On January 24, 2009 the eighth annual "Celebration of Washington Wines" black tie event will take place at Ste. Michelle Winery. The event is a benefit in support of the Washington State University program in Viticulture and Enology.
The "Celebration of Washington Wines" includes dinner and a reception (both accompanied by Washington wines), but the main draw of the event, and the primary fund raiser, are the auctions; a silent auction before dinner, and then a live auction after dinner. Ticket are $250.00 each. Last year's event raised over $235,000.00, and helped endow a chair at Washington State. You can see some of the auction items here. They include items designed to tempt wine enthusiasts from anywhere, like the ultimate Washington Merlot collection, wine tasting parties, resort stays, limited edition Washington wines, and a number of smaller items. The official "Celebration of Washington Wines"Web site is here, and includes ticket purchasing instructions.
The previous "Celebration of Washington Wines" events together have raised over a million in funding for the Viticulture program, which provides both certificates and degrees to students. Alumni of the program have largely stayed in Washington after graduation, continuing the tradition of great Washington wines. It really is where future wine makers, and grape growers, come from. Washington State University was responsible for the research more than fifty years ago that determined that traditional European viniculture and grapes would flourish in Washingtons's soil and climate; today there are more than 500 wineries, and 350 wine grape growers, growing more than 20 different grape varietals.