$1.8 million raised at Washington Auction

Wines & Vines, Oct, 2003

A record $1.8 million was raised during the 16th annual Auction of Washington Wines held at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Proceeds benefit uncompensated care at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center and the Washington Wine Education Consortium. The Auction of Washington Wines is one of the nation's largest charity wine auctions, netting nearly $12 million since 1988.

The 2003 celebration, From the Earth to the Table, to What Matters Most, focused on the grower/winemaker partnership and Washington's worldclass wine industry. Representing the state's more than 240 wineries, David Lake, Master of Wine and winemaker for Columbia Winery, was chosen as the honorary vintner chairman. Mike Reed, Columbia Valley winegrape grower, was this year's honorary grower chairman, representing more than 300 winegrape growers statewide.