Ski Vermont wine benefits students

90+ Cellars has produced a Ski Vermont wine, a 2016 cabernet sauvignon from California labeled with a pair of skiers on a chairlift, heading for last tracks under a bright orange sunset.

One dollar from every purchase of 90+ Cellars’ Ski Vermont wine will go toward a new scholarship created by Ski Vermont, said Adam White, communications director for the nonprofit.

Scholarships will go to Vermont high school students headed for college to study hospitality, ski area management or environmental studies.

“What we are looking for are students who may go on to become leaders in the ski industry,” White said.

White said he doesn’t know yet how much each scholarship will be worth, or how many will be handed out; that will depend on how well the Ski Vermont wine sells.

In the past year, 90+ Cellars has partnered with several Massachusetts nonprofits to give them part of the proceeds, said Terry Lozoff, vice president of marketing for the wine company.

“With the winter, (we asked) what’s one of the things that we love most about winter in New England? That was skiing in Vermont,” Lozoff said. “The fact that Ski Vermont is a nonprofit made it a great tie-in.”

The Ski Vermont wine is available statewide, and is listed for $15.99 on ninetypluscellars.com.

Ski Vermont works with 20 alpine and 30 cross-country ski areas around the state to lobby for their best interests and connect them with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.

Among its programs for kids is one that allows fifth-graders to ski and ride for free at participating ski areas around the state.

“We found that that’s a very important age at which kids really become interested in skiing, and from there, it can become a lifelong activity,” White said.

— Caleigh Cross