Dine for a Cause

Auction of Washington Wines' Wine Country Dinners

Washington state's wines are world-renowned, but have you ever visited our state's wine country? May 20 and 21, you'll have the opportunity to experience homegrown food and wine pairings in the heart of Eastern Washington. Auction of Washington Wines (AWW) is hosting two exclusive Wine Country Dinners featuring Washington wines from J. Bookwalter Winery, Fidélitas Wines, Hightower Cellars, and Wautoma Wines. The dinners benefit Washington State University's Viticulture and Enology program and AWW's Industry Grant Program, which supports organizations that directly affect Washington state grape growers and wine producers.

Space will be limited, and all COVID-safe guidelines will be followed. The dinners will be held at Fiction @ J. Bookwalter Winery and Hightower Cellars, and will be part of Wine & Music Week, a weeklong celebration highlighting local musicians and Washington wine running from May 18-23.

John and Gretchen Bookwalter

As an appetizer for the Wine Country Dinners, we caught up with the one and only John R. Bookwalter, President ofJ. Bookwalter Winery in Richland. Rooted in ten generations of the Bookwalter family, the winery was founded in 1982 by Jerry Bookwalter, John's father. John Bookwalter pursued a successful 10-year sales and marketing career with E&J Gallo, Winterbrook Beverage Group, and Coors Brewing Co. In 1997, he returned to Richland with a keen understanding of the winery's heritage and a clear vision for its future. Since then, John has made sweeping changes to improve and expand the J. Bookwalter brand.

How did you become involved with Auction of Washington Wines?

John Bookwalter: I have always been deeply involved in the Washington wine industry since my time with the Washington Wine Institute as well as serving on the Washington Wine Commission for nine years. The Auction was a natural progression of involvement and allows my wife and I to stay engaged and contributing to the industry in a meaningful and satisfying way.

What are you planning for the Auction of Washington Wines' Wine Country Dinners at Fiction@J. Bookwalter this year?

We are very excited about our exclusive first annual winemakers dinner at Fiction. (Fidélitas') Charlie Hoppes and I will each be featuring four wines along with a four-course pairing created by the chefs at Fiction Restaurant. There are only 48 seats available with the proceeds benefiting WSU Viticulture and Enology program and the AWW Industry Grant.

What are some pivots that J. Bookwalter has had to make amidst the pandemic?

Mostly it was about accentuating what we have always focused on and that was making sure we took care of those customers that are most loyal to our restaurant and winery. Communicating more often and with a greater sense of purpose. Making sure our mantra of, "the answer is yes, now what's the question," was truly embraced at all levels in our organization.

What is coming up at J. Bookwalter's various venues that folks can look forward to this summer?

We are in the process of launching our new food truck venture in the Tri-Cities, the Non Fiction food truck. If all goes well, Non Fiction will launch sometime in April. From Sept. 24- 25, we will be celebrating the grand opening of our new tasting room and production facility in Richland. In Richland and Woodinville, we will soon be scheduling small group sit down quarterly wine and food pairings. In Richland we actually do both wine and spirit food pairings which have become very popular during COVID restrictions. And, depending on COVID restrictions, we look forward to returning to our summer music entertainment on the patio in Richland.

What are some of your favorite food and wine pairings right now?

JB: It's halibut season, so my current favorite pairing at Fiction is our 2018 2^nd Edition Bordeaux White Blend (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle) paired with our pan-seared wild halibut with coconut curry sauce, chile oil, golden raisins, and peas on a bed of wild rice.

For more information on the Wine Country Dinners or to purchase tickets, visit auctionofwawines.org/events/vineyard-dinner. Tickets for the dinners available now.

April 2021