[Kennewick, WA] – The Washington Wine Industry Foundation (Foundation) raised over $237,000 at the annual Party + Auction, a fundraiser that supports work on challenges of Washington’s growing wine industry. To date, the group has been awarded over $2.7 million in grants and distributed over $263,000 in scholarships to 185 students. The Foundation has also helped fund the WSU Teaching Vineyard and a seat in the popular Washington AgForestry Leadership Program.
The event, held February 13 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, drew over 430 wine industry movers and shakers to support the Foundation. The event boasted music, ‘barrel of gold’, a custom chef-designed dinner, wine from premier state wineries, and silent and live auctions with items including international cruises and trips, exclusive winemaker dinners with industry legends, magnums of Washington wine.
COLLABORATION SERIES RELEASED
During the event, the Foundation released the second annual “Collaboration Series”. A legacy lot, the “collaboration” showcases partnerships between grower and vintner. Each year a grower and vintner produce 20 cases of unique wine offered exclusively at the Party + Auction.
Series 2 featured Mike Sauer of Red Willow Vineyard, and Jason Gorski of DeLille Cellars. The bottles and design were donated by Shara Green of Universal Packaging and Jim Carey of Doubleknot Creative.
The Party + Auction was sponsored by: Inland Desert Nursery, Wilbur-Ellis, CliftonLarsonAllen, Stoel Rives LLP, Four Feathers Wine Estates, Sixto, Cairdeas Winery, Balboa Winery, Andrew Will, Maryhill Winery, Treveri Cellars, and Peha Promotions.
Annual Partners included: Inland Desert Nursery, Wilbur-Ellis, Banner Bank, Bleyhl Co-Op, Coventry Vale Winery, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Moss Adams, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Vine Tech Equipment, CliftonLarsonAllen, Four Feathers Wine Estates, Mercer Ranches, Metis – an Exvere Company, and Stoel Rives LLP.
