Meet winemakers, sip world-class wines and nosh on gourmet bites — all for a good cause
June 2018 — The Auction of Washington Wines is the local wine industry’s annual grand fundraiser, helping to fund research for viticulture and enology as well as benefiting families in the community receiving care at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The Auction of Washington Wines (AWW) celebrated its 30th anniversary in Woodinville, Wash. last August and raised a record $4.19 million. Since the first auction weekend in 1988, the nonprofit has raised more than $37 million, providing an opportunity for wine and food lovers to come out and show their support for these worthy causes. This year the 31st Annual Auction of Washington Wines has a new dynamic Executive Director, Shelley Tomberg, and along with her talented team it promises to be another record year.
Among Washington Tasting Room Magazine’s favorite AWW events is the Winemaker Picnic & Barrel Auction which takes place on the sprawling lawn at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery (normally reserved for their summer outdoor concert series). Attendees mix and mingle with winemakers and nosh on gourmet bites while tasting some of Washington’s finest wines.
Every year Tulalip Resort Casino creates a unique menu just for the Winemaker Picnic to go with the hundreds of incredible wines and this year their theme is “Taking it to the Streets – Alfresco International.” The Tulalip chef team will showcase their creative talents serving up dishes such as Dungeness Crab Salad on an Everything Bagel Crisp, Swedish Stuffed Meat Balls with Fontina Cheese, and Smoked Gouda Grits topped with Blackened Shrimp.
Also as part of the Winemaker Picnic is the much anticipated Barrel Auction. Guest have a chance to taste barrel samples and be one of five winning bidders to secure a case of a future-release wine, before it’s available anywhere else. Take your pick from 30 wineries, and taste the wines being offered. Talk to the winemakers about their wines, the aging process, the grapes, and ask the winemaker to explain how they will change before they are bottled. The wineries participating in the Barrel Auction were chosen by a committee lead by Auction of Washington Wines Co-chairs Juan Muñoz-Oca and Jessica Munnell in special tasting sessions starting in January of this year. The participating wineries are the following:
- Ambassador Wines of Washington
- Aquilini Red Mountain
- Barrage Cellars
- Brian Carter Cellars
- Col Solare
- DeLille Cellars
- Dunham Cellars
- EFESTĒ
- Fidélitas Wines
- Intrinsic Wine Co.
- J. Bookwalter Winery
- Kerloo Cellars
- Mercer Estates
- Obelisco Estate
- Pearl and Stone Wine Co.
- REININGER Winery
- Result of a Crush
- Reynvaan Family Vineyards
- Savage Grace Wines
- Seven Hills Winery
- Sparkman Cellars
- Two Vintners
- W.T. Vintners
- Woodward Canyon Winery
- WSU Blended Learning
New this year: Five wineries have been added to the usual line-up of 25, featuring wines made by female winemakers:
- Baer Winery – Lisa Baer and Erica Orr
- Buty Winery – Nina Buty
- Kasia Winery – Kasia Kim
- The Walls – Ali Mayfield
- Wautoma Springs Wines – Jessica Munnell
This very special winemaker picnic should rank high on every wine lover’s bucket list. Buy your tickets online today as this event will most likely sell out. Ticket cost is $150 per person and the event is from 4:00pm to 8:30pm.
Other AWW events this year included winemaker dinners held at private estates around Puget Sound, a charity run and walk at Columbia Winery, and a gala dinner and and auction held at Chateau Ste. Michelle, where vintner table hosts guided guests through the evening with specially selected wines as delicious as the fabulous auction lots. For more information about how to attend, donate or participate at this exciting annual event, visit www.auctionofwashingtonwines.org.