21st Auction of Washington Wines a Huge Success

Auction "Comes of Age" Raising $2,250,000 -- Hot DeLille Wine Lot Goes for $70,000

The 21st annual Auction of Washington Wines, held August 14-16 in Woodinville, WA, dramatically surpassed earlier auctions in revenues, attendance and sheer enthusiasm, raising $2,250,000 for uncompensated care at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle and the Washington Wine Education Foundation.

The Auction of Washington Wines, the premier wine auction in the state of Washington, encompassed three days with four events. Over 1,000 people attended the August 14 Picnic with the Winemakers & Barrel Auction. The Friday Winemaker Dinners hosted over 500 guests at 11 private homes in the greater Seattle area. The Saturday morning CoveyRun 10K Race & TalkingRain 5K Run/Walk attracted 1,200 participants from 16 states.

The Saturday evening Gala Auction had close to 600 guests who bid on live and silent auctions, while partaking in a six-course dinner prepared by the region's top chefs, accompanied by world-class Washington wines. Emotions ran high and the mood was electric as hot auction lots went for top dollar. Celebrities in attendance included comedian Drew Carey, actor Kyle MacLachlan of "Desperate Housewives" and "Sex and the City" fame, former Mariner Edgar Martinez and Hollywood producer, Joe Roth, majority owner of the Seattle Sounders FC.

"The energy and excitement at the all of the events was palatable. Washington State vintners and growers are some of the best in the world, and their commitment to producing high quality wines is only paralleled by their commitment to giving back to the community," said Greg Lill, CEO/co-owner of DeLille Cellars, and this year's co-chairman. "We are very pleased with the results of this year's auction weekend. Our winemakers and growers donated superb items that went for great bids by patrons committed to helping Children's Hospital and the Washington Education Foundation."

The top selling auction lot was a 21 Liter DeLille Salute to AWW and Charles Lill -- a collection of etched and hand painted bottles from DeLille Cellars which sold for an unprecedented $70,000 -- the highest amount ever paid for a wine lot at the Auction of Washington Wines.

Top auction items included:

--  Picnic Barrel Auction proceeds - $46,000
--  A visit to the set of "Desperate Housewives" with dinner at the home
    of actor Kyle MacLachlan - $30,000
--  "Pursued by Bear" an evening at Dunham Cellars with Eric Dunham and
    Kyle MacLachlan - $22,000
--  Beach Party Pig Roast with Edgar Martinez, Alex & Jeannette Golitzin
    of Quilceda Creek and Chef Wayne Johnson of Andaluce - $21,000
--  Super Bowl XLII Package for two auctioned two times for a total of
    $38,000
--  Movie premiere in Hollywood "Alice in Wonderland" - $19,000
--  Three decades of Leonetti - $17,000
--  Dinner with auction co-chairs Greg & Stacy Lill and Tod & Tara Leiweke
--  $17,000
--  Collection of Cayuse Vineyards 3-liter bottles - $16,000
--  Wine Flight to Col Solare on Red Mountain - $16,000
--  Winemaker Dinner at Metropolitan Grill with Pepper Bridge Winery -
    $15,000
--  Riesling rendezvous in Germany with Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen
--  $15,000
--  Dinner with Matt Dillon and Allen Shoup at The Corson Building -
    $15,000
--  Dinner with Bob and Cathy Betz of Betz Family Winery at The Capital
    Grille - $14,000
--  Canlis Beach House BBQ with Buty Winery - $13,000
--  New York Wine Spectator weekend for two couples with Ste. Michelle
    Wine Estates - $13,000
--  21 Magnum Salute to Honorary Grower, Jim Holmes - $10,000
--  Biggest Fan Seattle Sounders package - $9,500
--  Bowling Party with Trey Busch of Sleight of Hand, Mark McNeilly of
    Mary Ryan Winery and Ethan Stowell of Tavolàta - $9,500
    

The Gala Auction's fund-a-need for uncompensated care at Children's Hospital raised a record-breaking $825,000.

Each year the Auction honors two of its own for their outstanding contributions to the Washington wine industry. This year auction co-chairs Tod Leiweke, CEO, Seattle Seahawks/Seattle Sounders FC, and Greg Lill, President of DeLille Cellars, recognized Kay Simon, Winemaker and Partner in Chinook Wines and Honorary Grower Chair Jim Holmes, owner of Ciel du Cheval vineyard.

The Auction of Washington Wines is the primary fundraising event of the Washington State wine industry, and it is one of the top wine charity auctions in the country. Nearly 200 Washington State wineries contributed to Auction of Washington Wine events in the form of fine wines, volunteer personnel and wine-related experiences donated as live and silent auction items. Auction events were carried out with the assistance of more than 250 community volunteers.

About the Auction of Washington Wines

The Auction of Washington Wines, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is the philanthropic organization of the Washington State wine industry and one of the top charity wine auctions in the nation. More than $21 million has now been raised since the auction was founded in 1988. The 2008 Auction co-chairs are Tod Leiweke, CEO, Seattle Seahawks/Seattle Sounders FC and Greg Lill, CEO/co-owner, DeLille Cellars. Major sponsors include: Chateau Ste. Michelle, John L. Scott Foundation, 98.1 Classical KING FM, KING5, Puget Sound Lexus Dealers, Seattle Magazine, Seattle Sounders FC, Wine Spectator, Viking Range/GateWay Appliance Distributing, Vine Vertical, Wells Fargo Private Bank, Wine Spectator and Wizards of the Coast, a Hasbro Subsidiary.

About Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center

Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Children's has been delivering superior patient care for over 100 years, including advancing new discoveries and treatments in pediatric research, and serving as a primary teaching, clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. In 2008, the hospital is expected to provide over $65 million in uncompensated care to families who otherwise cannot pay their medical costs.

About the Washington Education Foundation

The Washington Wine Education Foundation aims to strengthen the quality and reputation of the Washington Wine industry by providing support toward a world-class enology and viticulture research, education and training program specific to Washington State. A portion of funds raised during the Auction of Washington Wines goes toward scientific research in vineyards and fermentation, Washington-based educational programs that promote undergraduate and graduate degrees, and to farm worker and industry employee programs that promote health and safety. This educational group began collaborating in 2001 to create quality educational programs in winemaking and grape growing.