Friday, May 24, 2013

05/24 AUCTION NAPA VALLEY, JUDD FINKELSTEIN, EMMA SWAIN, STEVE EVANS

GET READY FOR THE AUCTION NAPA VALLEY ON JUNE 1, 2013

AUCTION NAPA VALLEY IS THE AMERICAN WINE CLASSIC WHERE WINE LOVERS AND WINEMAKERS MEET AT THE SOURCE OF AMERICA'S LEGENDARY WINES TO PARTAKE IN AND CELEBRATE THE BEST NAPA VALLEY HAS TO OFFER.



Insider's access to the cool cellars and warm hospitality of renowned Napa Valley vintners. Your choice of dozens of parties, ranging from blue-jeans casual to wear-your-finest formal, each hosted by the people behind some of the world's most recognized wines. More than 250 auction lots, yours for the bidding - from a single case of wine to trips offering experiences not available anywhere else. Return home with memories to last a lifetime and perhaps bragging rights to some amazing wines. Proceeds from this weekend support community health and children's education. To date, Auction Napa Valley has given more than $111 million to dozens of these organizations.


JUDD FINKELSTEIN – JUDD’S HILL WINERY - AUCTION NAPA VALLEY

Judd was raised in Napa Valley. He graduated from The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in Television Production, but you might say winemaking was in his blood. Since he was a tot, his parents were making wine. From pruning to picking to punching to pressing, Judd has been involved in every facet of winemaking, and he also studied winemaking at UC Davis and Napa Valley College.

One of Judd's other passions is playing his ukulele, both solo and with his band, The Maikai Gents Featuring The Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa. "We perform old-time Hawaiian crooning in the Hapa-Haole style. We started because I wanted some Hawaiian music for a birthday luau I was having for myself and couldn't get the entertainer I wanted. We learned a few Hawaiian tunes and performed them at the party. My friends and family loved it, of course, but the funny thing was that the resort asked us back for a festival they were having later that spring! So we learned some more songs and have been gigging ever since." Why the ukulele?" Someone needed to play it! We thought a ukulele would round out our sound....and I haven't put it down in three years!" Judd has also started a ukulele club in the Napa Valley, The Wine Country Flea Jumpers. You can learn more - and hear what it all sounds like---at www.mkgents.com. Judd and Holly enjoy simple dinner parties for friends; one of their specialties is concocting tropical taste treats for the luau set!


EMMA SWAIN - ST. SUPERY - AUCTION NAPA VALLEY

Emma Swain is the CEO of St Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery. She received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis and is a Certi-fied Public Accountant. Emma has worked in the wine industry for more than 20 years. She began her career with Niebaum-Coppola Winery and served as the Chief Operating Officer at Sebastiani Vineyards prior to joining St. Supéry Estate. Emma currently serves as a board member for the Napa Valley Vintners, as well as serving on multiple sub-committees. Emma also volunteers locally with a number of environmental, educational and health-based charities. She is an avid runner and has several half marathons under her belt of accomplishments.


STEVE EVANS - "THE MOVIE GUY"

GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.