NAPA VALLEY, CA (Newswire.com) – Nick Jonas (singer, songwriter, producer, and actor) visited Napa Valley’s Honig Vineyard and Winery on Thursday, August 10th to help kick off the 2017 harvest season, and to offer his thanks for the incredible fundraising event that was held at the winery to raise money for Type 1 diabetes. Nick made his way into the vineyard with Honig winemaker Kristin Belair to sample sugar levels in the Sauvignon Blanc grapes. As Kristin explained, “The refractometer we use in the vineyard is not that different from the glucose meter you use to check blood sugar.”
The previous evening, Stephanie and Michael Honig hosted 350 guests at the winery, raising $215,000 for Type 1 diabetes. Their ten-year old Sophia, the oldest of their four children, was diagnosed with Type 1 at the age of 5, dramatically altering their lives and their family dynamic.
The party at Honig was one stop on an epic, 10-week adventure for the Team Bike Beyond cycling team. On the afternoon of the event, the 20 riders, all with Type 1 diabetes, were met at the county line and escorted to the winery by the Napa County Sheriff and Congressman Mike Thompson, who also rode his bike to celebrate the occasion. “The Honigs have been tireless advocates for their daughter Sophia and the millions of other children and families living with Type 1 diabetes. Their efforts are more important than ever as federal funding for medical research comes under attack,” said Representative Thompson.
On the evening of Wednesday, August 9th, after a special singing performance by Ambrosia songwriter David Pack, and a surprise flash mob choreographed by Honig family member Regina Weinstein and in which Stephanie Honig and fifteen of her close friends participated, the dancing continued into the night with music from Groovetronix Productions.
Partygoers feasted on culinary creations provided by Brasswood Napa Valley, Brix Restaurant & Gardens, Charlie Palmer, The Clif Family’s Bruschetteria, Crisp Kitchen and Juice, Elaine Bell Catering, Harvest Table by Charlie Palmer, Heritage Eats, Kara Cupcakes, Model Bakery, Mustards Grill and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, Oakville Grocery, Salute Santé! Grapeseed Oil, and Prabh Indian Kitchen. Wine and beverages for the event were provided by Honig Vineyard and Winery, Beran Wines, C. Beck Winery, The Chafen Family Dutch Henry Winery, Charbay Distillery, The Frank Family, Luna Vineyards, Mad Fritz Brewing Co., St. Supéry, Schramsberg Vineyards, Tobias Wines, and Vineyard 29. In true Napa Valley style, the community rallied to support the Honig’s and their cause. Sponsors of the event included Darioush, Breakthru Beverage Group, Chuck Wagner, David Drucker/EmpireMerchants, Nadalié USA, St. Helena Hospital, The Rudd Foundation, Trinchero Family Estates, Inc., and The Winebow Group, as well as the host committee which included American AgCredit, Andrea Ivarsson + Bryan Kolozsi, Jamie Kurtzig + Family, Jelly Belly Candy Company, and Nomacorc|Vinventions.
Silent auction donors included: Alpha Omega Winery, Beran Wines, Chambers Hotels, BD Hotels, LLC, Charbay Distillery, Cynthia Carey/Jessup Cellars Gallery, DJ Boca Negra, Donny Frate, Mr. Jean and Dr. Karin Denoyer, Harvest Table by Charlie Palmer, Jordan Vineyard +
Winery, Karen Rose, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Michelle Baggett, Napa Valley Aloft Air Balloon Rides, NBC Universal, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Rockin’ Love Producions/Dusty Kramer, Round Pond Estate, Staglin Family Vineyard, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery, and Volker Eisele Family Estate.A special thanks goes to Bright Party Rentals for donating the evening’s party equipment, furnishing, and supplies.