Washington Wine Commission News

Auction of Washington Wines
Raises $1.3 million For Charity

By Christina Kelly
Avalon Staff Writer

WOODINVILLE, WA-The 15th annual Auction of Washington Wines is over, and Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center, and the Washington Wine Education Consortium are $1.3 million richer for the event.

"From the Vineyard to the Glass" is one of the nation's largest charity wine auctions, drawing winemakers, grape growers, community leaders and wine enthusiasts every year to Chateau Ste. Michelle for wine tasting, food, music, and most importantly, an auction that could make the Gods green with envy.

The event is held over two days. Before the formal dinner and main auction, a picnic is held on the lawns of Ste. Michelle. The picnic is casual and offers winemakers and winery workers the chance to relax and blow off a little steam before harvest begins in September.

The main event has all the best goodies for auction, with special packages, large format bottles of wine, unique wine dinners and rare wines that don't usually see the inside of a shop. Usually a celebrity or two mingles throughout the audience. This year, Fabio, the blonde Italian who graces the covers of many romance paperback books and pitches butter commercials on television shook hands, signed autographs and schmoozed, with many adoring women looking on.

Although Fabio's family grows grapes in Italy, he says he never developed a taste for the grape. However, he said the auction raises money to benefit uncompensated care at Children's Hospital, and he supports that charity.

After the Thursday picnic, DeLille Cellars held a 1.5 party for winemakers and winery owners. To be admitted, participants had to bring a 1.5- liter of wine for tasting. Some of Washington's top wines were sampled, including Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Bordeaux blends dated more than 10 years old.

At the auction, the single highest bid of the evening was $40,000 for a custom built Apex Wine Cellar, holding up to 3,000 bottles. The wine cellar, to be installed in the bidder's home, features custom design work, room preparation, climate control equipment, etched glass tasting table and other special features. It also included an 18-liter Waterbrook double salamanazar of 1998 Meritage in addition to two assorted cases of Waterbrook wines.

A Leonetti Cellar double salamanazar of 1999 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon fetched $20,000. It was the top bid for a wine.

Some of the other bids included:
· Five liter imperial of 1999 Col Solare, trip to Tuscany for four and mixed case of 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 Col Solare for $12,000;

· Quilceda Creek Vintners' donation of 14 1.5-liter magnum bottles depicting the career of Seattle Mariner Jay Buhner for $12,000;

· Domaine Ste. Michelle New Zealand trip to the America's Cup in 2003 for $12,000;

· Klipsun Vineyards and the Georgian appetizer party for 20 persons for $15,000;

· Canlis Restaurant dinner for 20 persons featuring DeLille Cellars wines and a five-liter imperial of DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate for $17,000;

· Ray's Boathouse Restaurant dinner for 30 persons featuring Washington wines for $18,000.

Although the auction was slightly less than last year, which raised $1.5 million, organizers were happy with the results, given the current economy and climate. In addition to Children's Hospital, money raised will support the Washington Education Consortium, which will establish a world-class viticulture and enology program in the state's university system.

Washington State Wine Grape Growers
Forecast Largest Crush Ever

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 2002--The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) estimates the 2002 crop to weigh in at more than 118,000 tons, a 16 percent increase from last year's 100,000-ton harvest.

The record crop estimate occurs as Washington wine sales strengthen by more than 17 percent (Washington State Liquor Control Board) an indicator of consumer demand.

The record crop is attributed to an increase of bearing vines, which are those vines currently producing quality wine grapes. Since 1999, bearing vines increased by 46 percent (17,000 acres to 24,800 acres) and total acreage increased by 16 percent during the same time period. Currently, the industry calculates more than 28,000 total vineyard acres statewide and the ratio of red to white wine grape varieties continues to widen -- 57 percent red to 43 percent white. Most widely planted varieties include -- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling.

Reports from vineyard managers across the state indicate another quality crop is in the making. Although the season started out cool, warm temperatures (mid to high 90's) have put the wine grape crop ahead of normal in some areas of the state. High temperatures help keep berry size small and reduce the overall crop, both signs of quality wine grapes. The goal is lower yields and higher quality in the vineyards so as the forecast for slightly cooler weather sets in, grapes will reach optimum maturity for a well-balanced crop.

"A warm summer like we've had means we'll have optimal ripeness in the fall," said Kevin Corliss, director of viticulture at Stimson Lane Vineyards and Estates and a WAWGG board member. "The crop is slightly ahead of average and we're beginning to see veraison (when grapes change from the hard, green state to soft, colored form) in a few varieties."

As the 2002 harvest gets underway, industry critics continue to recognize past vintages of Washington wines currently in the marketplace with high scores and accolades, which impact sales and increase the region's awareness for world-class wine production.

"A quality harvest is the foundation for making world-class wines," said Steve Burns, executive director of the Washington Wine Commission. "Mother Nature has blessed us with well-balanced wine grapes for the past four vintages and acclaim for the region is growing."

The 2002 record harvest comes on the heels of Washington state being named "Wine Region of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Washington is the first American region to receive this honor. During the past decade Washington's wine industry more than doubled in size, ranking it as the state's fourth largest fruit crop and second largest wine growing region in the nation. The wine industry is a $2.4 billion industry with more than 200 wineries and 300 wine grape growers.

The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers is the only statewide membership-based nonprofit organization for wine grape growers committed to representing, educating, and promoting growers. Membership includes wine grape growers, wineries, researchers and suppliers. For more information contact Vicky Scharlau, executive director, at 509/782-8234 or e-mail at wawgg@wawgg.org or visit www.wawgg.org.