Press

Also in Unfiltered, an ancient wine press unearthed in the Israeli desert, rosé jelly, sparkling-wine potato chips, and WineaPawlooza raises $1.3 million for animals in need

Michael Cinque is the unofficial mayor of Amagansett, N.Y., one of the Hamptons’ toniest and trendiest hamlets. Cinque, who pronounces his name "chink-way," like the word for "five" in Italian, has his finger in many pies. For the past 38 years, he's owned and operated Amagansett Wines & Spirits, among the area’s premier wine merchants. He counts among his clientele a bevy of A-listers, including Sir Paul McCartney, Julie Andrews, Ron Perlman, Jon Bon Jovi, Alec Baldwin and Jimmy Fallon. Cinque also owns vineyards in the area, oversees his family's winemaking and is involved in many community initiatives.
At 61, Cinque unwinds by retreating to his basement woodshop where he fashions birdhouses from spent wooden wine cases bearing the names of top producers and appellations. “It’s a great way to end the day and turn on the other half of my brain,” he says. “I crank up some music, lose track of time, and afterwards I can actually go and get a good night’s sleep.”
The birdhouses, sturdy and well-crafted (Unfiltered recently got a first-hand look), come in a range of sizes and shapes: The diameter of the entrance hole determines what species will nest inside, from smaller finches to larger robins, cardinals and blue jays.
Cinque’s birdhouses sell for $150 to $350, and he donates the proceeds to his favorite charities, among them the East End Community Organic Farm, a local organic community- supported agriculture operation that contributes to Food Pantry; Project Most, an after-school enrichment program; and Amagansett’s Fire Department, Village Improvement Society and Lifesaving Station.

A recent accidental discovery shows that Israel's Negev desert wasn't always so dry. While working on a construction site outside the southern city of Beersheba, a group of workers uncovered an ancient structure and promptly called the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) to the scene, who determined it to be a 1,600-year-old, large-scale wine press. Dr. Tali Erickson- Gini, an archaeological inspector for the IAA, examined the site's surrounding geology and nearby ceramic shards to date the press back to the Early Byzantine period (around the fourth century AD).
"This is an interesting discovery because we have plenty of wine presses of the Middle and Late Byzantine periods (450 to 650 AD) in the Negev Highlands, but only one other that can be dated to the Early Byzantine period," Dr. Erickson-Gini told Unfiltered via email. She speculates that the wine made at this site was a sweet white wine used mainly for medicinal purposes, though the wine apparently wasn't powerful enough to stop the plague that swept the region in the mid-sixth century—which is, not-so-coincidentally, when the press is believed to have been deserted.

Where Will We Eat Wine Next?

People have been cooking with wine for nearly as long as it’s been made, but these days, creative companies are infusing just about anything they can with our favorite adult beverage. The trend has escalated beyond frosés and ice cream to gummies, doughnuts and even shampoo and nail polish. So what’s next? Potato chips and, perhaps the most obvious application of all, winegrape jelly.
Torres, a Spanish gourmet snack company, has created sparkling wine–flavored potato chips. The chips are made with sparkling-wine flavoring the brand describes as “fruity,” as well as 1 percent popping candy to create an effervescent sensation. A three-pack of 50-gram bags goes for $9; you can figure out wine pairing for yourself.
And now comes a new line of wine-flavored jellies named Drunk Jelly (the surprise is that they’re alcohol-free). Four-ounce jars of the jellies are priced at $6 and available in rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay at DrunkWineJelly.com. Owner Marty Millman came up with the idea as an accompaniment to charcuterie, but feel free to indulge your inner child with a peanut butter and Pinot sandwich.

