The Auction of Washington Wines announces Jerrold “Jerry” Bookwalter as the 2011 Honorary Grower and Chris Camarda as the 2011 Honorary Vintner. Jerry and Chris were nominated by their peers in the Washington wine industry for their many contributions.
Jerry Bookwalter, 2011 Honorary Grower:
Jerry Bookwalter has more than 40 years of experience with agriculture and pomology, growing renowned grapes from San Jose to the Columbia Valley.
“Jerry’s innovation, diligent leadership and vineyard management skills have given support to planting Washington’s wine industry on the map,” said Rick Small, owner of Woodward Canyon Winery and co-chair of this year’s Auction of Washington Wines. “He is a talented viticulturist with deep roots in our industry.”
Jerry graduated from U.C. Davis in 1963 with a double Bachelors of Science Degree in Agriculture Economics and Pomology. While attending college Jerrold Jerry worked as a ranch foreman in San Jose. Once graduated, he harvested his farming experience and degree to manage large corporate farms in San Joaquin Valley and later on to owning a farm in Atwater, California.
Jerry and his family moved to Washington in 1976, where he managed the state’s largest vinifera planting, at Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus vineyards. In 1982 he started his own agricultural management company and grape brokering business. A year later he and his wife, Jean, established Bookwalter Winery and produced their first wines. Today, as partner at Thorsen, Bookwalter & Associates in West Richland, he consults and manages several vineyards. The Bookwalter family name will continue to harvest excellent grapes as Jerry’s son, John, has become the winemaker at Bookwalter Winery in Richland and Woodinville.
Chris Camarda, 2011 Honorary Vintner:
Chris Camarda grew up in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. He attended Seattle Prep and the University of Washington. He is the owner of Andrew Will Winery, which he and his late wife, Anne started in 1989. The winery is named for his son Will and nephew Andrew.
Chris developed his love for wine while working in the restaurant trade for nearly 20 years. In the initial stages, the winery was in Seattle and everything was done by hand from harvesting to delivering the wine. At first Chris made single varietals, then over the years he blended varietals, which he believes, “best express the characteristics of a vineyard”. Chris has been named one of the 50 more influential winemakers in the world by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Andrew Will case production remains at 5,000 with no plans to expand. Despite the small production, Andrew Will wines are distributed throughout the country as well as abroad.
“Chris is a persistent enthusiast of our state’s vineyards and has a talent to create superb wines.” said Small. “He is emphatic that he is first and foremost a Washington winemaker.”
“We are not Napa and we are not Bordeaux.” said Camarda, “I believe that if Washington is ever to be considered a great wine region we need to establish the characteristics of our geographical areas and the characteristics of each vineyard in those areas. There aren’t any great regions without great vineyards.”
About the Auction of Washington Wines
Tasting Room® Magazine is proud to be a contributing sponsor for the 2011 Auction of Washington Wines.
The Auction of Washington Wines is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, is the philanthropic organization of the Washington State wine industry and is one of the top charity wine auctions in the nation. More than $24 million has now been raised since the auction was founded in 1988 to support uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital. This year’s weekend of events is scheduled for August 18, 19 and 20, 2011. For more information please visit Auction of Washington Wines.