PULLMAN, Wash. — Whether you’d prefer the experience of flying a commercial airliner without leaving the ground in Boeing’s flight simulator, or keeping both feet on the ground as an honorary Seattle Mariner’s groundskeeper, you can bid for the opportunity at Washington State University’s “Celebrate Washington Wine” auction gala.
The ninth annual black-tie gala dinner and auction will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville. The event features a reception, gourmet dinner with wine pairings, and both silent and live auctions. All proceeds benefit the WSU Viticulture and Enology Program. More information and reservations are available at http://www.wineauction.wsu.edu.
According to auction coordinator Linda Bailey, event organizers have worked to add new features and unusual items to this year’s auction.
“As always, we’ll have a wonderful assortment of wines and wine-related items on the block, but this year we’re adding an opportunity to test your luck with a new ‘grab-a-bottle’ feature that promises to be fun,” she said.
Participants will contribute a flat fee to pick an anonymous bottle of wine donated by the Wine-By-Cougars wine club in a special Cougar bag. Contributing wineries include Bergevin Lane, Col Solare, Gordon Brothers, and Leonetti Cellars, among others.
“Your $50 contribution might get you a premium $25 bottle of Washington wine, or you might end up with a rare or special $100 bottle,” she said. “The proceeds will go to the Wine-By-Cougars V & E scholarship fund.”
Golfers can bid for lunch and a round of golf for three at the nationally acclaimed Palouse Ridge Golf Course in Pullman with former Cougar football standout and NFL player Paul Sorensen, or golf pro Tyler Jones. Another golf package offers a one-week stay in a deluxe condo that sleeps six in Sun River, Ore. with two rounds of golf.
Cougar fans can bid for an exciting football weekend in Pullman for six as guests of WSU President Elson Floyd and regent Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. If you prefer your football in warmer climes, bid on the package that includes four nights in a Tempe, Ariz. vacation home for six adults when the Cougars are there to take on the Arizona Sun Devils.
The popular CEO Collection of Washington wines will be back on the block this year, as will the new Washington Women in Wine Collection.
Another new feature this year is an online auction leading up to the gala event featuring fine Washington wines and unique specialty items.
Go to http://www.wineauction.wsu.edu for access to the online auction, as well as for more information and online reservations for the gala.
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