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Animal-loving wine drinkers were out in full force last weekend at the fifth annual Wineapawlooza event in Napa. The gala fundraiser was put on by the wine country-based charity Jameson Humane(Jameson Humane), a state of the art animal rescue facility that provides relief to animals harmed in disasters. The organization helped save many horses that were at risk during last fall’s wildfires. In raising $1.4 million for the cause, this year’s event—which was held at Gamble Family Vineyards—exceeded expectations.

“Now in its fifth year, the magic of Wineapawlooza never ceases to amaze me,”Monica Stevens, the co-founder of Jameson Humane said at the start of the evening. “The culmination of our wine community, spectacular wine, top chefs, animal lovers, staff and volunteers who all come together to support Jameson Humane’s mission and better the lives of all animals is truly wonderful.”

Sportscaster and television personality, Bonnie-Jill Laflin, served as the evening’s emcee. She led a pet parade of dogs available for auction that stared Honey, Haute Living San Francisco’s former editor Kelly E. Carter’s adopted chihuahua, and Mr. Moo, a 200-pound pot belly pig. The event consisted of a walk around tasting of some of the Valley’s most sought-after wines followed by a thrilling live auction led by Fritz Hatton. The top selling lot was a barrel of wine made with fruit from the 100-point vineyard, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, by winemakers Russell Bevan and Philippe Melka. The unique barrel went for $200,000.

Chef Casey Thompson, of Top Chef fame, provided delicious plant-based bites.

Notables in attendance included Russell Bevan, Amanda Harlan, Tor Kenward, Julien Fayard, Juan Mercado, Andy Beckstoffer, Shannon Staglin, Will Phelps, Jasmine Hirsch, Larry Fairchild, Mark and Sherri Carter and the host of the event, Tom Gamble— all of who are dedicated to the mission of Jameson Humane.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin (Sportscaster, TV Personality, Star of “Basketball Wives,” model) joined forces with Napa-based charity Jameson Humane (Jameson Humane) at their annual wine auction on Saturday, July 29th to help raise much-needed funds for animals.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin Speaks At WineaPAWlooza Credit/Copyright: Matthew Baum

Held at the Gamble Family Vineyards the event exceeded expectations and raised $1.4 million. Funds raised will help drive Jameson Humane’s mission of building a state-of-the-art animal rescue, and sanctuary in the Napa Valley, fund programs and to disaster relief for animals.

Laflin emceed the star-studded pet parade led by Mr. Moo, a 200lb pot belly pig, and which also featured an array of adoptable dogs and a once homeless and now glamorous chihuahua called “Honey” adopted by local Kelly Carter of Alpha Omega Winery.

The evening included a two-hour grand tasting of the most sought-after wines in the valley, enticing plant-based bites created by Top Chef star, Chef Casey Thompson and a high-energy live auction led by Fritz Hatton, the most foremost wine auctioneer in the US. The prodigious auction lots were all about luxury and opulence and included some of the most unique wines in the country.

“Now In its fifth year, the magic of WineaPAWlooza never ceases to amaze me,” said Monica Stevens, Co-Founder, Jameson Humane “The culmination of our wine community, spectacular wine, top chefs, animal lovers, staff and volunteers who all come together to support Jameson Humane’s mission and better the lives of all animals is truly wonderful.”

In attendance were many famous Napa Valley vintners and wine-making notables such as Russell Bevan, Amanda Harlan, Tor Kenward, Julien Fayard, Juan Mercado, Andy Beckstoffer, Shannon Staglin, Will Phelps, Jasmine Hirsch, Larry Fairchild, Mark and Sherri Carter and host of the event, Tom Gamble – all dedicated to the mission of Jameson Humane.

The most coveted auction lot of the weekend was the “Unique Barrique” a barrel of wine fruit from the 100-point vineyard, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, made by winemakers extraordinaire, Russell Bevan and Philippe Melka fetched $200,000.

The evening concluded with a musical set by Napa Valley-based rock band, Wristrocket.

Berkshire Hathaway private jet company, NetJets Inc, was the premier sponsor of the event this year.

