Time For Some John Legend Selfies!

Singer John Legend was the “selfie” King alright, as he was swarmed by music and wine fans! Why? Well, Legend was just one of the many participants at a terrific charity event, the Napa Wine Auction 2015!

The event was hosted at Meadowwood Resort in St. Helena, California. Acclaimed Chef Michael Chiarello presented a marketplace of incredible food to begin the day, including polenta with mushrooms under glass!

More than 850 people converged on Meadowood Resort to enjoy lots of wine, eat great food like this fried chicken, then head into the auction to raise lots of money for charity!

Fifty different “lots” are auctioned off for charity – with wine, food and travel being highlighted. It’s also a great way to celebrate this incredible wine region, as winemakers share some of their greatest bottles with the crowd!

The top single lot of the day sold for $850,000, and was introduced by singer John Legend. It features a private performance for thirty of your friends by Legend, plus bottles of a new reserve blend that the singer will be involved with.

According to the Napa Valley Register:

“John is very deep into wine,” said vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, who owns Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena. Boisset said he and Legend did a blending session about nine months ago at Raymond Vineyards and he encouraged the musician to come to Auction Napa Valley to help raise money for the auction and to kick off the brand.

Legend then surprised us all with a live performance of “All Of Me.” Here is a clip from that performance:

Bravo, John Legend!

Afterwards, the singer hung out with the crowd and posed for lots of selfies!

To give you an idea of how unique these “lots” were, one included a two-week, first class trip to top wine producers and estates in Europe! That went for more than $800,000 as well. Although my wife Alex had a bidding paddle, we didn’t get this great trip…

All For A Great Cause!

This is all to raise money for great charities in Napa Valley. As the Napa Valley Register reports: “The most sentimental lot of the day was Fund-A-Need, which raised funds for early medical intervention for Napa Valley children. It was introduced by a video illustrating how early intervention benefited a Napa Valley toddler named Mia, with the medical condition of spina bifida. After the video Mia danced on the stage with her father Jaime. Then she spoke into the microphone and said “thank you” to the crowd.”

After every sale, confetti is shot into the sky, as more money is raised for this great cause…leading to a very festive end of day…

Napa Valley winemakers have done a great job raising money as they put on a terrific event!

The weekend event raised more than $15 million, and is now in its 35th year!

And if you are in Napa valley, you must dine at one of Chef Thomas Keller’s incredible restaurants…we were lucky enough to pose with him in his kitchen, and here is a look at the 20th anniversary celebration at The French Laundry, one of the greatest restaurants in the world:

Time to head back to Napa for more fun!

Categories: Awards, Books / Media, Exotic Travel, Food, Food Review, Memoirs, Music, Recipes, Talent/Celebrities, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized, wine

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