WineaPAWlooza 2015 Raises $750,000 For Napa’s Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch

Photo Credit: Emma K. Morris

WineaPAWlooza 2015, a benefit for Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch in Napa Valley, raised $750,000 at its annual fundraiser earlier this month at Gamble Family Vineyards in Oakville. “We are so overwhelmed and humbled by the amazing generosity of our wine community and guests,” said Monica Stevens, JARR’s founder and Executive Director. “The money we raised will help make it possible for us to have a permanent home in the next year, which will mean we can further our mission and expand our services and programs.”

The event began with a colorful parade of animals walking down a red carpet; it included an unprecedented pre-auction walk-around tasting with 60 of Napa Valley’s wine glitterati pouring their wines and food prepared by local restaurants and food trucks. The line-up included Oenotri, La Toque, City Winery, Cook, Cook Tavern and The Grill at Meadowood. Local rock & roll band Wristrocket entertained guests late into the night with more food from Dabba, Ca’ Momi, Clif Family Bruschetteria, La Foret Chocolates, and Raw Daddy Food Truck, with libations from The DUKE Beverage Truck.

Auctioneer Fritz Hatton presided over the bidding. The top five lots were:

1. A collection of 80 magnums: $107,500

2. An evening with Russell and Victoria Bevan of Bevan Cellars and a Dave Matthews Band concert: $70,000

3. Dinners, tastings and vineyard walks with the proprietors of Fairchild, Fait Main, Memento Mori and Pulido-Walker, $65,000

4. 2 days of hosted touring through the vineyards of St. Émilion and Pomerol with Wendy Narby including a dinner with Michel Rolland and accommodations in St. Émilion, $60,000

5. Beckstoffer Heritage Vineyards – dinner with Andy Beckstoffer and 8 ToKalon vintners, 2 days of additional vintner tastings in the respective heritage vineyards and more: $52,000.

The guests enjoyed wines from Aiken, Aloft, Anomaly, Arietta, Arns, Arrow & Branch, Behrens Family Winery, Bevan Cellars, Boich, Cabaud, Casa Piena, Charles Woodson Wines, Clark Claudon, Continuum, Crocker & Starr, Dakota Shy, Dana Estates, Drinkward Peschon, Dunstan Wines, Fairchild Wines, Gamble Family Vineyards, Gandona Estate, Harumph, Herb Lamb Vineyards, Hourglass, Keplinger, Lail, Lorenza, M. Etain, Mascot Wines, Marston Family, Massican, Mayacamas, Meander, Memento Mori, Moone-Tsai, Nine Suns, Piper Cellars, Pott Wines, Pulido-Walker, Raen, RARECAT, Realm Cellars, Robert Foley, Saintsbury, SBR, Spottswoode, St. Helena Winery, Staglin, Teeter Totter, The Grade Cellars, Tor, Tuck Beckstoffer, Tusk, Venge, Vine Hill Ranch, Vineyard 29, Vineyard 7 & 8, Vivier and Zeitgeist.

Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch provides transitional and permanent shelter, adoption and rescue services, food for the pets of seniors, the homeless and low-income families as well as humane education, animal advocacy and a commitment to ending animal cruelty and overpopulation. JARR also collaborates with and acts as a liaison for various animal rescue groups locally. “In today’s crowded philanthropic landscape, with so very many worthy causes, we founded a solutions-based rescue for animal advocacy,” Stevens adds. An example is the JARR Emergency Fund which supports expenses for pets owned by low income families, the homeless and elderly in the Napa Valley.

Founded in 2014 by Monica and David Stevens, Jameson Animal Ranch Rescue is a non-profit no-kill rescue and refuge for companion and farm animals in the Napa Valley. The memory of the Stevens’ beloved dog Jameson, an adopted Great Pyrenees who lived to the age of 14, inspires the spirit and mission of JARR, which is named after him. “Jameson brought immeasurable companionship and love into our lives. We are so lucky to have known him,” Monica Stevens explains.

Photos by Emma K. Morris and Matt Morris