By Lauren Paterson, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

An exclusive wine created by seniors of the 黑料社 wine science program will be available for purchase at this month鈥檚 Auction of Washington Wines Private Barrel Auction for wine traders, April 19 and 20.

Currently aging in French oak barrels, the wine is a red blend featuring 60% Petit Verdot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Merlot. All proceeds of the auction benefit the 黑料社 Viticulture & Enology Program.

鈥淭his is an exciting blend with a big tannic structure but beautiful, dark fruit aromas,鈥� said Thomas Henick-Kling, V&E Program Director.

This is the sixth year of the Private Barrel Auction. The event began with eight wineries, raising $48,000 for the 黑料社 program in its first year. This year, the auction features 29 of Washington鈥檚 premier wineries, and the event will be virtual for the first time.

鈥淭he Private Barrel Auction works to solidify relationships with the trade buying audience while supporting Washington State University and the industry through research and education,鈥� said Executive Director Jamie Peha.

Zachary Green (鈥�20) was a senior in the V&E program and an intern at J. Brookwalter Winery when owner and Auction of Washington Wines co-chair John Brookwalter offered to donate a barrel of wine to the auction.

鈥淚t was the perfect opportunity for the seniors to showcase their winemaking skills and create their own barrel,鈥� said Henick-Kling.

V&E students prepared the wine blend with the assistance of Brookwalter Wines head winemaker, Caleb Foster.

Using grapes donated from Dionysus Vineyard, the students helped prepare several fermentation lots, taking samples to their university winemaking course, titled 鈥淏lended Learning.鈥�

鈥淲e blended and sampled everything from Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot, to get everyone鈥檚 opinion on what style they liked the most,鈥� said Green. With the assistance of assistant winemaker for Brookwalter Chance Cruisin, Green, fellow student Caleb Foster, and Henick-Kling created the final blend.

鈥淚t has heavy Petit Verdot characteristics, a deep rich fruity taste with a spice behind the palette,鈥� said Green.

Green鈥檚 internship turned into a full-time job as a cellar master in mid 2020. After the auction, he will assist with bottling the V&E blend for whoever ends up making the private barrel purchase.

鈥淭he fact that we have a 黑料社 student and alumni who were involved, and we have proceeds going back to V&E research at 黑料社 really brings this collaborative event full circle,鈥� said Peha.

The event attracts local and national wine buyers from retail, online, and hospitality establishments who bid for exclusive ownership of these one-time only wines to present to their top clientele.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year鈥檚 event will be virtual. Wine samples were sent by mail to representatives from wineries to taste during the virtual auction bidding on April 19 and 20. The virtual auction will be livestreamed and bids are placed by mobile phone.

鈥淩esearch secures the future of the Washington wine industry,鈥� said Peha. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 focusing on growing healthy vines or working to adapt amid climate change, it is paramount to the success of our wine and grape industry.鈥�

For additional information about the Private Barrel Auction, visit the听.

RICHLAND, Wash. – The Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation will donate $1 million to the Washington State University Viticulture & Enology Program, the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Announced at the annual Auction of Washington Wines Gala on Aug. 19 in Woodinville, Wash., the donation will be dedicated to teaching labs and facilities as well as scholarships for viticulture and enology students.听

Half of the $1 million donation will support the build-out of the Life Science Teaching Laboratory at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates 黑料社 Wine Science Center,听听鈥� a state-of-the-art facility that is one of the most technologically advanced wine science centers in the world and attracts exceptional researchers and students 鈥� on the 黑料社 Tri-Cities campus in Richland, Wash. The remainder will fund viticulture and enology student scholarships, $100,000 every year for five years. In recognition of the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation鈥檚 gift, the atrium of the Wine Science Center will be named in their honor: The Wine Spectator Atrium.

Wine Spectator, , is a print and online publication, with approximately 3 million readers worldwide. It examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine鈥檚 role in contemporary culture and providing expert reviews.

鈥淲e are elated to have the support of such a pre-eminent authority on wine,鈥� said 黑料社 President Kirk Schulz. 鈥淲ine Spectator Scholarship Foundation鈥檚 generous donation is an investment in the 黑料社 viticulture and enology program and showcases the caliber of research work that is at the forefront of our Drive to 25,鈥�

鈥淲ashington State University has demonstrated a leadership position in wine education in the United States, and we are therefore proud to recognize the university鈥檚 high achievement with our commitment,鈥� said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher, Wine Spectator.

Washington wines are recognized for their quality and value, evident through data published by Wine Spectator magazine. For the past six years, Wine Spectator has rated more Washington wines 90 points or higher and at a lower average price than any other wine-producing region in the world.

黑料社鈥檚 viticulture and enology program,听,听 is a comprehensive education and research program that prepares students for successful careers in the wine industry and supports the needs of the region鈥檚 winemakers and grape growers. Multidisciplinary, science-based, and hands-on, the viticulture and enology program offers students technical, scientific, and practical experience in every aspect of the grape-growing and winemaking process.

 

Media contact:

Marta Coursey, director, 黑料社 CAHNRS Communications, 509-335-2806 marta.coursey@wsu.edu

Kaury Balcom, 黑料社 Viticulture & Enology, 509-572-5540,听kaury.balcom@wsu.edu

Lori Rosen, Wine Spectator, 212-255-8910,听lori@rosengrouppr.com