WineaPawlooza Raises $1.3 Million for Wine Country’s Animals in Need

Elliott Taylor of Barrels & Sons Brewery, singer-songwriter Skylar Grey, and pot-bellied pig rescue Mr. Moo attended WineaPawlooza.
Gamble Family Vineyards opened its doors to Napa’s fourth-annual WineaPawlooza charity auction for the benefit of the Jamison Animal Rescue Ranch (Jameson Humane), a no-kill sanctuary for companion and farm animals in need. The July 29 event, which raised $1.3 million, began with a walk-around tasting of dozens of collectible Napa wines and a feast of cruelty-free plant- based foods from the Wine Spectator Grand Award–winning Restaurant at Meadowood (chickpea flatbread with crescenza cheese), Ring of Fire (butternut squash pizza) and Nuri (Japanese eggplant curry). A riotous pet parade followed, then a live auction led by auctioneer Fritz Hatton. Guests came from around the country for the cause and the chance to hobnob with vintners Tim Mondavi of Continuum, Juan Mercado of Realm, Russell Bevan of Bevan Cellars and Tom Gamble. “By and large, wine-industry people love animals and everyone wants to help,” event cofounder Monica Stevens of retailer 750 Wines told Unfiltered. “The majority of our funds raised help advance our mission of building a world-class, cage-free animal rescue and sanctuary that will serve as a destination and best-practices example for animal advocacy.”

When Tom Gamble saw the puppy on the side of the road he hesitated for only a second before pulling over.

“He was chasing a car down the side of the road, and when it didn’t stop for him I just pulled over,” Gamble said as he readied for the fourth annual WineaPAWlooza auction held Saturday, July 29 at the Gamble Family Vineyards in Oakville.

“When I opened the passenger side door he ran up, gave me a lick and then jumped right into the car,” Gamble said. “By the size of the ticks on him he must have been out there for days, maybe longer. We named him Cairo, but his nickname was Velcro because we were pretty much always together. He has since died, but he’s still remembered, we named a wine after him that we are serving to the guests tonight.”

The proceeds of the WineaPAWlooza annual auction go to Napa Valley’s Jameson Humane.

“We are grateful to the Gambles and the entire community for their overwhelming support of Jameson Humane’s mission,” said the organization’s founder, Monica Stevens. “The success we’ve had helping animals is my motivation to keep going. I don’t get paid — I am like any other of the many volunteers that help. For me physically, this is demanding but worth every drop of effort.”

Lifetime animal advocates

Stevens and her husband, David, founded the ranch in 2014. The Stevenses, owners of 750 Wines, an exclusive retail wine shop in St. Helena, created the nonprofit to end animal cruelty and overpopulation in the Napa Valley and beyond. As a part of their mission Jameson Humane provides transitional and permanent shelter coordination, adoption and rescue services; pet-food and pet-care assistantship for seniors, the homeless and low-income families; and more.

“Since our inception we have helped place over 500 rescued animals with adopted families,” Stevens said. “And in just the last year alone we have spayed or neutered over 1,000 animals, had 500 animals vaccinated and microchipped, funded 20 emergency surgeries and we’ve gone from three to 12 programs that are all based on helping animals, including launching Ella’s CatHouse in January.”

Napa’s newest cathouse

Located at 1009 Caymus St., Napa, Ella’s CatHouse and Catnip Bar is a cage-free, no-kill adoption center for cats. It is the first of its kind in the Napa Valley. The center is named after Jameson Humane’s past WineaPAWlooza auction chair Vanessa Conlin’s beloved cat, who died in 2016.

“ Cats are not like dogs that you can just take on a leash to a possible foster family, and so Ella’s allows people to come get to know these animals in a relaxed space,” said Brenda Jones, who is one of the volunteers — called a lead-cat specialist — at the center. “Since we opened six months ago we’ve had 42 cats adopted. The space also allows people to come learn or just hang out with cats if for whatever reason they can’t have one where they live.”

Reducing kill rates

“At one point Napa County had a 48 percent kill rate for cats that had been placed in shelters

—Ella’s provides another way to reduce that number,” Stevens said. “Of course that rate has also been decreased dramatically as a result of Measure A that we got passed with 78 percent of the vote in Napa just last year.”

