The Little King Project
- Hatch Comms
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
For Immediate Release
October 23, 2025
RAISE A GLASS, CHANGE A LIFE
Elephant Island’s Little King Sparkling Wine Turns Heartbreak into Hope and Help for New Parents
The Little King has Already Raised $80,000 for Children’s Causes;
This Season, Proceeds will Support Young Lives in the South Okanagan
Naramata, B.C. - What if your holiday toast could change a life? That’s the promise of The Little King Sparkling Wine from Elephant Island Winery, a bottle born of grief, transformed into hope.
Del and Miranda Halladay created The Little King in 2005 to honour their first child, Rex, who died in infancy as a result of an unsafe sleeping situation. More than two decades later, Rex’s story continues to ripple outward. Each bottle of The Little King funds programs for new parents in the South Okanagan through Beginnings at OneSky, turning every sip into support.
“Rex taught us the fragility of life, but also the strength of community,” says Miranda Halladay. “This wine honours him by helping other families through their first steps. To us, there’s nothing more meaningful than raising a glass in his name.”
A Legacy of Giving Back
Since its first release, The Little King has raised over $80,000 for children’s health, supporting BC Children’s Hospital for many years before shifting in 2024 to Beginnings at OneSky. Proceeds now directly fund prenatal education, postpartum support, and community networks that give families the confidence and tools they need to thrive.
“Programs like our Baby Café and Parenting Circle are giving new parents a safe space to connect, learn, and access the resources they need,” says Carrie Reiter, Team Leader, Child Care Resource & Referral / Beginnings Pregnancy Support. “We are so grateful for community partners like Elephant Island Winery, whose support helps us expand services for young families.”
This year, Elephant Island has set a goal of donating $10,000 by year-end, a target that can only be reached if the remaining bottles find their way to holiday tables across B.C., progress will be tracked online at elephantislandwine.com and on social media.
Why Now, Why This Wine
The campaign couldn’t be more timely. With the holiday season around the corner, The Little King is being positioned as:
The perfect host gift: a sparkling wine with purpose.
The holiday table centrepiece: pairing beautifully with turkey, roast vegetables, and celebratory meals.
A corporate goodwill gesture: BC businesses are encouraged to purchase by the case, turning holiday bubbles into a visible act of community support.
25 Years of Leadership on the Naramata Bench.
As Elephant Island marks 25 years, the Halladays’ stewardship of the Naramata community is just as notable as their wines. From captaining the NaramataSlow movement, which champions community building through the celebration of local food and practices that enshrine place sustaining, localization and identity preserving values.
To leading the Dark Skies Initiative to protect the valley’s night sky, their impact has shaped the region’s culture and identity.
The winery itself remains a whimsical retreat under the cherry trees, a place where visitors are invited to “stay awhile” and experience the magic of fruit, family, and community.
A Holiday Toast That Gives Twice
With limited cases remaining, The Little King is available directly from Elephant Island Winery and online at elephantislandwine.com, shipping nationwide. Each bottle is not just a sparkling wine, it’s a gift that gives twice: once to those who share it, and again to families who need it most.
- 30 -
About Elephant Island Winery:
Founded in 1999, Elephant Island Winery is one of the original six wineries on the Naramata Bench, and remains one of its most beloved destinations. Known for its whimsical orchard tastings, regenerative farming practices, and beautifully expressive wines that capture the character of Naramata’s terroir, the winery has spent 25 years crafting a legacy rooted in authenticity and place. Joined in 2017 by Naramata Cider Co., the Halladay family’s commitment to diversity and sustainability extends from orchard to cellar, where low-intervention fermentations honour the fruit of their farms and trusted growers.
Through initiatives like NaramataSlow and the Dark Skies Project, founders Del and Miranda Halladay have helped shape Naramata’s cultural identity—preserving the beauty, balance, and sense of community that make the region so special. Learn more at elephantislandwine.com.
About Beginnings at OneSky
Beginnings at OneSky is a vital support program for new parents and young families in the South Okanagan. In 2024, Beginnings reached 200 families, and expects to exceed that number in 2025.
The program offers weekly groups such as the Baby Café feeding support circle and the long-running Parenting Circle for parents of babies and toddlers up to age three. These gatherings give parents a safe place to connect, share openly, and receive guidance on child development, feeding challenges, and general parenting skills.
Alongside group programs, Beginnings provides one-on-one support, distributes essentials like diapers, wipes, formula, and clothing, and offers emotional support for those facing pregnancy, postpartum, toddlerhood, and perinatal loss.
With strong community partnerships and events such as free clothing drives, Beginnings ensures families in need are reached in multiple ways. Looking ahead to 2026, the team plans to expand with new offerings, including baby massage classes, prenatal classes, and sleep support groups — all designed to help families thrive.
Media Contact:
Krista Lochhead
Hatch Comms
778.227.2396