Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
Auction of Washington Wines: Another Smashing Success
By Kori ~ August 26th, 2011.
This past weekend, the Washington wine industry hosted its 24th annual Auction of Washington Wines. The Auction has raised more than $24 million since its inception in 1988 to benefit the uncompensated care program at Seattle Children’s Hospital and since 2001, the Washington Wine Education Foundation, funding viticultural and enological research across the state. This year’s Auction raised over $1.5 million.
The three-day event included a Picnic and Barrel Auction, winemaker dinners, the Covey Run 5K and 10K Run/Walk, and The Wine Gala. Dad (John) and I attended the Picnic and Barrel Auction on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. This was the second year that we have had the pleasure to attend, and it truly is an outstanding event for a great cause.
The highlight of the Picnic is the Barrel Auction itself in which bidders have the chance to win future, limited-release wines from twenty-five participating wineries. All attendees have the opportunity to taste wines from those participating wineries to determine whether or not they want to bid. While we did not taste them all, our favorites of the ones we did taste were the 2010 Sparkman Cellars Darkness Syrah, the 2008 Adams Bench Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Boudreaux Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2009 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve. The picnic also featured a silent auction and picnic games including a Restaurant Balloon Pop, Wheel of Wine, Wine Pull, and Ring Toss.
In addition to outstanding wines, Picnic attendees were also served wonderful food prepared by the talented chefs from Tulalip Resort Casino. I was very impressed with the food last year so I made sure to make the rounds at the food tents this year. Once again, their culinary creations were amazing.
If you weren’t able to attend this year’s Auction, I encourage you to go ahead make plans to attend in 2012. It truly is a great weekend for both Washington wine and charity.
Filed under: American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Food & Wine, Red Wine, Shiraz/Syrah, Washington State Wine, Wine Activities/Events
