A note from the Editor
It's our busiest time of the year in the offices of Washington Wine Country -
fundraising time. Occasionally, I like to put out a reminder to our readers,
followers and supporters about who we are and what we do. As a non-profit, we
are dedicated to promoting the vineyard region of our state as the wine country.
It is our strong desire and belief that by leveraging the wine industry, the
valleys of Eastern Washington will be able to rejuvenate their economies. We do
this through our branding campaign; our Web site that teaches people how to
travel the wine country; educational presentations and even more straight
forwardly, by raising money for grants that we provide to the wine towns for
revitalization projects. Photo Contest! Wine Country Photo Contest WINNER
Kathy is a freelance writer and photographer and does industry and event
promotions for both Coyote Canyon Winery and Yakima Cellars. She is also the
author and owner of the "Men of Washington Wine Industry..."After Hours"
calendars."
Wine Country Celebration and Grand Gala
Friday, June 23, 2006Wine Country Golf Classic at the beautiful Meadow Springs Country Club golf course in Richland with a shot-gun start around noon. Golfers are encouraged to gather their colleagues and challenge their competitors to a corporate challenge. Entry fee is $150 per player and includes lunch, prizes and a post-tournament Rose wine tasting. (ONLY 4 FOURSOMES REMAINING!) The Seasons of Yakima Celebration Jazz Concert takes place at the new Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima for a special concert featuring jazz great Mose Allison. The Wine Country Celebration is offering a select few the red carpet treatment. Your VIP ticket includes an exclusive meet and greet with Mose, a pre-concert reception with special hors d'oeuvres and wine, and front row seating for the show. VIP admission is $65 per person. The VIP reception begins at 6:30 with the concert kicking off at 8 pm.
The per person cost for each dinner is $125. Saturday, June 24, 2006
For
more information, details on how to become a sponsor and to
purchase tickets for this fabulous fundraising event in
support of Washington Wine Country, visit the event Web site
at
www.winecountrycelebration.com or call 206-285-0514. Facts & Tidbits Washington Wine Country Adds Ninth AVA!
Rising high atop the northern edge of the Yakima River Valley in south-central Washington, Rattlesnake Hills has become the state’s ninth federally recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA). Covering an expanse of 68,500 acres, Rattlesnake Hills features 17 wineries, 29 vineyards and approximately 1,500 bearing acres. The United States Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) awarded Rattlesnake Hills appellation status on March 20, 2006. Source: Washington Wine Commission. Living Wine Country
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Thank you to all of you who sent in your photos in February and March. We
received many wonderful submissions! 
The 4th annual Wine Country Celebration and Grand Gala auction and
benefit dinner is just around the corner! Friday and Saturday, June 23rd and 24th at locations from Yakima to the
Tri-Cities. This year’s weekend event is full of activities ranging from a golf tournament and jazz concert to winemaker
dinners and an exclusive gala auction and benefit dinner. The
exciting weekend schedule of events is as follows:
Along The Wine Road |
Chef Vicky McCaffree of Yarrow Bay Grill entices auction goers at the 2006 Grand Gala Auction and Benefit Dinner. Growing up in Bellevue, Vicky’s love for good food was inspired by her grandmothers, who were both excellent cooks. While attending the University of Washington, Vicky waited tables at the Surrogate Hostess in Seattle. Recognizing her cooking talents owner Robin Woodward quickly promoted her to kitchen manager. Later, Vicky was co-chef at top Seattle fine dining restaurant Rosellini’s Other Place for two years. In 1990 she was awarded “Best Chef in Seattle” from the Association of Chefs.
In March of 1991, Chef McCaffree became
the creative force behind the cuisine of
the Yarrow Bay Grill. Vicky became known
for her high standards and exquisite
presentations. Under her guidance, the
restaurant was recognized by the Seattle
Magazine Readers Poll as “Best Eastside
Restaurant” for five consecutive years. Vicky was a guest star chef at the
prestigious James Beard House in New
York City in 1997 and again
in 2005. Her Northwest Seafood menus
were an enormous success with James
Beard Foundation members. In 1999 Vicky
helped launch Waterfront restaurant in
Seattle, returning “home” to the Yarrow
Bay Grill in 2002. |
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Washington Wine Country Collection
2006 City Revitalization
Fund
Last year Washington Wine Country
launched the City Revitalization Fund, a program to raise
money towards grants to the wine towns within the vineyard
region towards revitalization projects. At the 2005 Grand
Gala $34,600 was raised towards the Fund, making it a
resounding success in its first year.