Beyond being a no-kill rescue and sanctuary in the Napa Valley for companion and farm animals in trouble, part of Jameson Humane’s mission is to provide supportive services such as spaying and neutering for those owners who cannot afford them.

“We not only place animals in forever homes, but through our emergency and assist fund we’ve been able to help existing pet owners keep their animals,” said Deassa Binstock, manager of adoptions and foster care. “Part of what we do is to help educate people on animal care, but we also train animals. And we’re not just helping dogs and cats. We’ve rescued donkeys, rabbits, horses, pigs, goats, any farm or domestic animal, we’ve even done some chinchilla re-homing as well.”

Planning for the future

In three years the Stevenses have created what has become a model for community-based animal care that will include building an animal-rescue home base in Carneros.

“We just went into contract for a four-acre property down in Carneros,” Stevens said. “The property is $2.3 million and will serve as our headquarters. It’s cooler down there for both the animals and people. It is also the gateway to the Napa Valley, which we feel is appropriate — people stopping in to see the animals before they come to this farming community.”

Treating both animals and auction attendees well

“I believe that you can judge a farming community by the way it treats their animals,” said Carlo Mondavi, owner of RAEN Winery and grandson to famed Napa vintner Robert Mondavi. “I support Jameson Humane because animals need a voice and need to be protected and cared for. We have the wherewithal to do this and so we should.”

As a part of Mondavi’s support, he acted as co-chair of the auction this year, helping to bring in offerings from some of the valley’s most prestigious wineries, and even a little beer.

“In collaboration with Jasmine Hirsch of Hirsch Vineyards and Tesla, the car company, we’ve created a dream weekend for lovers of pinot noirs from our vineyard on the Sonoma coast,” Mondavi said. “We’ve also donated a weekend for 10 people with my business partners Elliot Taylor and Jacob Busch. This lot includes a weekend experience and a barrel of our Barrels and Sons Brewery pilsners-style beer that we make right here in the Napa Valley.”

Prior to the auction guests enjoyed a wine-tasting with more than 50 local vintners and restaurants sharing their wine and food, with only one restriction.

“We are a no-kill organization, so we only serve vegetarian and vegan fare — it’s only right,” Stevens said.

“It can be a challenge to find just the right vegan match that pairs with wine,” said Ethan Speizer, owner of Nuri catering in Napa. “I cook lots of types of food, but people are shifting and chefs are getting creative, finding ways to make it work. People now not only want to eat healthy, delicious food, but they also want to feel good about what they are eating. Plus we live in a place where fresh vegetables are spectacular, so there’s lots of options.”

After enjoying the initial libations, guests, volunteers and animals all gathered together to form a Pet Parade as they made their way to the auction tent, where famed Napa Valley auctioneer Fritz Hatton encouraged the packed house to raise their paddles for a good cause.

The night was full of surprises: an unveiling of a new emergency trailer for horses and large- animal rescue, heartfelt stories of rescue animals changing the lives of families and even a chance to dance to live music from the local band WristRocket.

Saving souls

“Cairo passed, but he was my constant companion for 15 years,” Gamble said. “We were inseparable — Velcro — and I am pleased that tonight we’ve shared our ranch and some of our Cairo wine.”

After a long pause, he continued.

“I’ve rescued a few animals in the past, and you learn pretty fast that you might save their lives, but that they save your soul.”

Jameson Humane is a 501©(3) registered nonprofit organization. To learn more about the ranch and how you can help, visit jamesonhumane.org or facebook.com/JamesonRescueRanch.

