Picnic Celebrates Washington’s Wine Industry Success

SEATTLE, WA–(EMWNews – July 29, 2008) – Guests are invited to gather on the grounds of

Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, WA, Thursday, August 14 from 4:30

p.m. to dusk, for Picnic with the Winemakers & Barrel Auction which will

usher in the three-day Auction of Washington Wines. The Picnic and Barrel

Auction is BYOB (bring your own blanket) and will showcase live

entertainment, gourmet foods, a laid-back atmosphere and amazing Washington

wines as well as the opportunity to meet the most notable winemakers in

Washington.

Picnickers flock to this annual event to bid on limited production wines

from some of Washington state’s top winemakers, along with exclusive wine

items and the opportunity to compete in games of chance like the Wheel of

Wine and Ring Toss. This year’s Barrel Action features limited production

wines from Abeja, àMaurice, Buty Winery, Columbia Winery, Gramercy Cellars,

J. Bookwalter, Mark Ryan Winery, Matthews Estate, Sleight of Hand Cellars,

Spring Valley Vineyard, Va Piano Vineyards and Waters Winery.

A multi-course gourmet picnic will be presented by guest chefs from The

Capital Grille, The Oceanaire Seafood Room and Trellis at the Heathman

Hotel. Live vintage cocktail music is provided by Johnny Astro and guest

emcee is Jim Dever of King5 “Evening Magazine.” Tickets are $125 per

person and weekend packages are also available.

The Auction of Washington Wines has become the industry’s premier

fundraiser and proudly supports uncompensated care at Children’s Hospital

and Regional Medical Center and the Washington Wine Education Foundation.

The three-day destination event will celebrate the coming of age of the

Washington wine industry, as it has become a world-class producer of wine

in the United States. To date, the Auction of Washington Wines has raised

more than $19 million. For more information and tickets to Picnic and

other Auction of Washington Wine events, please call 206.326-5750 or click

on www.auctionofwashingtonwines.org.

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 $19 million has been

raised since the auction was founded in 1988. The 2008 Auction is

co-chaired by Todd 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, Classical KING FM, KING5, Puget

Sound Lexus Dealers, Seattle Magazine, Seattle Sounders FC, Wine Spectator,

Viking, 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 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.