The Auction of Washington Wines’ fifth annual Private Barrel Auction will feature 45 auction lots, including 41 exclusive five case wine lots from the state’s top winemakers. The auction will take place on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Novelty Hill-Januik winery in Woodinville, Washington. Invited national and local members of the wine trade can bid on these rare wine futures, positioning the Private Barrel Auction to surpass last year’s record of $251,500.
Since its inception four years ago, the Private Barrel Auction has raised nearly $521,000 for Washington State University’s Viticulture and Enology program. The money specifically funds world-class viticulture and enology research, made available to every winery and wine grape grower in the state to help Washington winemakers develop better grapes and wines.
“As the Washington wine industry evolves, so does the Private Barrel Auction, growing to become a must-stop for trade and wine collectors interested in acquiring a truly one-of-a-kind wine made exclusively for the auction by the most talented winemakers in the state,” said Juan Muñoz Oca, AWW Co-Chair and Executive VP of Winemaking, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “I continue to be amazed by the generosity of the Washington wine industry and the goodwill we create by participating in this amazing event. The Private Barrel Auction supports not only enology and viticulture research in the state of Washington but also, and perhaps more importantly, creates a stronger bond between Washington winemakers and some of the most influential people in the wine business across the U.S.”
In 2018, the average price paid per lot was $7,629, up 13 percent from the previous year, with an average bottle price of $127. All lots are sold in five case (60 bottle) allotments, keeping the exclusivity of ownership high. Winning bids ranged from $3,000 to $16,000 in 2018.
The 2019 Auction of Washington Wines Private Barrel Auction is an invitation-only event for licensed wine sellers including retailers, restaurateurs and wholesalers. For more information and to request an invitation, please visit the AWW website.
The Private Barrel Auction is part of The Auction of Washington Wines’ weekend of charitable wine events. In total, 2018 efforts raised a record $4.1 million benefitting Seattle Children’s and Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology program.
