Winemaker Dinners

Friday, August 20, 2010 - 6:30pm

Tickets are now on sale at $250 per person

Intimate dinners held at private estates and wineries featuring Washington winemakers whose wines are paired exquisitely with a gourmet meal created by a guest chef.

ALFRESCO DINING IN BROADMOOR SOLD OUT

Auction of Washington Wines Co-Chairs Brad and Michele Smith, Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small invite you to join them for a very special evening. Brad and Michele are providing their beautiful Broadmoor home while Rick and Darcey are bringing the wine. That's Woodward Canyon wine. They've invited renowned Walla Walla producer, Norm McKibben and his wife, Virginia, of Pepper Bridge Winery to join in the fun. In addition to his skill as a winemaker, Rick is also a talented gardener. He'll provide produce from his organic garden which will be tastefully prepared by two James Beard award-winning chefs, Chris Keff of Flying Fish and Tamara Murphy of beloved Brasa and Elliott Bay Café and soon-to-open Terra Plata. Guests are sure to be wowed by the gorgeous alfresco setting and the culinary talents of these remarkable chefs, working side by side with two of Washington's finest wineries.

WASHINGTON WINE LEGENDS

Owners of Bristol Design & Construction, Scott and Sandra Gjesdahl have transformed their classic 1960s home, located in Mill Creek, into a modern masterpiece with mid-century flair. Enjoy the home’s lush grounds, while connecting with Washington wine’s roots with this year’s Honorary Chairs. Grower Dr. Wade Wolfe and his wife Becky Yeaman of Thurston Wolfe and vintner Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard of Barnard Griffin will share their wines and their stories throughout the evening. Rounding out your evening will be another Washington icon, Ray’s Boathouse, an ardent supporter of Washington wines for 37 years. Today, the kitchen is helmed by talented Executive Chef Peter Birk whose cooking expertly captures the exquisite flavors of the Northwest via ingredients from local farmers, fishermen and ranchers.

WHIDBEY ISLAND ESCAPE

Turn your clock to island time and cruise, fly or drive to the Mutiny Bay beachfront home of Jammie Baugh and Joe Arbanas, where you’ll escape to an idyllic evening of wine, food and fun. Overlooking the Admiralty Inlet waterway and the Olympic Mountains, their home is situated for gorgeous sunsets along with captivating views of the busy waterway and majestic peaks towering over the Olympic Peninsula. Plan to arrive early for bocce and a croquet “tournament” or to walk the beach and watch the cruise ships go by! Then join in to toast your hosts, along with Jill Noble of Couvillion Winery and Myles Anderson of Walla Walla Vintners, as you sample the winemakers’ creations alongside the fresh, local cuisine of Joe Scott and Jamie Sastre of their noted Whidbey Island restaurant, the Oystercatcher in Coupeville.

WILD AND RARE SOLD OUT

At their exotic animal farm and French antique decorated barn, proprietors Anthony and Lillian Bay of Bay Meadow Farm in Redmond provide an enchanting setting for an evening of gourmet revelry. In this lush, yet casual setting you’ll mingle with the Bay’s menagerie of animals including wallabies, miniature animals, reindeer and Thandi, the zebr. Though the setting may feel wild, the evening’s menu will be a refined Northwest culinary delight, courtesy of James Beard Best Chef Northwest 2004, Executive Chef/Partner Eric Tanaka of Tom Douglas Restaurants. Adding to the evening’s unique pleasures are wines from Woodinville’s Betz Family Winery and Walla Walla’s Ã Maurice. Winemaker Bob Betz and Cathy Betz will join you for the evening along with áMaurice's winemaker Anna Schafer and Tom and Kathleen Schafer.

HEART OF THE NORTHWEST SOLD OUT

We all have a special place in our hearts for the magic of Northwest summer evenings with their luminous sunsets and long twilight. Dr. Gordon Cohen, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Seattle Children’s and his wife Trisha Cohen extend a heart-felt invitation to join them for a spectacular evening. Built in 2009, the Cohen’s striking Northwest contemporary home on Mercer Island captures an enchanting view of summer skies over Lake Washington looking west to downtown Seattle. Longtime Seattle Chef Peter Levine of Waterfront Seafood Grill will conjure a meal to charm your palate while four of Washington’s hottest winemakers captivate you with their wines. Trey Busch from Sleight of Hand Cellars, Chris Gorman of Gorman Winery, Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan Winery and Chris Sparkman of Sparkman Cellars have their own form of alchemy to share.

THE MOON AND THE STARS SOLD OUT

You'll be over the moon at this star-studded evening. Ralph and Lynn Davis invite you to join them and their guests, several former astronauts, at their 100-year old waterfront estate on Crescent Beach in Burien with its eclectic gardens and gorgeous views. Honored as a 2008 Rising Star by Wine Spectator, Côte Bonneville has achieved a stellar place among Washington vintner. Hugh and Kathy Shiels founded their winery in 2001 to create wines that best express the fruit of their spectacular DuBrul Vineyard each vintage. Shining brightly on the Seattle restaurant scene, Steelhead Diner and its new sibling, Blueacre Seafood showcase the talents of highly regarded Chef Kevin Davis. He'll create a heavenly menu for this special evening.