On Friday night, the Jameson Humane (Jameson Humane) raised $1.3 million at its annual wine auction, WineaPAWlooza. Jameson Humane is a world class animal rescue organization that teamed up with acclaimed vintners to raise money for the cause. “Each year I am amazed by the overwhelming generosity of the wine community, our volunteers, and of course our big-hearted guests who journeyed from across the world to join us for this incredible evening for the animals,” Monica Stevens, the co-founder of Jameson Humane said in a statement. “The majority of funds raised help advance our mission of building a world-class, cage-free animal rescue and sanctuary that will provide a legacy of unprecedented resources and care for animals. This educational haven will be open to our community and visitors alike and will serve as a destination and best-practices example for animal advocacy. After tonight, we are well on our way to making this dream a reality.” The event was at Gamble Family Vineyards and included a two-hour grand tasting, a star-studded pet parade, a delicious plant-based meal, and a high-energy live auction led by Fritz Hatton. Notable vintners in attendance? Jason and Flora Chang of Nine Suns, Juan Mercado of Realm, Helen Keplinger and DJ Warner of Keplinger Wine, and Tim Mondavi of Continuum, among many others.

Funds raised will assist Jameson Humane with community-based animal care and drive forward the mission of building a world-class, state-of-the-art animal sanctuary

Napa, CA – Jameson Humane (Jameson Humane), a world-class animal rescue organization that exemplifies the values of quality, commitment, and generosity of the Napa Valley, raised

$1.3 million at its annual wine auction and charitable event, WineaPAWlooza. Held at the Gamble Family Vineyards located in the stunning Napa Valley, the July 29th event far exceeded expectations as acclaimed vintners, and visitors from around the United States teamed up for the cause.

Wine and animal lovers from around the country flew in for this unforgettable night to rub shoulders with the Who’s Who of Napa Valley Wine Glitterati paying it forward for animals, and to take pictures with adoptable doggies and farmed animals.  In attendance were many famous Napa Valley vintners and wine-making notables such as: Jason & Flora Chang (Nine Suns), Juan Mercado (Realm), Helen Keplinger & DJ Warner (Keplinger Wines), Kelly Peterson (Switchback Ridge), Russell Bevan & Victoria De Crescenzo (Bevan Cellars), Tom Gamble, Benoit Touquette (Fait-Main Wines), Heather & Bruce Phillips (Vine Hill Ranch), and Tim Mondavi (Continuum) and Carlo Mondavi (Raen).

“Each year I am amazed by the overwhelming generosity of the wine community, our volunteers, and of course our big-hearted guests who journeyed from across the world to join us for this incredible evening for the animals,” said Monica Stevens, co-founder of Jameson Humane. “The majority of funds raised help advance our mission of building a world-class, cage-free animal rescue and sanctuary that will provide a legacy of unprecedented resources and care for animals. This educational haven will be open to our community and visitors alike and will serve as a destination and best-practices example for animal advocacy. After tonight, we are well on our way to making this dream a reality.”

The evening included a two-hour grand tasting of the most sought after wines in the valley, a star-studded pet parade, decadent plant-based food offerings and a high-energy live auction led by notable wine auctioneer, Fritz Hatton. The spectacular auction lots were all about luxury and lifestyle and included some of the most unique and sought after wines and wine experiences available in the country.

Chang & Bang, 2 barrels of wine made by 100 point winemaker Russell Bevan and fruit from Houyi Vineyard of Nine Suns on Pritchard Hill, was on one of the most coveted auction lots of the night raising over $200,000 alone. The auction concluded with the Fund a Need which raised $400,000 for Jameson Humane’s Emergency Fund, which helps pay for care for seniors pets, emergency surgeries, spay & neuter, veterinary bills for low-income, homeless and seniors animals and landlord deposits required for animals.

“The Emergency Fund is so important as it has enabled us to do many things in our community revolving around effective and compassionate care for domestic and farmed animals in unexpected or even dire situations.” Added Stevens, “Our ultimate goal is to keep responsible families and their pets together, and proactive and preventative measures go a long way.”

A Sundowner Sportman 3H Slant Bumper Pull trailer was dedicated to the Roth Family of New York during the event for their dedication to animal welfare. The vehicle will be housed in Napa Valley and assist with the emergency rescue of large animals during wildfires, accidents and other natural disasters in collaboration with County of Napa Emergency Services.