because western medicine may lose the battle for the confidence of the patient. It seems to me that we should do more to instill confidence rather than decry the alternative. Perhaps if more oncologists (and I realize many do) expressed true concern for systemic wellness and quality of life people would not feel compelled to seek alternative therapy to the exclusion of western treatment.

lurk lurk lurk lurk GREAT lurk lurk lurk SHOW lurk lurk lurk THANKS. lurk lurk lurk I lurk lurk lurk WATCH lurk lurk lurk ON lurk lurk lurk IPHONE lurk lurk lurk WITHOUT lurk lurk lurk EASE lurk lurk lurk OF lurk lurk lurk COMMENT lurk lurk lurk SECTION.

Did you watch the same show that I saw, Glenn? Mr. Brown is encouraging the consideration of alternative protocols. Clearly radiation and chemotherapy are not consistent healing methods … some might call them down right barbaric.

What is the harm to explore alternative options ? If your life was on the line, would you gamble with chemotherapy ? Frankly, use of chemo puts the patient in a race : the winner is either the disease or the medical poison. And it's a painful race.

The arrogance of your message, Glenn, is what hampers western medicine. Are you so incredible arrogant that you rule out all other medical possibilities ? Accupuncture has been around for thousands of years and in many cases, it is a viable pain remedy. It's not addictive. There are no side effects. Where is the harm in trying that ?

I can't say that I would go to a doctor who was not open to all options. Kinda feels like the God complex is coming into play.

If you poke around the Cleavage Creek website, you will learn that the Integrative Oncology Center to which they have donated is doing some intriguing and potentially valuable work. Here's the info:

“Funding from Cleavage Creek enabled the Integrated Oncology Research Clinic to open in February of 2009. This outpatient facility provides state-of-the-science and state-of-the-art naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine treatment and integrated management of cancer patients. The clinic offers comprehensive support and treatment for each stage of the cancer patient?s experience, from diagnosis, treatment decisions, and restoration of immune function and health after completion of standard treatment.

The Integrative Oncology Center at Bastyr University will collaborate with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle to do a controlled outcomes study. This study will compare the ?disease free survival? and quality of life in breast cancer patients who are treated in the new Bastyr Integrated Oncology Research Clinic to women living in Washington State who do not include complementary, alternative or integrated therapies in their treatment.

The Integrated Oncology Research Clinic provides consultations with naturopathic physicians who are board certified in naturopathic oncology and doctors of acupuncture and oriental medicine and include mind/body medicine, acupuncture, botanical and nutritional medicine. Clinic doctors communicate with each patient?s medical and radiation oncologists to ensure truly integrated care.”

For my money, I like having an alternative option to chemo and radiation. The odds are more in my favor. When you're fighting for your life, the odds are everything.

Kudos to Gary V for hosting Budge Brown. Raising awareness is a contributing factor in battling cancer. I don't see too many folks at age 77 busting their hump to make such a difference, but Mr. Brown is giving it his all. My next wine purchase will be a Cleavage Creek Napa Cab and I plan to toast Mr. Brown, Gary V, and the good Lord … just not in that order.

Awesome show, Gary. I'm glad you had Budge on the show and I'm sure it meant a lot to him. While his views may be controversial, I think it's a great reminder (for me as well) that there are many options outside of (or in addition to) traditional Western medicine that many people wouldn't even consider. So that's my answer to QOTD, I would really look at my options and also look into the doctors he mentioned and the clinic he funds. Will be looking into his wines. Kudos to a proper show. 🙂

Randi – I can't agree Budge's message is positive. During the last few minutes of the show he basically said mammography CAUSES breast cancer. This is a very dangerous message.

Jack – This is as diplomatic as I get. Pejorative? Budge calls himself a farmer a dozen times over the course of 37 minutes and I used his vocation as a description once in my first line above. I have nothing against adjunct treatment – it just has to be legitimate adjunct treatment! Check out Leanna J. Standish, N.D., Ph.D one day on QuackWatch.com when you have some downtime.

Dr Walker – I read your comments and can feel your agenda from here. Any “Dr” who describes chemotherapy and radiation as “not consistent healing methods … some might call them down right barbaric” is simply not to be respected as informed. I can cut & paste from a website too. Cruise QuackWatch.com one day and see about Seattle Integrative Medicine and Leanna J. Standish, N.D.

If you are one of those preying on the very ill and selling them nonsense as treatment I pity you and your miserable existence.