BLUE RIBBON EVENING IN WOODINVILLE SOLD OUT

DeLille Cellars holds the distinction of being the only winery in the world to be named to the Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast “Top 100 List” two years in a row. Hosts Greg and Stacy Lill and winemaker Chris Upchurch and his wife Thea welcome you to the DeLille estate in Woodinville overlooking the lush Sammamish Valley. Here you’ll be joined by the legendary Alex Golitzin of Quilceda Creek Vintners and his wife Jeannette Golitzin. Quilceda Creek’s wines have garnered their fair share of recognition, with 100 point ratings three of the last four years for their flagship Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Adding to the evening’s luster will be newly minted James Beard Best Chef Northwest Jason Wilson of Crush, who will prepare a feast equal to these celebrated wines.

SHOW YOUR PASSION FOR PURPLE

University of Washington President and Mrs. Mark A. Emmert roll out the purple carpet for guests at Hill-Crest, the UW President’s residence. Chris Camarda of Andrew Will Winery and Rob Newsom of Boudreaux Cellars will be on hand to pour their wines to highlight a delectable meal created by Chef Mike Davis of Heavy Restaurant Group (Barrio & The Purple Café). Seattle magazine’s 2010 Sommelier of the Year, Dawn Smith, also of Heavy Restaurant Group, will provide wine service for this special evening. There’s a rumor that the winemakers and chef are conspiring to deliver a surprise performance for guests later in the evening. Don’t miss this singular evening of camaraderie, wine and cuisine. Go Huskies!

A CAPITOL EVENING OF WALLA WALLA WINE & FOOD SOLD OUT

Walla Walla travels west for a top-notch evening of culinary revelr. Brian and Laurie Flynn host you at their Seattle home, a gracious north Capitol Hill Mediterranean-style villa full of old-world ambiance amid breathtaking grounds. This enviable backdrop sets the stage for three of Walla Walla's most prominent food and wine luminaries. Chris Figgins of Figgins Family Wine Estates shares selections from the legendary Leonetti Cellar. He’s bringing along his childhood friend, former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe of Doubleback. Rounding out this talented trio is Chef Jamie Guerin of Whitehouse Crawford Restaurant, who will create a peerless feast crafted from the finest Walla Walla ingredients.

HIGHLAND REVELRY

Travel to the exclusive hillside enclave of The Highlands for dinner with your hosts Chris and Kathleen Kosmos. Their home, set among towering trees and verdant landscaping, is among the oldest in The Highlands. Begin the evening with drinks on the terrace and an unobstructed view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The Kosmos’ neighbors, Allen and Kathleen Shoup of Long Shadows will join you and share wines from Long Shadows’ distinguished collection of wineries. Also present will be winemaker John Abbott of Walla Walla, pouring choice bottles from his winery Abeja. Adding his own touch of elegance and finesse will be Chef Philip Mihalski of Nell’s, whose Northwest cuisine will be showcased with a multi-course meal paired with these great wines.

BELLE VIEW

Swim, boat or drive to Linda and Cameron Myhrvold’s Lake Washington home in Bellevue for a tremendous evening of wine and delicious foo. Start the evening with bubbles and appetizers poolside before moving to the patio to dine al fresco, while enjoying a spectacular northwest sunset. The evening’s menu is in the capable hands of talented Chef/Co-Owner Jonathan Zimmer of Lisa Dupar Catering and Pomegranate Bistro. His creations will be deliciously paired with wines from the skilled master of vineyard blends, Ben Smith and Gaye McNutt of Cadence and syrah savant Jamie Brown of Waters.

CLASSIC ELEGANCE ON BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

Start your evening with a ferry cruise across Elliott Bay to Bainbridge Island, enjoying the saltwater spray and Olympic Peninsula view. Continue on to the home of Doug and Cassie Picha where you’ll relax among stunning gardens and elegant surroundings. Joining you for this gustatory pleasure are Mike, Gale and Matt Reynvaan of Walla Walla’s Reynvaan Family Vineyards. Reynvaan’s wines are exclusively from the Walla Walla AVA and sourced from estate vineyards. The wines will be expertly paired with a gourmet meal prepared by Chef Brendan McGill, of the newly opened Hitchcock restaurant on Bainbridge lsland, that is equally terroir-driven, evoking honesty and elegance with pure flavors wrought from the Northwest’s finest ingredients.

EXPERIENCE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Enjoy an elegant summer evening á la Charleston near the heart of Woodinville wine country. Join renowned Chef/Co-Owner Lisa Dupar of Lisa Dupar Catering and Pomegranate Bistro and Eric Dunham, artist and award-winning vintner of Dunham Cellars for a memorable evening of gastronomic and oenophilic pleasur. The evening kicks off with mint juleps, South Carolina Split Creek goat feta and shots of Charleston ‘she’ crab soup, followed by a lavish spread of Low Country tapas creatively paired with luscious, sought-after Dunham Cellar reds. Eric will be bringing library and single vineyard wines for this spectacular evening. Paul Strisower and Midori Chan are your hosts for the evening in their private event venue, Riverside Falls, in Bothell.

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