Napa, CA – Bonnie-Jill Laflin (Sportscaster, TV Personality, Star of “Basketball Wives,” model)  joined forces with Napa-based charity Jameson Animal Rescue

Ranch (Jameson Humane) at their annual wine auction on Saturday, July 29th to help raise much- needed funds for animals. Held at the Gamble Family Vineyards the event exceeded expectations and raised $1.4 million. Funds raised will help drive Jameson Humane’s mission of building a state-of-the-art animal rescue, and sanctuary in the Napa Valley, fund programs and to disaster relief for animals.

Laflin emceed the star-studded pet parade led by Mr. Moo, a 200lb pot belly pig, and which

also featured an array of adoptable dogs and a once homeless and now glamorous chihuahua called “Honey” adopted by local Kelly Carter of Alpha Omega Winery.

The evening included a two-hour grand tasting of the most sought-after wines in the valley, enticing plant-based bites created by Top Chef star, Chef Casey Thompson and a high-energy live auction led by Fritz Hatton, the most foremost wine auctioneer in the US. The prodigious auction lots were all about luxury and opulence and included some of the most unique wines in the country.

“Now In its fifth year, the magic of WineaPAWlooza never ceases to amaze me,” said Monica Stevens, Co-Founder, Jameson Humane “The culmination of our wine community, spectacular wine, top chefs, animal lovers, staff and volunteers who all come together to support Jameson Humane’s mission and better the lives of all animals is truly wonderful.”

In attendance were many famous Napa Valley vintners and wine-making notables such as Russell Bevan, Amanda Harlan, Tor Kenward, Julien Fayard, Juan Mercado, Andy

Beckstoffer, Shannon Staglin, Will Phelps, Jasmine Hirsch, Larry Fairchild, Mark and Sherri Carter and host of the event, Tom Gamble – all dedicated to the mission of Jameson Humane.

The most coveted auction lot of the weekend was the “Unique Barrique” a barrel of wine fruit from the 100-point vineyard, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, made by winemakers extraordinaire, Russell Bevan and Philippe Melka fetched $200,000.

The evening concluded with a musical set by Napa Valley-based rock band, Wristrocket.

Berkshire Hathaway private jet company, NetJets Inc, was the premier sponsor of the event this year.

About Jameson Humane

Founded in June 2014 by David and Monica Stevens (proprietors of750 Wines), Jameson Humane (Jameson Humane) is a no-kill rescue and sanctuary in the Napa Valley for companion and farmed animals in need. The nonprofit provides transitional and permanent shelter, adoption and rescue services, humane education, animal advocacy, and is committed to ending animal hunger, cruelty, and overpopulation. Jameson Humane also collaborates with and acts as a liaison for various animal rescue groups locally and statewide.

Jameson Humane’s vision includes building a state-of-the-art, cage-free animal rescue and sanctuary uniquely serving the physical and emotional needs of all of its companion and farmed animal residents. Renowned architect Howard Backen of Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects and Tim McDonald of Centric Construction are generously leading the building and design team for the Ranch.

Jameson Humane is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization. To learn more about the Ranch and how you can help, please visit http://www.jamesonhumane.org.

The two-day WineaPAWlooza, a benefit for St. Helena’s Jameson Humane, raised $1.4 million on Friday and Saturday to help save and shelter animals.

For the first time, the event was split into two days, with Friday’s main auction event held at Nine Suns. On Saturday, the evening’s events started with the tasting of red wines from 48 local wineries and producers, along with a large amount of vegan food served as “finger food” at the Gamble Family Vineyards property in Oakville.

Of the $1.4 million, $300,000 was raised for disaster relief for Jameson Humane (Jameson Humane), which runs nine programs in 10 counties. On Tuesday, Jameson Humane co-founder Monica Stevens was on the phone, trying to get 30 dog cages moved from Lower Lake to the emergency shelter at Middletown High School, where many of those evacuated from the Lake County wildfires were staying.

Saturday night, Tom Gamble was on stage with David and Monica Stevens, Jameson Humane co-founders. Gamble and his wife Colette have been hosts of Wineapawlooza since it began five years ago. Tom Gamble spoke hesitantly because he said he “was getting choked up because I see smoke over there,” referring to the state’s numerous wildfires, including those burning in Lake County, Redding, Berryessa Highlands and in Ukiah.