Grants were
given to the City of Richland towards a winery recognition
monument sign and the City of Kennewick towards a city
avenue banner campaign. Additional monies were used to
provide banners to other cities.
"We
are very proud of the 2005 Fund and the fact that it supports
such exemplary projects that will have a significant impact
on identifying the region as the wine country in our state,"
said Washington Wine Country founding director, Janet Leduc.
Once again, funds
will be raised at this year's 2006 Grand Gala during a
special Raise The Paddle For City Revitalization. Washington
Wine Country continues to dedicate its efforts towards
projects within the wine towns of Washington's wine country
that directly benefit increased economic development and
tourism.
Once the funds have been raised, an application process
will begin. The time line will be similar to last year with applications
available the first of
September and an application deadline at the end of November. This year
the organization hopes to see numerous additional original projects and
submissions.
"We will still encourage applicants to
incorporate our branding," stated Communication and Auction
Director Jackie Walsh, "but we do want applicants to feel as
though we support their individuality. The projects that
received funding last year were carefully thought out and
planned."
The cities who participated also
contributed matching funds to the project, leveraging the
fund towards even greater economic impact
For more
information on the City Revitalization Fund, contact
Communications Director, Jackie Walsh,
jwalsh@winecountrywashington.org or call 206-285-0514.
Mark Your Calendar
Please submit your upcoming special events or regional events to events@winecountrywashington.org and we will post them in our next issue.
June
6/3 Vintage Walla Walla - An exclusive annual tasting event celebrating
the art of our Walla Walla Valley wineries. Vintage Walla Walla features wines
of the present as well as gems from the past that our winemakers have pulled
from their own private cellars.
For reservations and more information visit
www.wallawallawine.com
6/3-6/4 Washington Wine Highway - Come experience The Washington Wine
Highway on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, WA. Go
explore regional pavilions that showcase the best our state has to offer in
tourism, culinary and wine from Woodinville in the west to the Walla Walla in
the east. For more information, visit
www.washingtonwinehighway.com
6/11 Taste Washington, Spokane -
The fifth annual Taste Washington Spokane event will feature fine wines from
over 100 Washington wineries and culinary creations from over 25 regional
restaurants. For more
information, visit www.tastewashington.org
6/16-6/18 Wine & Cherry Festival - Come and sample cherry varieties grown in
Washington paired with wonderful wines. Cherries, chocolate covered and natural,
along with stunning cuisine featuring this delectable fruit, will be found at
the wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Trail. For more information, visit
www.rattlesnakehills.com
6/23-6/24 Wine Country Celebration & Grand Gala- Revelers gather in
Washington Wine Country in unity for a weekend celebration of wine country and
rural living. Visitors are given the opportunity to golf, enjoy the relaxing
sounds of classic jazz, dine with winemakers in their beautiful wineries and
taste the terroir of the various appellations of Washington wine. In the midst
of this weekend lies the romantic and exclusive, Grand Gala auction and benefit
dinner at a heralded estate overlooking the Yakima Valley. For more information, visit www.winecountrycelebration.com
6/24 Lemberger/Lamburger BBQ - Chateau Champoux's 4th annual Lemberger/Lamburger BBQ. 11a.m. to 4p.m. $45 per person $80 couple. Take a drive to the Horse Heavens and rediscover some wonderful Lemberger wines produced from Champoux Vineyard grapes by several distinctive winemakers. Raffle sales for framed, signed print by Dixie Rogerson-Bill. Live music by Bram Brata, Youth Caribbean Steel Band. For more information, visit www.chateauchampoux.com
6/24 Sunshine & Wine -
Discover which wines win the only all Washington State wine competition. For more information, visit www.sunshineandwine.com
7/15 Prosser Gallery Walk and Wine Gala
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Enjoy the best things in life...Wine and Art! Live music and several local
and out-of-town artists displaying their work. Taste wines from different local
wineries. For more information, visit www.prosserchamber.org
7/23 Rattlesnake Hills Winery Tour & Scavenger Hunt
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Join Washington Wine Tours for a fun tour where you learn about wine, visit
the Rattlesnake Hills AVA (Washington's newest designated wine grape growing
region) and have a LOT of fun socializing and getting to know your fellow
tourists!
For more information, visit www.rattlesnakehills.com
View a complete wine country calendar at
www.winecountrywashington.org/eventCalendar.aspx.
Formed in 2003, Washington Wine Country is a
non-profit association of Eastern Washington businesses promoting wine-related
tourism, economic development and recognition of the world-class wine-growing
region comprising the Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley and Red
Mountain and the newer appellations of Columbia Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills,
Rattlesnake Hills and Wahluke Slope.
www.winecountrywashington.org