The single ambulance station provides medical treatment for people living within the area from Duntroon to Twizel.
The fundraiser was a fashion show supported by the winery and Christchurch-based fashion company Key Black.
More than 60 people attended.
Winery administration manager Tracy Keith said the event came about over a glass of wine she shared with Key Black owner Geraldine Paisley, both deciding they wanted to do something positive for Kurow.
"We wanted to have a charity that crossed over everyone in the community. It wasn't breast cancer. It wasn't prostate cancer. We felt St John covered all of us.
"We all know someone who has used St John.''
She said with a projected increase in tourism in the upper Waitaki, it was only a matter of time before St John would need assistance to respond to incidents like car and cyclist crashes.
Model and Kurow winemaker Steve Harrop said the event was well supported by the community.
"This community gets behind every single cause. It's full on.''
Waitaki St John secretary Anna Haugh was pleased that local business was getting behind the ambulance service.
"Tracy has been amazing.
"We do rely on people's donations to do what we're doing.''
