The Classic Wines Auction Raises Over $3 Million for Six Charities

The Classic Wines Auction Raises Over $3 Million for Six Charities

Portland, March 5th, 2016. More than 800 wine lovers gathered at the Oregon Convention Center to drink, eat and bid at the Classic Wines Auction (CWA). The six nonprofits which benefited include: Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Special Olympics Oregon. The Classic Wines Auction (CWA) raised over $3 million dollars. Proceeds from the auction, and other food and wine events put on by the organization, support charities dedicated to youth and families throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. 

The 2016 Honorary Wine Ambassadors with the 2016 Classic Wines Auction Co-Chairs were, Greg Goodwin (CWA chair), Heather Martin (CWA Executive Director), Jay Somers (Owner and Winemaker at J. Christopher Wines in Newberg, OR), Bob Bertheau (Head Winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, WA), Peggy Maguire (CWA Co-Chair), Lynn Gust (CWA Co-Chair), Marta Delfa (Global Brand Ambassador and Educator at Miguel Torres Winery in Barcelona, Spain) and Larry Maguire (President and CEO of Far Niente in Oakville, CA).

 2016 Oregon Honorary Wine Ambassador, Jay Somers from J. Christopher Wines, entertains the crowd on lead guitar with his band, Reduction, which is made up of musicians who work in the wine industry.

2016 Oregon Honorary Wine Ambassador, Jay Somers from J. Christopher Wines, entertains the crowd on lead guitar with his band, Reduction, which is made up of musicians who work in the wine industry.

Charity speakers talk about how their lives have been impacted by CWA partner charities. From left front row, speakers representing: Friends of the Children, Special Olympics Oregon and Metropolitan Family Service. From left back row, speakers representing: Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, New Avenues for Youth and YWCA Clark County.

Charity speakers talk about how their lives have been impacted by CWA partner charities. From left front row, speakers representing: Friends of the Children, Special Olympics Oregon and Metropolitan Family Service. From left back row, speakers representing: Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, New Avenues for Youth and YWCA Clark County.

Guests enjoyed a wine and food reception before the event featuring local wine producers and gourmet bites from seven premier Portland restaurants, including Irving Street Kitchen (Executive Chef, Sarah Schafer pictured here with guest).

Guests enjoyed a wine and food reception before the event featuring local wine producers and gourmet bites from seven premier Portland restaurants, including Irving Street Kitchen (Executive Chef, Sarah Schafer pictured here with guest).

Guests enjoyed a wine and food reception before the event featuring local wine producers and gourmet bites from seven premier Portland restaurants, including Irving Street Kitchen (Executive Chef, Sarah Schafer pictured here with guest).

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Since 1982, CWA has raised almost $40 million for youth and families in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

“Year after year, our wonderful donors, sponsors, volunteers, charity partners and winemakers come together to make this event a success,” said Heather Martin, Executive Director of the Classic Wines Auction. “We’re thankful for their generous support. It means we can help those children and families in our community who are most in need.”

In addition to the successful auction, CWA also announced today that it was named to Wine Spectator’s annual list of the top charity wine auctions in the country. This year, CWA moved up slightly to No. 8 on this distinguished list.

“The recognition from Wine Spectator is a testament to our organization and its fundraising success,” Martin said. “It’s an honor for our event to be included among these prestigious auctions.”

Guests bid on a variety of packages comprising curated wine lots, fine art, luxury travel, vineyard tours, wine tastings and more. The numerous national and international trips sold this year included Thanksgiving in New York City, Heli-hiking in Canada, Bastille Day in Bordeaux, and trips to Argentina, Cabo, Spain and Ireland.

Next year’s auction is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, 2017. Corks + Forks, CWA’s annual urban wine gathering, is Thursday, June 9. Tickets are available at www.classicwinesauction.com.

About Classic Wines Auction

Consistently recognized as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator magazine since 2001, the Classic Wines Auction has raised almost $40 million for Portland-area charities since its inception in 1982. Based in Portland, OR., First Growth Children and Family Charities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing the Classic Wines Auction and related food and wine events to raise funds for local charities benefiting children and families, including: Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Special Olympics Oregon. For more information about the Classic Wines Auction and each of its annual fundraising events, visit www.classicwinesauction.com.

Classic Wines Auction Fall Winemakers Dinner Breaks Record

Classic Wines Auction Fall Winemakers Dinner Breaks Record

Portland, December 23rd, 2015. The numbers are in and the Fall Winemaker Dinner series, hosted by Classic Wines Auction, raised $61,790. The series featured 17 restaurants from the Portland metro area, 23 wineries and drew a total of 483 guests. Supporters at the Imperial Dinner, with wines from Archery Summit Winery and Cameron Winery, included Annette Joly, DJ Wilson (CWA Board Chair), Christian Joly. The total dinner revenue was the largest amount raised at the Fall series to date. The total raffle revenue was $10,900, bringing the grand total to $72,690. (photo credit, Andie Petkus)

Imperial Dinner. From Left: Heather Martin (CWA Executive Director), Chris Mazepink (Winemaker Archery Summit), Chef Vitaly Paley (Owner, Imperial), John Paul (Owner/Winemaker Cameron Winery)

Heather Martin, (CWA Executive Director), Chris Mazepink (Winemaker Archery Summit), Chef Vitaly Paley (Owner, Imperial), John Paul (Owner/Winemaker Cameron Winery).

P.R.E.A.M. Pizza dinner with wines from Ovum Wines and Minimus Winery. Don’t have all the names for this. Suggested caption: Torre Chisholm, Chief Development Officer with Special Olympics Oregon, toasts with fellow guests at the P.R.E.A.M Winemaker Dinner.

Guests at the P.R.E.A.M. Pizza dinner with wines from Ovum Wines and Minimus Winery included Torre Chisholm, Chief Development Officer with Special Olympics Oregon.

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Renata dinner featuring wines from Brick House Wine Company: Suggested caption: Guests at Renata toast to Doug Tunnel, Owner and Winemaker at Brick House Wine Company.

The Renata dinner featured wines from Brick House Wine Company. Guests at Renata included Doug Tunnel, Owner and Winemaker at Brick House Wine Company.

Simpatica Dinner with wines from Durant Vineyards and Stoller Family Estate. Suggested Caption: Sean Suib, Executive Director New Avenues for Youth (left), joins fellow New Avenues staff and supporters for an evening of delicious food and delectable wines at the Classic Wines Auction fall Winemaker Dinner series.

Here’s a photo from the Simpatica Dinner with wines from Durant Vineyards and Stoller Family Estate. Sean Suib, Executive Director New Avenues for Youth (left), joins fellow New Avenues staff and supporters for an evening of food and wines.

Funds from the Classic Wines Auction and related events are distributed to six benefiting charity partners at the end of each year. CWA’s partner charities include Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children, YWCA Clark County, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Special Olympics Oregon.