Third-generation farmer Tom Gamble honored for decades of leadership in Napa Valley agriculture.
November 9, 2026 (Napa Valley, CA) — Gamble Estates is proud to announce that The Napa County Farm Bureau has named Tom Gamble, a third-generation Napa Valley farmer and founder of Gamble Estates, its 2026 Agriculturalist of the Year. Each year, the award recognizes one outstanding farmer whose long-term actions have left a positive impact on the Napa Valley agricultural community. Gamble officially received the award at the Farm Bureau’s annual Love of the Land dinner on Saturday, November 7, with Tom representing the second generation of his Gamble family to receive the prize.
“Being recognized by the people I’ve farmed alongside for 45 years means a great deal, and sharing this honor with my dad makes it even more meaningful,” said Tom Gamble. “He showed us that farming in Napa is a long-term commitment to the land and to the people who come after you. I hope I’ve carried that forward.”
The award recipient is selected by members of the Napa County Farm Bureau, including growers, ranchers, cultivators and educators enmeshed in the region’s agricultural sector. The oldest industry organization in the region, the Bureau represents over 1,200 members in Napa Valley. The Agriculturalist of the Year award recognizes longtime farmers for both their farming expertise and service to the broader agriculture community. Gamble’s award honors his nearly half-century of leadership in promoting farming interests and economic sustainability for farmers, especially during a particularly challenging moment in Napa Valley.
For Tom, the recognition adds to a storied family legacy: In 2009, the Farm Bureau gave the same honor to Tom’s father, George Gamble, a Berryessa-area cattle rancher, for his dedication to agricultural preservation and habitat enhancement in Napa County. With Tom’s selection, the Gambles become the first family to have two generations named Agriculturalist of the Year and further cements the Gambles as legacy farmers in Napa Valley.
The Gamble family has farmed in Napa County since 1916. As a young person, Tom grew up picking walnuts, irrigating alfalfa, and ranching cattle with his family. In 1999 he and his brother Jim Gamble co-founded Napa Free Range Beef, one of Napa’s first grass-finished beef operations.
In 1981, while a student at UC Davis, Tom partnered in his first vineyard and began the family’s foray into viticulture and eventually winemaking. Over the past 45 years, his work has extended from wine grapes to ranching, conservation, and agricultural leadership. Today, he continues to co-manage the family ranch and leased vineyards with his cousin Launce Gamble. In 2005, Tom and his wife, Colette, founded the winery that is now Gamble Estates. The winery produces estate-grown wines from CCOF-certified organic vineyards in Oakville, Rutherford, Mount Veeder, and Yountville. Since its founding, Gamble Estates wines have amassed dozens of critical accolades, and the label remains a benchmark in Napa Valley for its signature Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
A longtime Farm Bureau member, Gamble served nearly two decades on its board, including terms as president and vice president. He also contributed to the Napa River Restoration Project, Fish Friendly Farming, the 2008 Napa County General Plan and the long-term protection of the region’s landscape. In 2026, Tom was elected to the board of the Napa Valley Vintners.
The Farm Bureau presented this award to Tom and other award recipients on November 7, 2026 during its annual Love of the Land Event. The annual gathering brings together growers, ranchers, vintners, community leaders, and supporters to honor Napa Valley’s agricultural history and celebrate those who cultivate, protect, and sustain this rich part of Napa Valley history. For more information, please visit https://www.napafarmbureau.org/lol.
About Gamble Estates:
Founded by third-generation farmer and first-generation vigneron Tom Gamble in 2005, Gamble Estates makes estate wines of integrity from some of the most prestigious, expertly farmed sub-appellations in Napa Valley. The winery owns 175 acres of vineyards in Oakville, Mt. Veeder, Rutherford, and Yountville. Combining three generations of farming expertise with a dedication to regenerative farming and land stewardship, Gamble Estates represents some of Napa Valley’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc driven wines. Tom Gamble is a dedicated conservationist and considered one of the leading regenerative organic vintners in California and a board member of the Napa Valley Vintners. He has helped spearhead some of Napa Valley’s most significant land preservation initiatives, including the Napa River Restoration Project, the Napa Green Program, and the Fish Friendly Farming Initiative. The winery is situated in the heart of Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA. Tastings at the serene retreat are highly personalized and by-appointment-only. Visit gambleestates.com/visit to learn more.
