Fourth Annual Reveal Walla Walla Valley Wine Futures Auction Yields Largest Proceeds To Date, $127,200
WALLA WALLA, WA (April 16, 2019) – Reveal Walla Walla Valley, an annual wine futures auction for the wine trade and private collectors raised an unprecedented $127,200 on Monday, April 15, 2019. Reveal provides the perfect opportunity to purchase unique Walla Walla Valley wines while experiencing the camaraderie, creativity, and commitment that founded the Walla Walla Valley wine industry.
The 2019 auction featured 23 one-of-a-kind, small-lot wines from the Walla Walla Valley American Viticulture Area (AVA) and the region’s sub AVA “The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater;” these wines will only be available to the public through resale by the winning bidder. In addition to the 23 unique lots, and new to this year’s auction, was the opening lot comprised of two bottles of premium red wine from each of the participating Reveal wineries.
Over the course of two days, the attendees of Reveal took full advantage to meet the winemakers and taste the exceptional wines being produced in the Walla Walla Valley. Upon arrival on Sunday, April 14, guests were hosted at Dunham Cellars and progressed from a library tasting in the whimsical WW-II era Hangar Lounge to a family-style dinner intimately set in the winery’s barrel room. On Monday, April 15, bidders sampled through all 23 auction lot wines in the elegant Corliss Estate tasting room before advancing into the production facility for the auction.
Presided over by renowned auctioneer Ursula Hermacinski, the auction room was electric with excitement that continued to build as Hermacinski shared not only the unique traits of each wine, but also the lot’s signature song to help further convey the wine’s personality. Walla Walla Valley winemakers looked on and delighted in bidding wars and escalating prices, resulting in a whopping 67 percent lot price increase over the 2018 auction. Winning bidders were congratulated with a celebratory reception following the final gavel strike.
The top three lots sold were Woodward Canyon, Doubleback and Leonetti Cellar for $15,000, $12,000 and $10,000 respectively.
Thanks to the continued success of Reveal, a portion of the 2019 proceeds will be devoted to Walla Walla Community College’s Institute for Enology & Viticulture and dedicated to pulling up the next generation of winegrowers by providing scholarships to future students of the program.
The 2020 Reveal Walla Walla Valley Auction dates will be announced in the third quarter of 2019. Attendees are invite-only licensed wine buyers and private collectors. For more information or to join the mailing list, visit RevealWallaWalla.com.
Sponsors for Reveal Walla Walla Valley include Trysk Print Solutions, Winery Compliance Services, the City of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County and the Port of Walla Walla.
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About the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a non-profit wine industry membership organization whose primary mission is to build an internationally acclaimed Walla Walla Valley wine brand among consumers, media, and trade by providing marketing programs on behalf of member wineries, vineyards, and partners. The Wine Alliance functions as the leading informational resource for consumers, media, and trade interested in learning more about the Valley’s wine industry.
Media Contacts:
Liz Knapke
Marketing Manager, Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
liz@wallawallawine.com | (509) 526-3117 office
High Resolution Images Available Upon Request
Ashley Riggs
Chief Operating Officer, Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
ashley@wallawallawine.com | (509) 526-3117 office
