Wine Nation

Catching a game at Fenway Park is quite an experience. Sitting out in the bleachers you can hear the hawkers yelling: "Hot dogs! Peanuts! Wine! Three kinds! Merlot! Chardonnay! Cabernet Sauvignon!"

Hmmm. A hot dog with a nice glass of Chardonnay. Relish anyone?

Okay, so maybe beer is still the beverage of choice at Fenway. But outside the ball park, Red Sox wine has been a home run with fans and for three great causes.

Three members of the Boston Red Sox have launched their own wine labels. Though not in stores until next month, 8,300 cases have already been pre-sold. For each bottle sold, $1.25 will go directly to the player's charity.

Manny Being Merlot is for slugger Manny Ramirez. Proceeds benefit Miami-based CHARLEE Homes for Children, which helps abused, abandoned, and neglected children.

Schilling Schardonnay is for pitcher Curt Schilling. Proceeds benefit Curt's Pitch for ALS, a program founded by Curt and his wife, Shonda. The program benefits The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for those living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

CaberKnuckle is for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Proceeds benefit Pitching In for Kids, a program dedicated to improving the lives of children across the New England region through sports-related events.

Being a major league slugger or ace may be well outside your reach. But with charity wines like these you can still hit one out of the park for a needy cause and brag to your friends you downed two future hall of famers. Sorry Tim.