“October 8th will live in infamy,” he said, referring to the beginning of last year’s Atlas, Tubbs and Nuns wildfires that burned 145,000 acres, killed 31 people and destroyed 7,759 buildings and properties through Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties.

“Tonight, the Fund-A-Need is about disaster preparedness, to save pets and animals,” Gamble said.

then told a story from 12 years ago, when he and others were on horses in the middle of 10,000 acres, trying to save a herd of cattle from a wildfire. “We couldn’t outrun the flames, so we had to turn them into the flames. The horses didn’t want to do this, the cattle didn’t want to do this,” he said. “But we did it, we saved the cattle. We didn’t know where the rest of the cattle were, but later we found out that CalFire had saved them.”

After Gamble’s story, Monica called a huge group of people to the stage – those who worked with Jameson to save animals during last October’s wildfires.

Auctioneer Fritz Hatton asked the crowd for donations to the Fund-A-Need lot. They started slowly at the $10,000 level and then when Hatton asked for $1,000 donations, 14 people raised their programs. “Who else at $1,000?” he asked. The crowd applauded as Hatton collected donations at the $500, $250 and $100 level. “Who can’t give $100?” he asked. “Last call.”

The local rock ‘n’ roll band, Wristrocket, founded by vintner Jeff Smith and made up of people in the wine industry, including David Stevens, played a dozen songs for 90 minutes – much to the crowd’s delight. And three people paid between $2,500 and $3,500 each for the possibility of stardom as they joined the band on stage, ringing cowbells in Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music.”

The 19 auction lots and raffle raised $1.1 million both nights.

But, it was Saturday’s “famous” pet parade, featuring 10 adoptable and adorable dogs that stole this reporter’s heart.

Sportscaster Bonnie-Jill Laflin announced the entrants in the pet parade and wrote on Twitter that she had a “wonderful time” being an MC. “Love being an ambassador for this phenomenal rescue.”

Those leading the pets across the stage were Tom Archambault, Deassa Binstock, Brenda Burke, Kelly Carter, Andrea Jordan, Health Leake, Bergen Verdu, Amanda Vollstedt and Courtney Wilson.

July 31, 2018 - Last Saturday, the fifth annual WineaPAWlooza took place at Gamble Family Vineyards. The charity event and wine auction raises funds for the animal rescue organization Jameson Humane (Jameson Humane). According to Gamble Family Vineyards, the event exceeded expectations and raised $1.4 million, which will help Jameson Humane’s mission of building a state-of-the-art, cage-free animal rescue and sanctuary in the Napa Valley and will assist with implementation of programs and to aid disaster preparedness, response, and relief for animals.

Owner and founder of Gamble Family Vineyards, Tom Gamble, has hosted the event since it’s inception. Gamble has always been an animal lover, and even named a wine in his portfolio after his beloved rescue dog, Cairo.

“We were honored to host this incredible auction benefiting such an important cause," said Tom Gamble. "Having been surrounded by loving rescues my whole life, hosting WineaPAWlooza allows us to give back and have a good time doing so. I believe caring for rescues allows us to be our better selves.”

The evening included a two-hour grand tasting of valley wines, plant-based bites created by Top Chef star, Chef Casey Thompson, a star-studded pet parade emceed by Bonnie-Jill Laflin (sportscaster, TV personality, star of “Basketball Wives,” model) and a high-energy live auction led by renowned wine auctioneer Fritz Hatton. Auction lots ranged from luxury, one-of-a-kind travel experiences, to a collection of some of Napa’s rarest and finest wines. The evening concluded with a musical set by Napa Valley-based rock band, Wristrocket.

In attendance were many Napa Valley vintners and wine-making notables such as Russell Bevan, Amanda Harlan, Tor Kenward, Julien Fayard, Juan Mercado, Andy Beckstoffer, Shannon Staglin, Will Phelps, Jasmine Hirsch, Larry Fairchild, Mark and Sherri Carter and host of the event, Tom Gamble - all dedicated to the mission of Jameson Humane.