Auction of Washington Wines

Auction of Washington Wines is the state’s premier wine auction and one of the nation’s top five charitable wine auctions. Raising more than $59 million since 1988, the auction grows awareness and acclaim for the Washington wine industry and benefits Seattle Children’s, among the leading children’s hospitals in the country, funds world-class research through Washington State University’s Viticulture and Enology department, and supports the mission of Vital Wines.

For more information, please visit auctionofwawines.org.

Photo by Curbow Photos.

Bar Nina

Bar Nina is an underground wine bar at 1719 NE Alberta Street in Portland, Oregon. Bar Nina is owned by the winemakers behind Ovum Wines and Big Salt, Ksenija Kostic House and John House. Accessed down an alley and a flight of stairs, Bar Nina sits in a 100+ year-old basement that was once the boiler room of the original Victoria Theater, a cultural center of Portland’s Alberta Arts District.

The wine list at Bar Nina features wines that inspire the winemaking at Ovum Wines. The list at Bar Nina leans into the classic—with wines Chablis, Sancerre, Chianti, Champagne, etc.

In the summer, Bar Nina opens its sister bar, Big Salt Bar—named after the sensationally popular wine, Big Salt.

For more information, visit barninapdx.com.

Photos by Devin White.

BRYN MAWR VINEYARDS

Welsh for “high hill,” the Bryn Mawr vineyard is nestled atop one of the steepest slopes in the Willamette Valley amid a pristine forest of Douglas Firs, and with the influence of strong, maritime winds flowing in from the Van Duzer Corridor. 

Owners Jon and Kathy Lauer knew the site had enormous potential and purchased the Bryn Mawr Estate Vineyard in 2009, hiring winemaker Rachel Rose shortly thereafter to lead the growth and development of both the vineyard and their wine program. 

The winery’s first commercial vintage was in 2010, a particularly challenging year in the Willamette Valley—commonly referred to as “the year of the birds”—and was followed by one of the coldest vintages on record in 2011. 

Under the leadership of Rachel Rose, Bryn Mawr crafts wines of great complexity and tension including legacy varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as burgeoning varietals like Tempranillo, Dolcetto and several aromatic white grapes.

Bryn Mawr has continually elevated its production, creating refined, ageable wines for almost a decade. A common adage among the team is “high hill, high risk, high reward,” and that tenacious spirit is reflected in all that they do.

More information: brynmawrvineyards.com

RED MOUNTAIN AVA

Red Mountain is a small but mighty winemaking region in Washington’s Yakima Valley. It is a premier winegrowing region with a storied reputation for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends.

A combination of elements contribute to the premium fruit grown in this region, from its sandy, loess soils to its singular climate. Red Mountain is characterized by intensely sunny days and dramatically cooler nights—which help build complex flavors while retaining all-important acidity—and a swift wind that courses through the valley helps build powerful tannic structure.

Vineyards are the primary focus in this tiny AVA on the western edge of the Yakima Valley, which has the most dense concentration of top vineyards in the state. The region cultivates the most sought-after fruit in the state for wineries in Walla Walla, Woodinville and beyond.

Photos by Robert Holmes and Andrea Johnson for Red Mountain AVA Alliance.

For more information, please visit redmountainava.com