WOODINVILLE, Wash. — The Auction of Washington Wines, one of the top five charitable wine auctions in the U.S., has named Kiona Vineyards and Winery as the winner of the Healthy Land, Healthy Communities Award for 2024.
This year marks the 37th annual Auction of Washington Wines, and the presentation to the Williams family will be part of the third annual TOAST! Honoree Celebration on Thursday, Aug. 8 at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville.
The festive Winemaker Picnic & Barrel Auction — with the auction component sponsored by Seattle author/wine merchant Paul Zitarelli and his Full Pull Wines — is Friday, Aug. 9 on the campus of Château Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, followed by the auction’s signature Gala on Saturday, Aug. 10. The Gala Online Auction begins Tuesday, Aug. 6 and runs through Aug. 10. Money raised helps support Seattle Children’s, the Washington State University viticulture and enology program and grant partner Vital Wines in the Walla Walla Valley.
The Auction of Washington Wines began its TOAST! program in 2022, and the 2023 recipients are listed here.
For the second consecutive year, the nine TOAST! recipients will be revealed this week via GreatNorthwestWine.com.
Monday — TOAST! Vine to Wine Award: Eduardo Enriquez, Corliss Estates
Monday — TOAST! Healthy Land, Healthy Communities Award: Kiona Vineyards and Winery
Monday — TOAST! Award of Distinction: Markus Keller, Washington State University
Tuesday — TOAST! Emerging Leader: Jordan Small, Woodward Canyon Winery
Tuesday — TOAST! Emerging Leader: Matías Kúsulas, Gård Vintners/Desert Wind Winery/Massalto/Valo
Tuesday — TOAST! Emerging Leader: Stacy Buchanan, Blood of Gods
Wednesday — TOAST! Wine Industry Champion: Chris Stone, Washington State Wine Commission
Wednesday — Auction of Washington Wines Star Award: Richard Duval, WinePix
Wednesday — TOAST! Lifetime Achievement Award: Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small, Woodward Canyon Winery
Previously announced honorees for the 2024 Auction of Washington Wines include Leslie Sbrocco (Honorary Chair), Christophe Baron of Bionic Wines (Honorary Vintner) and Robert Rivera of Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard (Honorary Grower). Co-chairs are Laura and Ian MacNeil with John and Deanna Oppenheimer.
“We are delighted to recognize these outstanding individuals for their substantial contributions to the Washington wine industry,” says Jamie Peha, executive director of the Auction of Washington Wines since 2019. “Their dedication, innovation and passion have been instrumental in shaping the success and reputation of the region as a whole.”
Sponsors of the TOAST Honoree Celebration include Republic National Distributing Co., Saxco, Woodinville Wine Country, Washington State Wine Commission, Château Ste. Michelle and Trysk Print Solutions.
The Healthy Land, Healthy Communities Award pays tribute to Individuals or organizations looking at today’s environmental challenges and working to develop equitable, viable and responsible solutions. Those include climate change, packaging and sustainable practices.
This accolade for Kiona Vineyards and Winery marks the second straight year that a family on Red Mountain has earned the Healthy Land, Healthy Communities Award. Then again, members of the Williams family are frequently recognized by peers as industry leaders, including Scott Williams as Honorary Grower for the 2019 Auction of Washington Wines. In 2018, Kiona Vineyards and Winery was selected Washington Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest magazine.
The Williams clan remains remarkable stewards of Red Mountain’s pioneering vineyard, which they planted in 1975. Their operation now spans three generations and more than 270 planted acres of vines.
“We’re not Kiona Cellars. We’re not Kiona Selections. We are Kiona Vineyards,” points out general manager JJ Williams. “That’s an important distinction for us to make because we grow grapes — for our own winery and for more than 60 others.”
The Williams family farms and owns five vineyards across Red Mountain.
“All with their own distinct personalities and charisma,” JJ says. “They are the essence of our family’s 50-year tradition.”
Each year, wines from those sites have gone on to earn praise from critics and gold medals at blind-judged competitions.
And starting with the 2022 vintage, those vineyards earned certification via the state’s recently established Sustainable WA program. It’s hailed as the first statewide certified sustainability program for winegrapes, and it signals a partnership among the Washington Winegrowers Association, the Washington State Wine Commission, the Washington Wine Industry Foundation and the Washington Wine Institute.
To achieve Sustainable WA certification, growers must meet 18 requirements and achieve at least 70% for each of the nine chapters. (There are 83 requirements overall).
Here is the report card on Kiona that merited its certification:
- Business practices and risk management (required for completion of program but not scored by auditors)
- Human resources (88.6%)
- Vineyard establishment/acquisition (88.8%)
- Viticulture (91.7%)
- Water management (85.7%)
- Soil management (85%)
- Pest management (84.1%)
- Materials handling (91.7%)
- Whole-farm ecosystem and community (85%)
Kiona’s team received an overall average score of 87.58%, easily surpassing the 70% threshold for certification.
“Discerning customers want to know they are making responsible choices and supporting holistic farms, growers and producers,” JJ says.
Earlier in 2024, Sustainable WA organizers announced a collaboration with the Salmon-Safe program.
Eric,
Thanks for this article; the award and tribute highlight the Williams Family, their associates, and crews for meritorious efforts and vision that many have benefited many in the Yakima Valley and beyond. Remy Wines of Oregon come to mind. The Shiels and Sauer Family bring joy to many enophiles too.